WordGirl: Earth Day Girl

Featuring eight episodes, this compilation from the PBS Kids series focuses on the effusive adventures of fifth grader Becky Botsford, aka superhero WordGirl, who hails from the Planet Lexicon and introduces viewers to new vocabulary words during her escapades. The titular “Earth Day Girl” finds Becky worried about both the “excess” bubble wrap from her mail-order princess castle and the overflowing town dump, as she attends a local Earth Day Fair. Visiting the various booths (including a solar oven), WordGirl is eventually forced to spring into action when the selfish villain Eileen the Birthday Girl arrives and throws a Hulk-like tantrum while spreading more pollution. Other episodes include “You Can't Crush City Hall,” in which Becky's district attorney mom's bake sale is threatened by the “doomed” Evil Sandwich-Making Guy; and “Coupon Madness,” featuring wise-talking robber Granny May, who uses yarn as a weapon and often gets an illegal “bargain” by using her coupon printing press. Serving up an entertaining appreciation of language, this tongue-in-cheek set of adventures featuring Becky and her monkey sidekick Captain Huggy Face is highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)