Four Teletubbies, three French chefs, two brothers Burns and a Magliozzi in a pear tree

You can now fill your Santa sack entirely with giftoids related to public TV and radio. Some bit of the money will even go back to the producers and stations. (Current has no financial interest.) Compiled by Karen Everhart Bedford for Current, Dec. 18, 2000.

For babies ... NPR infant romper: Bright red outfit with the new NPR kiddie logo, $22 from the recently relaunched NPR Online Shop. Teletubbies: Christmas in the Snow: Snow falls in Teletubbyland, and the pudgy ones slip, play and build a snowtubby. A PBS Kids Home Video release, two tapes, total 90 minutes, $29.98. Last week, these hot videos were on back-order at Shop PBS, but they're available in stores, too. Prairie Home Companion onesies: White, all-cotton, with snap closures, emblazoned with either "Above Average" or "Powdermilk Biscuits." Three sizes fit better than average babies 6- to 24-months. Available from PHC's online catalog for $17.95.

For kids ... Let's Pretend Elmo: Move the red guy's limbs into different poses, and he pretends to be an airplane, a monster or eight other things--making funny sounds to match. Includes tips to promote pretend play. For children 18 months and older. Retail price: $29.99. Between the Lions plush: Cuddly lions come with reading-incentive toys, such as a word wheel or journal. $26 from WGBH Video, which is also selling series-related books and beanie toys. Clifford's CD-ROMs: The newest items in Scholastic's product line for the big red dog now seen on PBS. "Thinking Adventures" encourages kids to use their reasoning and problem-solving skills to gather everything needed for Clifford's birthday party. "Reading" takes kids through seven levels of entertaining reading activities that introduce new letters, sounds and words. Both for ages 4-6. Retail price: $19.95. Barney Magical Music Playset: The family computer becomes a musical stage for Barney and friends. The Playset fits over standard Windows keyboards, and allows kiddies to create melodies and silly sounds with five musical instruments. As music plays, characters dance on-screen, and the Jukebox saves songs to play again and again, until parents are driven from the room! Includes activities to print and color. Appropriate for ages 3 and up. Retail price: $39.99. Arthur's "Perfect Christmas" in various media: This season's hour-long PBS special finds Arthur, family and friends preparing for "perfect" celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and "Baxter Day." But perfection is elusive, and our protagonists discover it's not necessary for bliss. The home video is $12.95; the companion book, published by Little, Brown & Co. is $15.95; and a Rounder Kids soundtrack is $12.98 on CD or $9.98 on cassette. From WGBH Video (800-949-8670).

For the whole family Definitely Above Average: A Collection of Songs and Stories: Two CDs or two cassettes compiled from A Prairie Home Companion. Includes Ian Frazier's "Lamentations of the Father," and Garrison Keillor's version of "The Princess and the Pea." CD set is $24.95, cassettes are $18.95, available from PHC's online catalog. The Giving Box: Innoculate your kids against "gimme-gimme" Christmas fever with the latest book from Fred Rogers. Comes with a collection box to help families discover the spirit, meaning and joy of giving and receiving. $12.95 at bookstores. Published by Running Press. Anne of Green Gables video set: A complete set of the popular Anne series. 600 minutes on six tapes for $79.94 from Shop PBS (1-800-PBS-SHOP).

For grown-ups Ken Burns' Jazz VHS or DVD: Save your loved ones from the nightmare of programming their VCRs for the entire month of January, when PBS debuts Ken Burns' latest epic. Shop PBS is marking 10 percent off all pre-orders placed by Dec. 27. VHS sale price is $134.98; DVD, $179.98. Orders won't ship until Jan. 1. Companion book ($65) and five-CD set ($59.98) are available now. Brother Ric's New York series (the first six parts) is also available from ShopPBS. A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh: Fiona Ritchie selected favorites from the Green Linnet catalog to evoke the spirit of a traditional Celtic Christmas party. Liner notes include her short story populated by colorful characters in the holiday spirit. From Green Linnet Records for $16.99, and available at major record outlets. Click and Clack Campaign 2000 t-shirt: A memento of the election that wouldn't end--all-cotton white shirt with red, white and blue logo and campaign slogan, "Two Zeros in '00." Beefcake sizes for $17.95 from Car Talk's Shameless Commerce Store (888-CARS-JUNK). Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: A reference book and pledge special compiled from Child's handwritten kitchen notes and accumulated wisdom. Features essential instructions--for cooking greens, mixing vinaigrette or skimming off fat, etc.--basic recipes, and a handy index. Book published by Knopf, list price $19.95. Videos of the December PBS pledge special available only from public TV stations. The Best of NPR's Lost and Found Sound, Vol 1: Rare recordings and sonic snapshots from the Peabody-winning series airing on All Things Considered. Double CD ($22.95) or cassette ($16.95) sets for sale at the NPR Online Store (800-NPR-DISC), major e-tailers and bookstores nationwide.

	.	To Current's home page
	.	Another gift idea for grown-ups: A History of Public Broadcasting, Current's updated, concise illustrated paperback about the field's 80-year lifespan. $12.

Web page revised Dec. 18, 2000
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