The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss [01]: Cat's Playhouse

Amazon.com Lighten up! A messy house and a rained-out picnic are reasons to celebrate at The Cat's Playhouse. Along with feathery pal Terence McBird, the Cat in the Hat hosts three 23-minute shows aimed at turning frowns upside-down. Each rollicking episode begins in Cat's kaleidoscopic playhouse, where a kooky Wubbulouscope whisks viewers off to storytime. These humorous tales nicely reinforce Cat's positive messages: cleaning day just needs a good song to lighten the work; a perfect picnic site is "anywhere there's fun, friends, and food;" and patience is oft rewarded. An inspired Muppet makeover of Theodor Geisel's original characters means Cat and his many co-stars (including Sam I Am and Yertl the Turtle) retain their quirky Seussian looks and wordplay; but now they can sing like pros, dance, and interact with their viewers. Multi-layered sets painted or molded in velvety colors, and Bob Golden's bouncy score perfectly complement this entertaining goody bag. (Ages 3 to 8) --Liane Thomas