Here Comes Clifford [VHS]

As if it weren't enough that the creators of the PBS kids' series Clifford concocted a cartoon worth watching for its old-school charm, they've also finagled a fine balance of morals-building story lines and freewheeling fun. Cases in point are on the four-episode Here Comes Clifford, in which good-girl dog owner Emily Elizabeth and the enormous titular red pooch help put to rest preconceived notions, especially when it comes to appearances. In the first episode, "Little Clifford," Emily Elizabeth chooses her soon-to-be-supersized pup from a neighbor dog's litter. As Clifford shoots up, his family's forced to leave the city in search of roomier accommodations. The message: just because Clifford's different doesn't mean he ought to be abandoned. That same sentiment swivels into the next tale, "Welcome to Birdwell Island." Here the townies balk at Clifford's bigness until disaster strikes and they come to recognize its value. The third episode finds bow-clad bow-wow Cleo sending T-Bone into a tailspin over his once secure position as Clifford's best pal, and the final segment, "A Ferry Tale," proves that, in order to be on the cover of Prize Pup magazine, a dog sometimes needs to do more than sport a shiny coat. Each episode is a praiseworthy primer for the kind of important life lessons that'll keep kids out of the doghouse in the future. --Tammy La Gorce