All Rise...

Judge David Johnson's favorite part of spring is that it's almost summer.

The Charge

Follow a newly hatched chick named Peep and his friends Chirp and Quack on their daily adventures.

The Case

Yep. That's pretty much what happens.

A PBS staple, Peep and the Big Wide World is about as low-impact as it gets for kid-friendly animation. There were more than a few times I did a double-take, thinking I had accidentally started watching someone play Angry Birds. Though these avian creations are far more adorable and far less interested in causing catastrophic property damage.

Our protagonists are Peep, Chirp, and Quack, three friends who enjoy wandering around the forest, engaging in extremely low-key activities. Each 21-minute episode features two smaller adventures, separated by some real-life footage of cute kids looking at foliage and remarking on whatever the theme of the show might be.

This is very, very basic storytelling, with plots involving Peep searching for a dandelion seed, Quack throwing a party for attention, or Peep and Quack looking for runaway bunnies. Not hard-hitting stuff. The most complex episode is a two-parter called "An Inconvenient Tooth" and, yes, that wordplay is no accident. Peep, Quack, and Chirp work to forcefully re-educate their friend Beaver Boy into controlling his tree-cutting habit. Because, you know, that's a switch beavers can just flip off.

The DVD: standard definition 1.33:1 full frame, Dolby 2.0 stereo, and DVD-ROM-accessible printable coloring pages and activities.

Peep and the Big Wide World is a winner and something your rugrats will enjoy.

The Verdict

Not Guilty. Peep this, parents.

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