FAMILY : ‘How It’s Done’ Video Blends Clever Writing, Execution

The “how things work” trend in live-action kids’ home videos shows no signs of abating, and that’s fortunate because one of the best, “How It’s Done, Episode 2: From Baseball Bats to Potato Chips,” just came out this month.

Part of a new series, it’s a video visit to manufacturing and food-processing plants to see the making of such everyday items as baseball bats, orange juice and chocolate covered candies. Not a new idea, but always fascinating, even to adult eyes.

What sets this Video Treasures release apart from others like it, however, is its witty presentation, starting with host Howie Dunn. Dunn, a pelican puppet private eye with fish breath, and his human sidekick Higibigiby travel about, stopping to answer how-it’s-done questions for inquiring people of all ages.

What happened to the oranges in the orange grove? Howie goes into his Sam Spade mode to solve the mystery at the orange juice plant. At a baseball bat-maker’s shop, a sports announcer calls the action just like a baseball game. In the cherry orchard we listen in on the cherries’ dinner-party patter--”I loved you in that Cherry Mason movie” and “Hey, Mary Chino! How are you?”--and their delighted running commentary as they’re harvested and processed.

In between segments are a yo-yo duel and encounters with a comic delivery man, a sports announcer and bad-guy Mr. Stinkworth, who has designs on Howie’s special TV set.

Cleverly written and deftly executed, this blend of comedy and real information, written and produced by Michael A. Kalush, with puppeteer Chris O’Brien, is a family treat.

The first video in the series, “How It’s Done, Episode 1: From Roller Coasters to Ice Cream,” unreviewed, was also released this month.

* “How It’s Done,” Episodes 1 and 2, Video Treasures, $9.99, (800) 745-1145.

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Down on the Farm: To see how things work down on the farm, Vermont Story Works’ “Let’s Go to the Farm” video takes top honors among several new offerings with the same theme.

Viewers from age 2 are taken on a visit to a child-friendly, picture-book Vermont family farm with host and storyteller Mac Parker. There, each season brings new activities, from harvesting and planting crops, milking cows, tapping maple trees and making syrup, to going sledding in the winter and swimming in the summer.

Beautifully filmed, informative and narrated with easy humor, the 30-minute show contains plenty of big farm machinery for interested observers, but the abundance of nature and the hard-working farmers take the front seat.

* “Let’s Go to the Farm,” Vermont Story Works, $14.95, (800) 206-8383.