Clifford's Best Friends [VHS]
Based on Norman Birdwell'sClifford the Big Red Dogbooks, this PBS Kids series features bright animation and favoriteCliffordcharacters like Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, Cleo, and T-Bone. This 45-minute compilation includes four episodes that explore the complexities of friendship. "My Best Friend" finds Emily Elizabeth searching for a special item to bring to school for show and tell. Her classmate Jenna's disdain over her initial selection makes Emily Elizabeth frantic, but when she considers what's really important in her life, the choice is suddenly quite obvious. When Mac abruptly befriends Cleo in "False Friends," Cleo is so delighted that she begins to shun her older friends Clifford and T-Bone. The question is whether this new friendship is based on genuine liking or something else. In "New Friend," Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone feel uncomfortable around K.C., a three-legged dog who's visiting the neighborhood. Condescension, avoidance, and pity help the dogs deal with their discomfort, but eventually the trio learns to look past K.C.'s differences and discovers a great new friend. Finally, in "The Dog Who Cried Woof," Cleo's repeated teasing lands her in an uncomfortable situation in which she learns an important lesson about trust. Clifford promotes acceptance and friendship in this entertaining, 45-minute video. (Ages 2 to 7)--Tami Horiuchi