Valuable Tips for Safety’s Sake, and Some Songs for Inspiration

Video

A Day With Officer Pete. Quality Home Video/Trident Entertainment Inc., 30 minutes, $9.99. (612) 893-0903. Ages 4 to 10. Jason Hervey leaves his “Wonder Years” bad-boy persona behind to appear as the helpful good-guy host of this valuable video about gun safety, “stranger danger,” 911 calls and more. Hervey introduces Officer Pete and other real-life members of law enforcement, including special K-9 Officer Harco, a drug-sniffing pooch.

The human cops do a show-and-tell about their uniforms, equipment, squad cars, motorcycles and helicopters. There are also well-demonstrated, kid-accessible tips on safety in various situations. The only downside is some rocking camera action, meant to add some hip pizazz. Adults might want a Dramamine.

Audio

Songs to Grow By. Jeanie Perkins. Remarkable Records. CD: $11.95; cassette: $9.95. 36 minutes. Ages 4 and up. (800) 416-4412, Ext. 24. “Everybody’s Special (in a Different Way),” “You Can’t Be Too Careful,” “It’s Your Name (and You Can Be Proud)”--the emphasis is on kid-empowerment, common ground in children’s music. Perkins’ sweet-voiced appeal, however, and her bouncy pop, jazz and country rhythms make this a lively listen.

Other highlights: “Think Fast,” covering right and wrong decision-making; the bluesy “Stuck,” about the price of procrastination, and two sweet lullabies, “Sleep Now” and “Mi Nin~o Lindo.”