Sheriff Callie's Wild West

Preschool TV has come a long way in the past decade or so, introducing kids to wild animals, works of art, and the wonders of science, to name a few scenes. But the Wild West is a new setting for this age group, and Sheriff Callie and crew make it a delightful little jaunt to this genre. Of course, the vibrant animation gives it more of a new feel than an old one, and kids won't pick up on the fun twists on classics like a town saloon (this one serves milk shakes) and dueling (a horseshoe game, that is), but if parents find themselves tuning in, they'll appreciate this attention to detail.

As for kids, the details that benefit them relate to the careful construction of stories that teach important lessons about character. Every aspect of the show –- right down to cameos from a trio of singing prairie dogs -– is designed to reinforce that day's theme, and the stories put characters in situations that kids can relate to, giving them a set of social skills they can apply to their real-world experiences. And because this happens at the hands of darling critter characters, it's an easy sell for kids.