Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Blu-ray/DVD combo
Fox

In this third go-round for the Ice Age crew, mammoth Manny (Ray Romano, once again) and his mate Ellie (Queen Latifah), with sloth Sid (John Leguizamo) and surely saber-tooth Diego (Denis Leary), are trying to figure out how they still fit in. Meanwhile, Sid discovers big eggs in the ice that hatch… Guess what?  Yeah, Dinos, though they’re supposed to be long-gone, of course, for what –  millions of years?  But there’s a kind of lame explanation.  Kids will enjoy it all anyway, if they like the first two movies, and the animated comedy is pretty slapsticky again, along with the little morals within.  This edition includes both the Blu and DVD versions, plus the digital copy and some okay extra features, though it’s really all about the movie.

Disney Animation Collection 7:
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Disney

Adapted in a Disney way from the Dickens classic, Mickey’s Christmas Carol is back as part of the Disney Animation Collection.  Mickey is Bob Cratchit, while who else but Scrooge McDuck could be Ebeneezer Scrooge, though Goofy and Jiminy Cricket are on hand as ghosts, with Donald Duck as Scrooge’s nephew Fred. This seventh volume in the series includes the holiday-themed shorts “The Small One” from 1978, “Pluto’s Christmas Tree,” from ’52 and, going way back, 1932’s Silly Symphony delight, “Santa’s Workshop.” Safe to say this one is a family must for December.

Winnie the Pooh: Season of Giving
DVD Gift Set Edition
Disney

This 10th anniversary edition of Winnie The Pooh: Seasons Of Giving brings back a sweet Thanksgiving/Christmas story from the Hundred Acre Wood featuring Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Rabbit, all learning lessons about sharing and, yes, giving. The additional Pooh stories here for the first time on DVD include “The Magic Earmuffs,” “The Wishing Bear,” “Decorate Your Own Christmas Tree,” plus there’s “Coloring Fun With Piglet.” The set comes with a kids holiday stocking too.

Where the Wild Things Are
Scholastic Storybook Treasures

If you’re unsure about seeing the new Where the Wild Things Are film with kids, perhaps you should turn to this instead. Where the Wild Things Are…and 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak offers a visual presentation of this now-classic story with music and narration by Pete Schickele (aka PDQ Bach), and it may not be a big-budget Hollywood film, but it’s wonderful for parents and children.  The DVD also includes the equally delightful “In the Night Kitchen” (Shickele again), as well as tales such as “The Nutshell Kids” with songs by Carole King. “Alligators All Around,” “Chicken Soup with Rice” and more.  Wild Things can also be viewed in Spanish and French versions.

Chicka Chicka Boom & Chicka Chicka 1 2 3
Scholastic

A two-disc collection of longtime children’s favorites, Chicka Chicka Boom & Chicka Chicka 1 2 3 features 11 storybook classics in all, with narrations by Catherine O Hara, Diana Canova, Crystal Taliefero and others. In addition to the title tales, you’ll find “Wild About Books,” “Inch by Inch,” “Five Creatures, Blueberries for Sal” “Emily’s First 100 Days of School,” and other stories. Great for pre-K to first or second grade.

Merry Sitcom: Christmas Classics From TV’s Golden Age
Shout! Factory

Rather than have to find these episodes in season sets of shows from TV’s Golden Age, the fine folks at the land of Shout! have put them all together in Merry Sitcom. The release features six holiday episodes spanning the 1950s and ‘60s, from Father Knows Best, Bewitched, The Donna Reed Show, That Girl, McHale’s Navy, and The Flying Nun. All of it is certainly nostalgia for mom and dad or grandpa and grandma.  There’s also a bonus ep from the now-forgotten Window On Main Street.