Mister Rogers’ love and legacy live on

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood:

Adventures in Friendship

and A Day at the Circus

Anchor Bay Entertainment

DVD: $16.98. VHS: $12.98

Ages 2 and up

www.fci.orgv

Adults and older children understand that iconic Fred Rogers, television’s gentlest communicator and child advocate, lost his struggle with cancer in 2003. But he and his invaluable dedication to the well-being of all children are very much alive through the shows that still air on public television stations, and now through first-time DVD releases, each with two 30-minute show episodes and extras.

In “Adventures in Friendship,” about the emotional ups and downs that come with a child’s relationships with others, Rogers offers reassurance and coping skills. Extras include interactive games, a visit to a teddy bear factory, a recipe and a craft activity, an “About Fred Rogers” segment and a story by Rogers read by Mr. McFeeley (David Newell), the show’s “Speedy Delivery” man. “A Day at the Circus,” with similar extras, explores creativity and self-esteem.

Each DVD booklet comes with activities and caregiver tips.

Note: For adults, a separate recent DVD release of the Emmy-nominated PBS special, “Fred Rogers, America’s Favorite Neighbor” (Family Communications and WQED Multimedia, $19.95, www.fci.org) is a don’t-miss celebration of Rogers and his legacy. Narrated by Michael Keaton (a onetime member of Rogers’ stage crew), this memorable tribute paints a portrait of a remarkable life with a wealth of vintage clips, interviews, remembrances by colleagues and Rogers’ concert pianist wife, Joanne, and most moving, speeches and conversation by Rogers himself.

Pincus and the Pig, a Klezmer Tale

CD: $13.99

From 5 and up

www.shirim.comv

What comic bliss. Music education takes a wild, wooly and witty turn in a klezmer version of Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” as told by children’s literature icon Maurice Sendak, whose delicious Yiddish-accented narration reveals the author-illustrator’s gift for the theatrical. It’s given instrumental voice -- with clarinet, trombone, tuba, banjo, accordion and more -- by the excellent Shirim Klezmer Orchestra. Peter is Boychik Pincus, living with his grandfather Zeyde and the woods are patrolled by silly Cossacks. Rather than a wolf, the villain is Chozzer, a beastly wild pig who terrorizes Duck, Birdie and Cat, until Pincus saves the day.

Comes with character stickers, a glossary of terms and a CD booklet of the tale illustrated by Sendak.

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“Daddy’s Girl”

Hyperion Books for Children

Hardcover: $16.99

www.hyperionbooksforchildren.comv

“See my baby walking down the street / Walks so lightly on her baby feet / Walks like a sailor rolling side to side / Smile on her face about a mile wide.”

Garrison Keillor, public radio’s most mellifluous voice and host of the iconic “A Prairie Home Companion” variety show, is one doting, second-time-around dad. Songs he wrote for his little girl are the inspiration for this effervescent picture book that comes with a CD of those four songs sung by Keillor in bouncy jazz rhythms. In the book, his sweet and witty observations of life with a beloved baby and toddler are illustrated in festive ink-and-water color detail by Robin Preiss Glasser.

Wings of Slumber

Banana Slug String Band

Slug Music

CD: $14.98

www.bananaslugstringband.comv

This Northern California band has been making ecologically conscious children’s music for decades and is still going strong. Musicians and educators all, the four band members -- “Airy” Larry Graff, Doug “Dirt” Greenfield, “Solar” Steve Van Zandt and “Marine” Mark Nolan -- are joined by an accomplished group of acoustic artists and vocalists, including a couple of Grammy winners: pianist George Winston and violinist Laurie Lewis. The gentle tracks celebrate big and small wonders as the beauty of sunrise (“Blue sky wings have taken flight / They’ve given me a song / We soar from darkness into light / Oh beauty carry on”) and camping (“This little tent this cozy bag / Upon the ground we lie / Cradled in the music / Of the camper’s lullaby”).

-- Lynne Heffley