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Peter Pan’s next adventure

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Times Staff Writer

Peter Pan in Scarlet

Simon & Schuster Audio

For the record:

12:00 a.m. Nov. 10, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday November 10, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 34 words Type of Material: Correction
‘Cathy & Marcy’s Song Shop’: A review of the “Cathy & Marcy’s Song Shop” DVD in Thursday’s Calendar Weekend gave an incorrect website address for information about it. The correct address is www.songshop. cathymarcy.com.

Six-disc CD (6 1/2 hours) $29.95

Adults and children

www.simonsays.com

In this authorized sequel, British author Geraldine McCaughrean ingeniously weaves old and new into a remarkable new adventure, staying faithful to J.M. Barrie’s witty, dark, anarchic creation (not the more familiar Disney lite version). Narrator Tim Curry has a blast with it, as the Great War rages on in real time and a mysterious blight in Neverland invades the dreams of the adult Darlings, including the adopted Lost Boys. Finding their way back to childhood, they return to a starkly changed Neverland, meet wild animals, a strange Traveling Man and feuding fairies, travel to Grief Reef and the Witches’ Maze and go on a treasure quest led by increasingly troubled Peter Pan, before finding a cure for Neverland’s woes.

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Sesame Street: Old School

Volume 1: 1969-1974

Sesame Workshop

and Sony Wonder

Three-disc DVD: $39.98

For grown-up kids

www.sonymusicstore.com

Before “Sesame Street” was an institution, it was a bold, controversial experiment: multicultural educational content delivered with the fast-cut rhythm of TV commercials. This seven-hour trip down memory lane traces the evolution of the series and the formidable dedication and creativity that has kept it on top. In the first episode, a young mutton-chopped Gordon introduces a Sesame Street where Oscar is orange, Big Bird is goofy and Mr. Hooper runs the corner store. Bert does the Pigeon Dance, Bill Cosby and James Earl Jones recite the alphabet, and here are the memorable animations teaching numbers and letters, as well as such musical classics as “One of These Things Is Not Like the Other” and “Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood.” Another treat: Rowlf, Kermit and a Muppet think tank in a video pitching the show to PBS affiliates.

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In Winter Still, a Claude Monet

Story and Almond Blossoms,

a Vincent Van Gogh Story

Auryn Inc.

DVD: $7.99 each; ages 6 to 12

www.auryn.com

These eye-filling films, part of a “Painted Tales” series from L.A.-based animation company Auryn Inc., combine storytelling with vivid, fluid 3-D animation resembling paint strokes on canvas, tailored to suggest the style and famous works of the artists. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s story “The Selfish Giant,” “In Winter Still” is set in Monet’s garden in Giverny, where winter comes to stay after children are barred from entering. “Almond Blossoms,” loosely based on O. Henry’s poignant short story “The Last Leaf,” is about troubled Van Gogh, who helps a compassionate girl who befriends him.

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Ralph’s World

Disney Sound

CD/DVD: $12.98; ages 2 to 10www.disneysound.com

A terrific introduction to one-of-a-kind Ralph Covert and his “Ralph’s World” of song: lyrically and melodically inventive rock ‘n’ roll -- comic and poignant too -- crafted to appeal to little and big ears. Covert’s first release for Walt Disney Records’ Disney Sound label features 14 tracks from previous albums, among them the joyous “Dance Around,” “Peggy’s Pie Parlor Polka,” “Happy Lemons” and the inspirational “The Mighty Worm” (“everybody does what they do best”). Extra features include “Dance Around,” “Things That I Like,” “Surfin’ in My Imagination” and three other animated “Ralph’s World” videos.

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Rockin’ in the Forest

With Farmer Jason

CD: $16.98; for ages 2 to 6

www.rhino.comFarmer Jason, a.k.a. Jason Ringenberg of indie band Jason and the Scorchers, follows up his first hit CD for kids, “A Day at the Farm,” with more zany yet oddly informative songs and narratives set against rock ‘n’ roll and country rhythms. This time, Ringenberg has forest encounters with skunks (“Punk Rock Skunk”) and moose (“A Moose on the Loose”), toads (“Ode to a Toad”) and mice (“Mrs. Mouse”). Guitar, trumpet, violin, oud, harmonica and pennywhistle are among the album’s eclectic instrumental mix. Guest artists include Todd Snider, Webb Wilder and bassist Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

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Cathy and Marcy’s Song Shop

DVD: $15; ages 2 to 8

(800) 669-3942www.songshop.com

A new DVD release combining two concert videos starring Grammy Award-winning folk and country artists Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. “Is Not, Is Too!” and “Yodel-Ay-Hee-Hoo!” were recorded a decade ago, but the sing-along, play-along songs from these two stellar musicians are evergreen; so too the pair’s notable humor, warmth and gift for connecting with kids. And it’s not every day someone teaches you how to yodel.

lynne.heffley@latimes.com

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