Wander into the DVD aisles of any big-box store and you'll find a growing number of titles aimed at children -- or their parents, who want brainy babies, happy ones or just preoccupied ones who will be quiet for 30 minutes while they empty the dishwasher or transfer towels to the dryer.

	Daniel Marsula/Post-Gazette

Barney. Barbie. Bob the Builder. Elmo. The Wiggles. Thomas & Friends. And, of course, the Lion King. These franchise players move mountains of videotapes and DVDs, which increasingly are becoming the format of choice for babies, toddlers and youngsters as well as parents and grandparents.

"The Lion King 1¹/₂," which went directly to video (in the business it's called a DVD premiere movie), is one of the top moneymakers of the year and the most profitable, at $156 million, according to Video Business magazine.

And just last week, Disney released a special edition of "The Lion King 2," for those who just can't get enough of the animated animals. On Sept. 28, the blond one will return in the musical "Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper," a follow-up to the hugely successful "Barbie in the Nutcracker," "Barbie as Rapunzel" and "Barbie of Swan Lake."

It's impossible to review every new children's title, but Post-Gazette staff members have screened nearly two dozen. Writers or editors who normally spend their days reporting on school boards or business developments, editing sports stories or tending to our Web site turned reviewers for a day. Here is what they and their young companions found. As always, four stars is our highest grade and one our lowest.

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Scholastic Video Collection

Fans of the mischief-making monkey will get a kick out of "Curious George Rides a Bike ... and More Tales of Mischief," one of the new-to-DVD programs by Scholastic Video Collection. George receives a bike from the man with the yellow hat, and the little monkey rides himself into all sorts of mischief. He helps a paperboy deliver newspaper but, in typical George fashion, gets sidetracked. This is a delightful rendition of the H.A. Rey classic. The DVD also presents Margaret Mahy's "The Great, White, Man-Eating Shark," a funny story about Norvin, a young boy who takes advantage of his shark-like features to scare away all the swimmers from his favorite beach. The third story is "Flossie and the Fox," Patricia McKissack's take on the Little Red Riding Hood story.

Unfortunately, the new Scholastic DVD of the beloved stories of Robert McCloskey is a little flat. "Make Way for Ducklings" and "Blueberries for Sal" are classic stories, but this disc features a narrator reading as pictures from the book are flashed on the screen. That works for Curious George because of the fast pace of the book, but the DVD of these slower-paced McCloskey books comes off as too static.

-- Cristina Rouvalis

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"Batman: The Animated Series -- Volume One"

This series, running from 1992-95, marked the dark knight's first return to animated series format since the 1960s. Showcasing the severe, angular, subdued drawing

style that came to be known as "dark deco," the show features solid writing and quality voice talent in an action-packed, majestically scored format appealing to a wide range of young people and adults.

With villains and co-heroes drawn from the popular DC Comics pantheon and serious plots with incisive wit and a human edge, the show marked a departure from the brighter candy-coated animated programs that flanked it during its three-year run in the after-school time slot.

This first volume of the series includes 28 complete episodes, two with optional commentary by the series' producers, as well as the pilot promo, a "Tour of the Batcave" and a retrospective featurette.

-- Philip Stephenson

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"Elmo's World: The Street We Live On"

A great kids' show has something for everyone, and "Elmo's World: The Street We Live On" has "Sesame Street's" traditional mass appeal. The home video is the 35th anniversary of the show, originally broadcast on PBS, and it includes the entire cast with Elmo as its star.

Parents who loved the show as children will vividly remember the flashbacks. (I always faced emotional distress watching the chef fall down the stairs with an armful of pastries, and here he is again, tumbling with cakes a-flying.) Adults also will enjoy spotting the celebrities and catching the asides. What kid would get Oscar the Grouch calling Elmo the Red Menace or understand Grover's musings about language tenses? Or the bizarreness of "'C' is for Cookie" done in "Aida"-style opera?

For kids, there's "Sesame" Street's emphasis on learning the alphabet, numbers and Spanish, using children from many cultures and races. It teaches and entertains without condescending or preaching.

But ultimately, the fun is in its lack of saccharin. "Elmo's World" uses sarcasm, hyperbole and the occasional burp, yet never crosses the line into the crass or hokey. OK. Maybe the closing song is a little cheesy, but kids eat that stuff up like cookies.

-- Laura Pace

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"Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids"

Author David Kirk's fanciful world of bugs comes to life in this charming 3-D animated DVD featuring the just-married Miss Spider (voice of Brooke Shields) and her groom, Holley (Rick Moranis). The couple are quickly blessed with five baby spiders, including Spinner, who sets adventure in motion by slipping out on his own to return a lost chicken egg to its mother.

Spinner meets a lively trio of buggy orphans who join his quest, while Miss Spider and Holley launch a frantic search for their missing offspring. Both groups face danger and intrigue, including life-threatening encounters with the conniving and creepy Spiderus, the suitor Miss Spider rejected.

Along the way, the story follows themes young children will embrace -- the importance of belonging to a family and the unfailing love of your mom and dad. "I sure wish my mom was here -- she'd know what to do," says Spinner as the hen's egg faces peril. In the end, there's even forgiveness and redemption for Spiderus.

The solid story line and colorful 3-D animation will intrigue both preschoolers and school-age children. Parents will appreciate the emphasis on family, as well as clever lines dropped here and there: "He's just an itsy, bitsy spider," laments Miss Spider about her missing son. Young viewers also will enjoy the real-life kids dance segment.

-- Christine Zapinski

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"The Wiggles: Santa's Rockin' "

It's September, so it must be time to start getting into the Christmas spirit, right? Well, it is if you are a fan of the Wiggles, the Australian quartet that has a popular children's show on the Disney Channel.

"Santa's Rockin'" quickly got the attention of my 20-month-old son with its silly, wiggly and original Christmas songs and skits. And then it soon got my attention with the appearance of special guest stars.

Barry Williams, aka Greg from "The Brady Bunch," joined the fun for "Wags Stop Your Barking" and "It's Almost Christmas Day." Legendary singer/songwriter John Fogarty joined the Wiggles in singing "Great Big Man in Red" and "Rockin' Santa." There are 12 songs on the 50-minute videotape version, the highlight being Williams looking quite silly as he bounced around like dog in "Wags Stop Your Barking." (Available Sept. 28.)

-- David Garth

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"VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera"

The Christian-themed vegetable characters are back with a new DVD that aims to teach young children the value of perseverance. As Bob the Tomato explains early on, "persevere" is a really big word that means to "keep on keeping on."

VeggieTales fans will recognize familiar characters including Bob and Larry the Cucumber, who stars as pro wrestler the "Italian Scallion." Despite a reputation as a jokester who doesn't finish what he starts, Larry agrees to wrestle the massive Apollo Gourd in hopes of winning a super-cool tiger bicycle. Pa Grape signs on as trainer only after Larry promises not to quit. "You've got to stick with it and not give up," says Pa.

Sure enough, Larry quits when the training gets tough, but he finds inspiration from Junior Asparagus, who worked hard to complete a special Italian Scallion headpiece. Larry goes into the ring against the hulking Gourd, with a not-quite-so predictable outcome. But the message of perseverance never wavers: "Finishing is its own reward," Larry concludes. "I feel great!"

Younger kids will love the lively music, the crisp animation and the silly vegetable antics. Grown-ups will find some chuckles in the many references to Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" movies. The bonus short "Going Up" features the Three Veggie Stoogies learning what happens when partners don't shoulder an equal share of getting a job done.

-- Christine Zapinski

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"Arthur: Parents Are From Pluto"

School-age kids who are embarrassed by their parents will be able to relate to "Arthur: Parents Are From Pluto." Arthur, D.W. and their friends squirm during an open house as their parents tell bad jokes, fall asleep in class and otherwise embarrass them. There are two other charming aardvark stories, "My Dad, the Garbage Man," about a girl embarrassed by her dad's profession, and "Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight," a reassuring story for children who hear their parents exchanging cross words.

-- Cristina Rouvalis

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"Thomas & Friends: It's Great to Be an Engine!"

This collection of seven new stories about Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends provides a nice introduction to the railway engine characters for young viewers who may be unfamiliar with the series. Thomas, Emily, Toby, Gordon, Edward, James and Percy learn lessons about confidence, arrogance, politeness, patience and hard work. Actor Michael Brandon narrates their stories, set on the idyllic Island of Sodor.

Although Thomas and his friends have interesting facial expressions, they don't talk (the narrator tells the entire story). This initially vexed my 3-year-old, but the simple tales and their interesting presentation (it's like watching a model railway) held his attention for most of the video. Children get some variety with three short breaks for a song, a connect-the-dots game and a language game.

The Thomas & Friends stories are like chapters in a calm, reassuring storybook in which the characters aren't perfect and have much to learn. This video is a welcome change from flashy, loud and fast-paced children's programming.

-- Alice Rowley

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"The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride Special Edition"

Perhaps a better title would have been "Lion King, the Next Generation." The story picks up with the birth of Kiara (Neve Campbell), daughter of Simba (Matthew Broderick), star of the original blockbuster. Kiara grows up to fall in love with a boy from the wrong side of the savanna, a part of the lion family aligned with Simba's nasty, deceased uncle, Scar.

"Lion King 2" follows the original formula pretty faithfully. Lots of grub jokes, catchy musical interludes and a satisfying villainess with the voice of Suzanne Pleshette. A colorful procession of animals paying homage to baby lioness Kiara was so similar to Simba's presentation in the original that one young viewer asked why royalty always display kids when they're born. The elementary contingent in the audience thought some scenes were scary while the love stuff drew "eewws."

Bonus features include a virtual safari hosted by the comic team of Timon (Nathan Lane) & Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) and some cuddly footage of real-life lions. For those who already own the video, the extras won't be enough to justify another purchase.

-- Teresa Lindeman

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"Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Greek Myths"

If you've ever wanted to get your child curious about good literature and interesting stories, here's one way to do it: Make a children's DVD.

Henson takes on "Daedalus and Icarus," "Orpheus and Eurydice," "Perseus and the Gorgon," and "Theseus and the Minotaur," all fairly complex Greek myths, and makes them interesting. The stories are absorbing and colorful, and with such well-known participants as Derek Jacobi and Anthony Minghella, it's hard to go wrong.

I learned some details I hadn't recalled about each myth, so it was fun for me to watch along with my 10-year-old, Brent. The most wonderful thing about the DVD came afterward: Lots of questions and excitement. Brent wanted me to go to the library and get some more stories and wondered if there were another DVD from Henson that he could buy. Other episodes of "The Storyteller" series, which ran on HBO in the late '80s, are available.

-- Don Hammonds

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"Annie: A Royal Adventure!"

The adorable Annie, whom Daddy Warbucks rescued from a New York orphanage, returns for a trip to London in "Annie: A Royal Adventure!" This 1995 nonmusical, new to DVD, has Ashley Johnson in the title role and George Hearn as Warbucks. It's still the 1930s, and they're off to England so that Warbucks, the richest man in the world, can be knighted by the king.

On the voyage over, they run into the sinister Lady Edwina Hogbottom (Joan Collins), who believes Britain's Royal Family stole the crown from her ancestors. Annie, her friends and Sandy the dog naturally get caught up in Lady Edwina's efforts to blow up Buckingham Palace. While not nearly as charming as the original film with Carol Burnett or even Disney's recent TV remake, this sequel is good family fare and will hold the kids' attention.

-- Joyce Gannon

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"Bratz, the Video"

The four popular teen dolls with a "passion for fashion" and their own Web site make their DVD debut. Just days before the school prom, a teacher assigns a homework project on "self-expression."

Yasmin, Cloe, Sasha and Jade team up for a group effort and decide to make a video about themselves and how they prepare for the big dance. (One of them happens to be prom chair.) Of course there are a few snafus along the way, including a gossip columnist who exposes some of their "secrets" in the school paper, a problem with Cloe's spiffy convertible and some misunderstandings among these four young friends who do just about everything together.

Although they are fashion mavens foremost, the foursome also are serious about reading, writing and their class project, and they learn valuable lessons about friendship through their prom adventure.

-- Joyce Gannon

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Baby Einstein's "Baby da Vinci: From Head to Toe"

This interactive, multi-language DVD is intended to encourage children 9 months and older to identify a variety of physical features such as ears, nose and lips. It caused me to doze off, which I don't believe was its intention.

My 20-month-old son initially was captured by the stylish blend of images of artwork and toys, incorporated with classical music. But the DVD failed to keep him interested very long. He made it through about five of the DVD's 33 minutes and the final 28 minutes wasn't much fun for me.

The extras included a puppet show, a read-along book and a section on the five senses. There appears to be some educational value in this DVD, if you can get your child to watch it.

-- David Garth

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"Soccer Dog: European Cup"

It's quite a feat to come up with a kids' movie that manages to be silly, confusing, condescending and boring, all at the same time. "Soccer Dog," the story of a fish-out-of-water boy and his genetically engineered dog, doesn't even get an "A" for effort.

Zach Connolly (Jake Thomas) is an American teenager hauled across the Atlantic to meet his birth father, who never knew Zach existed. (Try explaining that in passing to a 7-year-old). There's some sort of deal about a six-week trial period with new dad, a small-time Scottish soccer player named Bryan MacGreggor (Nick Moran), who might or might not keep the kid.

Boy and dog -- which escaped from the sinister lab that created this "smart" soccer-loving creature -- bond. Boy learns to play soccer, dog demonstrates that even canines can celebrate, in sloppily edited slow-motion, after scoring the winning goal. How both even come to be playing in the Big Game is a slap in the face to serious soccer fans. (Imagine Michelle Wie and a parakeet playing for the Steelers.)

Jimmy, 11, and Bridget, 8, are both avid soccer players. Their expert opinion halfway through watching the movie: boring. Adults might appreciate some of the strange touches (Orson Bean shows up and there's a kilt-wearing trio of players one presumes is an homage to "Slap Shot's" Hanson Brothers), but mostly, this movie is a soccer dog.

-- Maria Sciullo

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"Barney's Colorful World! Live!"

Barney has long been known for stilted acting and speaking that's hammy, slow and over-pronounced. "Barney's Colorful World! Live!" fits that bill. Judging by its tone and the kids in the audience, it's aimed at the pre-preschool set. My 3-year-old son spent the first five minutes of this recorded live show significantly hypnotized but dropped out after that, only to be brought back every once in a while by the songs. At just more than an hour, it's too long for what is usually a 25-minute show.

As for me, there wasn't an adult-pleasing morsel to be found in this banal presentation that takes viewers to the rain forest, the Arctic, a beach and underwater to meet animals, including a starfish Elvis impersonator. Oy.

Still, it could be worse. Barney has always excelled at promoting imagination, good manners and caring for others. This show is no exception. It's just a shame it has to come in such a tedious package. (Available Sept. 14.)

-- Laura Pace

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"Sesame Street Celebrates Around the World"

This celebration of New Year's Eve customs from around the world, in which "Sesame Street" characters prepare for their own party, is disappointing.

My 3-year-old, who likes "Sesame Street," soon lost interest after the characters' first song-and-dance number. The Monster News Network's filmed segments of children in Mexico, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Germany and Norway may appeal more to older children. However, some of the customs featured, such as shopping for foods or making greeting cards, just weren't very interesting.

Oddly, between those segments and visits back with the "Sesame Street" gang, Lily Tomlin appears in her role as Ernestine, the telephone operator. She was connecting Oscar the Grouch with his relatives. These bits made the program drag even more.

While I liked the idea of learning about other New Year's traditions, this presentation lacked energy and charm. Like my son, I became bored. Maybe the problem is that New Year's Eve celebrations just aren't all that exciting anywhere.

-- Alice Rowley