Rodney Raccoon Goes Green!

PreS-Gr 3—A computer-animated Rodney Raccoon narrates this environmentally conscious video. The action starts with two children who, planning on fishing, arrive at the water and find signs alerting them not to eat the fish because of polluted runoff. The following day, they ask their group teacher about it. Soon a live-action, costumed Rodney Raccoon arrives and suggests they embark on a green adventure. When they don green T-shirts, the children and Rodney turn into cartoon characters and learn about types of pollution that they can help prevent. The suggestions are stressed repeatedly and in music videos: to wash vehicles at a car wash where runoff is treated, to pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly, to not use chemical fertilizers, and to take public transportation. Children may be amused when Sassy the salmon sings a rousing blues-inspired song with her back-up fish singers. A catchy hip-hop song performed by the costumed Rodney cuts away to footage of a larger, diverse green team washing cars together. A five-track CD has more songs by Rodney, inviting listeners to dance along. A disk with a video game is also included. The simplicity of the program and animation will appeal to younger viewers.—Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH