Based on the premise that the natural world provides youngsters plenty of opportunities to learn through their senses, Nick Jr. Baby presents Curious Buddies, a 30-minute "play-along" program designed to stimulate babies' social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. While kids care little about such benefits, they'll love the film's live-action footage of boys and girls with brightly smiling faces playing with familiar objects, while a menagerie of pastel colored puppets join the fun. All the action occurs at a neighborhood park where kids slide, climb, swing, jump, and run. In one scene, a bounty of rubber balls keeps toddlers engaged; in another, a peek-a-boo game provides plenty of laughs. Interspersed are loving interactions between mother and baby, and minimal narration reminding youngsters to look, listen, and touch the world around them. The gently paced format is an appropriate segue from playtime to naptime as a handful of soothing, original songs reinforce themes. (Ages 18 months to 3 years) --Lynn Gibson