New Christmas DVD and Blu-rays for 2010

Starring legendary performers Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen and featuring music by
Irving Berlin, the beloved holiday classic White Christmas is now available on Blu-ray and a 2-disc Holiday Collection DVD Edition. The holiday edition also includes special features focusing on the actors and actresses, backstage stories, and more, as well as 8 collector post cards. No matter where you are in the world, you can have a white Christmas with the new holiday edition in festive “snow globe” packaging.

Disney's A Christmas Carol takes the classic story, adds a few thrills and a lot of Jim Carrey comedy, and presents the whole thing in amazing performance capture animation. The movie is available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack including a wealth of making-of material and a "Countdown to Christmas Interactive Calendar." This new rendition of the story contains a few ghostly jump scenes which my be VERY frightening for kids under 8 years old. (Rated PG)

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In this hilarious Christmas special from the Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb TV show for kids, Phineas and Ferb concoct a heartfelt plan to say a big "Thank You" to Santa, but when Dr. Doofenshmirtz comes up with a naughty plan of his own, it looks like Santa will be skipping their town altogether. Can Phineas, Ferb and Perry the Platypus pull off a Christmas miracle? (Rated TV-G)

This collection of Backyardigans episodes contains a regular length holiday special, "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve." When Santa's magic bag is stolen by Abominable Snowmen Tyrone and Austin, the Action Elves must get it back in order to save Christmas. The DVD also contains the following non-holiday episodes:

• "Pablor and the Acorns"
• "The Big Dipper Diner"
• "The Amazing Splashinis"

Bonus features on the DVD include the "Matching Gift Game" and the "I Love Snow Remix" Music Video.

Celebrate the First Frost with Strawberry and her friends as they enjoy all of the traditions of the winter season. Strawberry and her friends experience the joy of giving, and they find out how important it is to really think about the recipient when choosing a special gift, and get something that would be berry special to her. Young children (okay, girls) will love the bright animation and sugary sweet characters, and parents will appreciate the positive message about friendship and giving.

Who can forget this delightful Rankin/Bass cartoon about the little mouse family with a lot of Christmas spirit. The children of Junctionville are heartbroken when their letters to Santa are all returned marked, "Not Accepted By Addressee." Why would Santa return the children's letters? Mice and humans come together to get to the bottom of the problem and send Santa a Christmas message.

Last year, in the Air Buddies Disney DVD/Blu-ray release Santa Buddies, we were introduced to Santa's right hand dog, Santa Paws, and his pup, Puppy Paws. Now comes The Search for Santa Paws, a holiday tale about how the legendary friendship between Santa and Santa Paws was first formed. Pups and humans come together to save Christmas and remind the world of what Christmas is all about. (Rated G)

Preschoolers will adore this holiday title from one of the most beloved educational programs on television. The title episode, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," finds the Super Readers in a Christmas story to help Whyatt with his question for Santa. The DVD also contains a Halloween episode and two others:

• "The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Halloween"
• "The Three Feathers"
• "The Stars in the Sky"

Bonus features on the DVD include interactive games, music videos, and printable activities and coloring pages.

In this parody, Stewart (Larry the Cucumber) has a chance to win it all in the biggest football game of his life. But, an injury dashes his dreams and changes his life forever. Years later, as Stewart wonders how his life could have been different if he had won the big game, a mysterious trian conductor gives Stewart the chance to go back and do it all again. Would he change the happy life he has now and trade if for what might have been? Stewart's story is a lesson in being content. With bright animation, songs both serious and silly, and fun characters, this Veggie Tales special is sure to be a holiday treat for both kids and parents.

This signature Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated Christmas story along with two other stories are now available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. In The Year Without a Santa Claus, St. Nick gets tired, and Mrs. Claus and the elves have to revive the Christmas spirit. Also included are: "Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year." The edition also contains two special features about Rankin and Bass and the making of stop-motion animation.

The hit PBS series Dinosaur Train combines preschooler favorites, trains and dinosaurs, with an entertaining and educational curriculum about life science, natural history and paleontology.  The "Dinosaurs in the Snow" title episode finds the dinos heading to the north pole. The DVD contains 8 episodes of the series:

• "Dinosaurs in the Snow"
• "Cretaceous Conifers"
• "Night Train"
• "Fossil Fred"
• "King Cryolophosaurus"
• "Dinosaur Block Party"
• "Surprise Party"
• "Flowers for Mom"

This holiday special release from Thomas & Friends contains winter and holiday themed episodes sewn together with live action spots from inside the station. In "Merry Winter Wish," the title episode, Thomas is entrusted with a very special delivery: the magical Star of Knapford. On his way to take the star to Knapford station, however, Thomas gets sidetracked. Luckily, with a little help from his friends, Thomas is able to get the star to Knapford and make everyone's winter wishes come true. (NR)