Owl Tv: Vol. 21

This show has probably landed more awards than Elizabeth Taylor's received diamonds. And deservedly so. Although the words education and TV very rarely go well together (as in the case of Nickelodeon, the more and more aberrant stepchild of MTV), Owl TV can truly be called educational television. And it doesn't sacrifice a bit of style. Four major segments make up Volume 21: 1) Boobies: an intriguing look at the masked and blue-footed boobies of the Galapagos Islands, 2) Black Widow Spider: in which a trio of intrepid kid explorers are reduced to the size of ants in order to better report on this amazing and somewhat scary creature, 3) Fat Chance: which features an overweight kid who's embarrassed to go swimming, until he gets a science lecture and morale booster from a skeleton, and 4) Music Band: in which the Hoot Club kids build their inventive array of musical instruments. Interspersed throughout are plenty of informative (and funny) tidbits about animals. More expensive than traditional kidvid (but also higher quality), these programs are recommended for school and larger public libraries. Suitable for children aged 7 to 12. (Available from: Bullfrog Films, Oley, PA 19547; 1-800-543-FROG.)