Amazon.com
A pastiche of sorts, this collection of baby-animal footage is nicely narrated and interesting, but only to a point. Children below the age of 4 might find the computer-animated Henry the Lizard, who narrates the video, mildly interesting. But he's more likely to click with children who can focus on a variety of differently crafted images at once. The live animal footage is fine, rich with cutesy babies that take on the aura of distinct characters in their short appearances. Originally screened on the Disney channel, this half-hour show seeks educationally creative ways to address the action. The questions the narrative deals with run the gamut from matricide (dealt with casually, as if a mere natural episode) to different ways mothers carry their offspring. The only trouble with suggesting this video for children 4 and over is that by that age, plot is a desirable thing. There's really no plot here. The strength of
Animal Babies lies in its footage, which will appeal to a wide swath of kids. When viewing, play up the questions. Otherwise Henry the Lizard slips by unobtrusively--and not memorably.
--Andrew Bartlett