Wild Animal Baby: A Tall Tail & Other Stories

Presented by the National Wildlife Federation, this entry in the Wild Animal Baby series compiles three stories that combine animated animals with live action footage. Izzy Owl, Skip the Rabbit, Sandy Salamander, and Rosie the River Otter are the animated friends who set out to solve the various mysteries featured in “A Tall Tail” (why animal tails are so varied and used in such different ways), “Flower Power” (why bees fly from flower to flower in the process of pollination), and “Howl Did They Do That?” (using listening skills and learning about wolves). Although the candy-colored 3-D computer animation and often-repeated theme song (which sounds like a children's cereal jingle) are so colorful and bouncy that the live-action footage of real animals (and insects) seems a bit dull, my six- and three-year-old sons both enjoyed it, and the price is certainly affordable. The other titles in the series are: Flying Whales & Other Stories, Sandy's Bored Game & Other Stories and Wow! Wetland! & Other Stories. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Reagan)