Lenny the Lumberjack

The person who did the box art knew exactly what to pitch; on the cover in large friendly print we see "huge tractors! tug boats! big trucks!" and photos of same. "Lenny" is a real lumberjack, affable, and someone who obviously loves his job. While there are credited writers, much of the narration is ad-libbed on the spot--don't expect a smoothly delivered monologue; in fact, don't expect textbook grammar. Much of the charm in the program is directly related to not over polishing the material. Lenny covers a day in the life of a logging camp, transitioning between the people who wield chainsaws to operators of high tech equipment that looks like it belongs in a science fiction film. Giant metal dinosaurs pick up and sort logs, and other machines cut and topple trees with a single pass of a circular saw over four feet in diameter. Conservation and reforesting are also part of the show. After the logs are trucked to a lake and rounded up by tugs for their trip to the mill, Lenny and the gang gather at the camp for an army-style dinner. This show is professionally photographed and edited--it's a winner all around. For ages 3 and up. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (E. Swanson)