I can remember when The Backyardigans first came out, and the big thing we wanted was the soundtrack to the show. It's no surprise, since Lounge Lizards musician Evan Lurie (along with several other legends of the downtown NYC alt-music scene) sets the music for each and every episode of this Nickelodeon show. The soundtrack was originally all we could get our hands on, as The Backyardigans were a bit of a cult hit. Where they now appear as a programming staple, they were introduced slowly years ago. Christmas With The Backyardigans is surely a sign that the show has gone completely mainstream, but that's not a bad thing so long as the bar for quality remains high. Like most similar collections, there's actually only one episode here ("The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve") that is about the holiday, plus a DVD-game packed in as an extra that lets you match unopened presents with objects from Santa's workshop. The "Action Elves" episode is actually hilarious - presented in the form of a campy, '60s spy flick, a few of the Backyardigans intervene when the Abominable Brothers hijack Santa's Magic Sack.

There are several conventions that you come to love about the show. First, it's all about imagination. The kids stay in their yards and play all the parts, so any peril introduced during the show rarely causes upset with your little ones. No matter how outlandish the scenario - and they are often outlandish - kids know that The Backyardigans will prevail and make a comeback once snacks are served. It's this emotional remove that makes episodes like "The Amazing Splashinis" palatable for sensitive kids like mine. In other circumstances, a sea monster lurking in a swimming pool would be horrifying, but Pablo and Co. wrap the entire thing around several song-and-dance numbers, and the "monster" turns out to be adorable, of course. The other two episodes have more of a space theme. "Pablor and the Acorns" injects fueding solar jet-jockeys into an otherwise placid scout adventure, while "The Big Dipper Diner" concerns a case of mistaken identity surrounding a couple of mischievous aliens.

About the only thing we can poke at in this release is the full-screen presentation, which should tell you that it's an otherwise excellent release your kids will enjoy. The songs are catchy, plus they're set to some great dance numbers. Above all, the imaginative play sequences in the four episodes contained in Christmas With The Backyardigans mirror almost perfectly the way kids really do like to play. Think of the great soundtrack as a bonus for the parents that usually listen along around the house or during road trips...