All Rise...

If you'll excuse him, Judge David Johnson needs to go to his thinking couch now.

Editor's Note

Our review of Blue's Clues: Blue's Jobs, published May 11th, 2006, is also available.

The Charge

It's a party theme as these episodes of the popular kids show celebrate Blue's balls.

The Case

Blue, Nick Jr.'s plush, aquamarine mascot of fun and learning, stars in four episodes of two of his shows for this disc. The dog obviously made his bones in Blue's Clues, where he and his owner Joe, the extra-smiley human host, engage in a puzzle-finding expedition. Blue leaves paw prints all over the place, and it's up to Joe—and YOU!—to figure out what Blue is trying to tell you. Blue's Room is the super-super-junior-sized Blue's show, where critical thinking and problem-solving are jettisoned for general fun and talking puppets, with some introductory reading and vocabulary skills tossed in for good measure.

For this release: four complete shows, two courtesy of Blue's Room, two from Blue's Clues.

• "Fred's Birthday"
Blue's Room
The Blue's Room crew are pumped today! It's Frederica the gravelly-voiced little girl's birthday! So, of course, the theme for this play date is one of "celebration." Blue and Frederica make their way through the room, touching base with their other friends, who give them directions to a special gift for Frederica. As they sojourn, the duo sings a lot and brushes up on some introductory vocabulary. Your kiddo's interaction is encouraged.

• "The Fairy Tale Ball"
Blue's Room/Blue's Clues
In this crossover show, Blue hops from three dimensional talking plush toy to two-dimensional, animated muted mutt as he and Joe embark on a trip to the Fairy Tale Ball. Along the way, the two friends encounter famous fairy tale characters like the three little pigs (whose houses they take upon themselves to blow down, rendering the pigs homeless and surrounded by bits of dangerous straw debris) and Jack, from "Jack and the Beanstalk" fame (thankfully minus the attempted homicide and cannibalism aspect of the story). Blue challenges Joe and the audience to use their clue notebooks and figure out which character Blue is most excited to see at the ball. After they arrive and party hard into the night, Blue returns to his Room and goes crazy with his friends in a fairy tale dress-up celebration!

Bonus Episodes

• "Dress Up Day"
Joe and Blue are ready to play dress-up, and prepare for a fun costume pageant. And they want you (as in you, the five year-old kid sitting there munching down on what you just pulled out of your nose) to dress up too! That is the challenge that awaits you and your trusty Blue's Clues notebook: to find out what Blue wants you to dress up as. Joe will of course be there to help, as well as a talking shovel and pail.

• "Our Neighborhood Festival"
It's a block party! Joe and Blue take to the town, which has vomited up its residents for a day of games, food, and fraternizing. Meet new people, learn some new words, and try to work out what part of the festival Blue is anticipating the most. Hey, is that Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin as the town librarian?

These are fine shows for the kids. While Blue's Room is tailored more toward the little, little ones, both would be surely embraced by any sentient toddler who likes bright colors and talking animals. Learning is stressed, as well as creativity, and the encouraged interaction is a nice touch. Joe needs to cut back on those pastel shirts though.

Judge's Note: For a cheap laugh, check out the abbreviated title for this disc on Amazon.

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