As a rule, babies typically don't make up a huge demographic of the DVD-viewing audience, but the crawling', toddling' crowd now has a delightful character, eebee, who can lead the diapered set (and their parents, of course) through an entertaining series of interactive and educational adventures.
The multicolored, bright-eyed puppet, too unassuming to have a capitalized name or even any apparent gender, interacts with real babies in a variety of play situations onscreen, and both you and your baby will be captivated and inspired by their activities.
The first of the DVD series, "Exploring Real Stuff," considers the physical properties of things in baby's world - everything from toys to paper to cereal to cardboard boxes - and the fun and interesting things that can be done with them.
Baby learns that round things roll and sponge-blocks tumble; that crepe paper can be a blast to crinkle, toss and tear; that Cheerios can be as much fun to funnel as they are to eat.
"All in a Day's Play," the second DVD, explores, among other things, a variety of imaginative ways to have fun with a laundry basket.
It also introduces the concept of sound and music, through various standbys such as the classic pot and wooden spoon, as well as jingle bells, plastic containers and other "instruments.
" From this DVD babies learn to expand their imagination beyond that which is seen and heard (or not heard) into things that can be adapted to a wonderful world of other uses, whether the imagined item is a laundry-basket-cum-basketball-net or a bevy of household items converted to an improv jazz band ensemble.
The third of the series, "Figuring Things Out," finds eebee and friends experimenting with light and shadows, along with other elements of more physical substance and varying textures: mountains of pillows, and an obstacle course of various toys and baby-friendly household items.
In hands-on fashion, toddlers flip switches, trace light beams, learn how to things fit together, and how to take them apart and rearrange them.
This sets a solid foundation for later problem-solving skills and creating solutions to reach goals, as well as being just plain fun.
The DVD also sheds light (literally) on the fact that the dark is nothing to fear, and that shadows can be joyful friends rather than scary figures.
eebee's Adventures is intended for babies six months and older, but parents and caregivers will delight in it just as much.