Selection of Christmas Videos Will Bring Holiday Cheer

If you’re looking for a children’s video to add some Christmas cheer to your house--or to serve as a distraction at present-wrapping time--here’s a sampling to consider:

“The Snowman,” Columbia TriStar Home Video, $14.95, 26 minutes. This 1982 Academy Award nominee for best animated short film deserves a place of honor on your holiday video shelf. Based on Raymond Briggs’ beautiful classic about a little boy who shares a magical night with a snowman, the animation flows as joyfully as the funny, poignant tale.

“Elmo Saves Christmas,” Sony Wonder/Children’s Television Workshop, $12.98, 60 minutes. Who’d have thought this adorable little red monster would be the must-have toy of the season? His sweet nature is the reason to pick up this musical merriment featuring the whole Sesame Street gang, as Elmo wonders what would happen if Christmas were every day, and finds out, a la “It’s a Wonderful Life”-style time travel. Charles Durning is the exhausted Santa, Harvey Fierstein is the unemployed Easter Bunny and Maya Angelou is the storyteller.

“Home for the Holidays,” Just for Kids Home Video, $19.95, 55 minutes. This is a nicely animated family adventure based on Lynn Johnston’s hugely popular “For Better or Worse” comic strip. A mysterious stranger teaches Elizabeth that being the middle child isn’t so bad and Farley the dog’s heroics save Michael from Halloween hooligans.

“Allegra’s Christmas,” Paramount Home Video, $9.95, 30 minutes. The gang from Nick Jr.’s gentle-spirited preschooler show, “Allegra’s Window,” brings Christmas to kindly Mr. Cook after he teaches them all a lesson in giving.

“Hey Baby, It’s You, a Christmas Celebration,” Columbia TriStar Home Video, $9.95, 30 minutes. This is another in the burgeoning field of baby and toddler videos, with close-ups of happy tots, puppies and kittens at play accompanied by unmemorable but perky songs.

“The Best Christmas Ever,” PolyGram Video, $9.95, 25 minutes. With three charming holiday stories for young viewers from “The Busy World of Richard Scarry” series, this video stars Huckle Cat and his family, Lowly Worm, Mr. Fix-it Fox and other Scarry creations. It is well-animated and true to Scarry’s trademark detailed illustrations.

* All should be available at Blockbuster, Musicland, Sam Goody or other major video retailers.