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BOOKS

The Night Before Christmas (Little Simon, $24.95)
Clement Clark Moore's classic yuletide poem makes yet another appearance in this elegantly crafted pop-up book. It's sure to delight a whole new generation of kids eagerly expecting a visitor from the North Pole. All ages.

Kay Thompson's Eloise Takes a Bawth Illustrated by Hilary Knight (Simon & Schuster, $17.95)
Eloise goes for a long scrub and soak before teatime, creating a flood of mishaps in the Plaza Hotel. This much-awaited eighth installment of the timeless Eloise series delivers a playful mix of fantasy, whimsy and wit. All ages.

Zathura By Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin, $18)
Danny, tired of being tormented by his big brother, plays a board game that summons visitors from outer space—and initiates a series of scary adventures. A sequel to Jumanji, Zathura will captivate young readers with its rich illustrations and imaginative plot. Ages 5 to 8.

DVDs

Monsters Inc. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment, $29.99)
This two-disc set includes the hit film as well as Mike's New Car, a new animated short starring everybody's favorite scarers Mike and Sulley. Also in the mix are some Inc.-credible special acts, such as the interactive Peek-a-Boo game and Welcome to Monstropolis, a storybook read-along feature.

Ice Age (Fox Home Entertainment, $29.98)
The weather outside is frightful? Then it's the perfect time to revisit this frosty feature about a trio of prehistoric animals. Scrat, the squirrel-rat hybrid scene-stealer, also appears in Scrat's Missing Adventure, a new animated short. Kids can thaw out by playing bonus games with names like Frozen Pairs and Hide and Eek.

Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Home Entertainment, $29.99)
The tale as old as time makes its DVD debut. Three different versions of the movie are included in this two-disc set: the original 1991 film, the spiffed-up 2002 IMAX re-release (which includes a new number, "Human Again"), and a "work-in-progress" print. The second disc features games for kids, including a Personality Profile activity that matches viewers with the Beauty character they most resemble.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Universal Studios Home Video, $29.98)
The lovable alien phones home for his 20th anniversary with a two-disc package that includes both the original 1982 film and the 2002 rerelease, which has enhanced effects and two added scenes. A three-disc gift set ($69.98) adds additional behind-the-scenes documentaries (including footage of 6-year-old Drew Barrymore), a CD soundtrack and a making-of book.

MUSIC

For the Kids Various Artists (Nettwerk America, $14.99)
With the Barenaked Ladies' singing the praises of the letter L on "La La La La Lemon" and Sarah McLachlan's subdued take on Kermit the Frog's "The Rainbow Connection," this 16-track collection is a who's who of rock for the Sesame Street generation.

Maybe This Christmas Various Artists (Nettwerk America, $17.99)
This 13-track holiday collection includes charmers such as Coldplay's melodic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." But it's Jimmy Eat World's hushed, heart-breaking "12/23/95" that makes the disc the perfect stocking stuffer for that pre-teen hipster on your list.

Under a Shady Tree Laurie Berkner (Two Tomatoes, $14.98)
Berkner made her name as the queen of celeb kids' parties (among others, she's performed for the families of Madonna and Sting). On this, her fourth disc, she expands her folk-pop repertoire, using world beats on the reggae-tinged title track and the Eastern-flavored "Boody Boody."

SOFTWARE

Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure (Infogrames, $19.99)
When Dora loses her teddy, she sets out in the mysterious Lost City to find him. Based on the hit Nickelodeon series, this PC adventure employs math games and Spanish exercises to create an entertaining and educational experience. Ages 3 and up.

The Backyard Sports series (Humongous Games)
Welcome new additions to the popular sports line include Backyard Football ($49.99) and Backyard Hockey ($19.99), both of which let kids create their own players, then go head-to-head with child versions of their favorite pros. Football is available for the Nintendo GameCube; Hockey is available for PC. Ages 7 and up.

Liberty's Kids (The Learning Company, $24.95)
This engaging interactive history lesson about Colonial and Revolutionary War America blends snippets from the acclaimed PBS series with puzzles and games, letting kids publish their own 18th-century headlines while learning investigative basics. For PC. Ages 8 to 12.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (EA Games, $49.95)
In this multiplatform (PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft X-box) role-playing game, fans become Harry as he hops on his Nimbus 2000 and flies into a richly animated Hogwarts to learn spells, duel wizards and test his skills in Quid-ditch. All ages.

More From This Article

JAMIE LEE CURTIS'S Favorite Children's Books (not counting the five she's written)

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss "A classic."

Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman "I remember the dog being awake all night and the humor about the hat."

Annie Bananie by Leah Komaiiko, illustrated by Laura Cornell "Brilliant rhyme and rhythm."

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Lane Smith "I love the drawings.

The Red Balloon by A. Lamorisse "Magical."