A kids’ favorite on PBS for over seven years, Caillou helps children discover the wonder of being a little kid in a big world. Caillou’s Winter Wonders collects a quartet of snow-filled, thematically similar episodes, so with winter just around the bend in many parts of the country, the disc could make a nice stocking stuffer or autumnal birthday gift for smaller children.

Heavy on primary colors and soft, thin lines, and eschewing any of the harsh angularity of more complex, adult animation, just looking at Caillou makes me want to slip on a pair of galoshes and mittens… and I now live in Southern California, for God’s sake. The show is all about the capacity for exploration and wonderment in everyday life, so most episodes are constructed around ostensibly pedestrian events.

This title is no exception. In four new-to-DVD episodes that include 14 exciting, winter-themed adventures, the delightfully adventurous young Caillou does almost everything seasonal except race Todd Palin on a snowmobile. In “Caillou the Snowman,” he explores all the fun activities of winter, including building a snowman, playing ice hockey and making snowflakes out of paper. In “Caillou’s Christmas,” Caillou learns about holiday traditions, from caroling with his friends and family to different cultural festivities in playschool. “It’s Cold Outside” finds Caillou having more fun playing in the snow, including sledding and making snow angels, while the aptly titled “Winter!” finds Caillou discovering the joys of yet more winter sports, like ice skating and skiing. All in all, Caillou’s wonder-filled exploration of everyday life will inspire children to join in the role-playing fun as the world becomes limited only by their imaginations.

Housed in a regular plastic Amray case, Caillou’s Winter Wonders is presented in 1.33:1 full screen, and also includes interactive games, character bios, parents’ information and even coloring pages, to help extend the hours of fun and entertainment. To purchase the DVD via Amazon, click here. B (Series) B- (Disc)