Product Review

After hosting nearly 100 episodes of Blue's Clues, Steve is off to college. That means, It's Joe Time! Steve's affable younger brother Joe prepares to carry the torch--and the handy dandy notebook--that Clue Master Steve so skillfully carried for years. In episode one, Blue leads Joe on a merry chase to determine what she wants Steve to pack for college. Skidooing to an artfully drawn campus, choosing school subjects, and saying goodbye to a dear friend may well raise more questions and emotions than typical episodes. To their credit, Blue and friends bid a cheerful, tearless farewell and adjust perfectly to smilin' Joe. By the second episode, the new host and his entourage create their own "Big Book About Us," discussing favorite colors, shapes, animals, and more. As always, interaction with the 1- to 4-year-old audience coupled with simple, joyfully presented lessons make for 50 minutes of pure educational pleasure. --Liane Thomas