Product Review

The Olies' world has its own Easter traditions, centering on "Springy Chicken," a fair-weather fowl who shows up, lays eggs in carefully prepared backyard nests, and takes wing, leaving the robot citizens to warm them. The first episode finds the Olies scrambling to clean their house in preparation for the holiday chicken, with father dressing in full-feather regalia and performing the traditional strut across the yard. But the hen doesn't show up until the title episode, in which she lays her egg, but doesn't return in time, leaving Rolie and company the responsibility of cornering and caring for the runaway chick. The last episode, "Always Chasing Rainbows," keeps with the spring theme as Dad rescues his children from a rainy day inside by organizing a search party for the end of the rainbow. This 24-minute tape based on William Joyce's children's books provides gently goofy entertainment for children from 2 to 5. --Kimberly Heinrichs