Kipper: Imagine That

Similar to Eric Hill's popular picture book canine Spot, British author-illustrator Mick Inkpen's Kipper the dog and friends Tiger, Jake, Pig and Arnold, engage in a series of low-key adventures in this compilation of seven Nick Jr. episodes. In the opener, "Kipper's Circus," Kipper and Tiger find a tree swing that becomes the foundation for an ever more elaborate, imaginative circus show that eventually attracts Pig and Arnold. Although each of the episodes emphasizes the creative power of imagination in making playtime fun, some of the segments veer off into true fantasy, such as "Arnold's Balloon Trip," in which the diminutive porcine pal is whisked away by balloon to a Big Rock Candy Mountain-like setting. In other episodes Kipper and friends have a costume party, put on a magic show, dress up like pirates, discover a magic lamp, and visit the fair. Two attributes make this a less than optimum purchase: first, Kipper and company (though nicely animated) are a fairly bland bunch, character-wise, and second, in continuation of an annoying trend, a "Kipper" graphic logo appears in the lower right hand of the screen throughout the program. Whether the burned-in logo is for reasons of branding or attracting rugrat channel surfers is immaterial--it bites, pure and simple. Optional. A new companion volume, Cuddly Critters, is also available at the same price. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)