San Diego Zoo: It's A Wild Life; Universal Studios Tours: Beyond Behind The Scenes

Produced by Eastman Kodak, these video tours are colorful, informative, and a natural for public libraries. The tape on the San Diego Zoo covers one day in the park, from morning feeding to putting the critters to bed for the night. The brainchild of Dr. Harry Wegeforth, the San Diego Zoo delights millions every year with its thousands of flora and fauna. Interviews with zoo employees give viewers a real behind the scenes look at the incredible amount of care and maintenance that goes into running the zoo (like trimming an elephant's toenails, for instance). Or changing a baby gorilla's diaper (which automatically put me into coo and cluck mode, just watching). The second tape takes viewers onto the backlot of Universal Studios, where anyone interested in movie magic (and aren't we all?) gets a close-up view of the 420 acres on which celluloid dreams are brought to life. Viewers will see New York Street, designed by Henry Bumstead, which has done countless tours of duty for such unlike films as The Sting and Streets of Fire, and a live show with Crockett and Tubbs Miami Vice stand-ins performing a spectacular chase, as well as be made privy to some of the trade secrets of sound men and set decorators. Purchase of any two programs in the series allows the free selection of a third. Other titles include: The Columbus Zoo and The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Both of the reviewed titles are highly recommended. (Available from: Video Tours, City Place, 31st Floor, Hartford, CT 06103.)