Diego, Dora and Friends' Animal Jamboree (CD) by Various Artists

CD. The first CD tied to Dora the Explorer spin-off Go, Diego, Go! is a short, energetic collection of well-known, animal-themed songs. Since Diego is an animal rescuer, the selection of songs ("Amazon Rock," "Talk to the Animals," "Crocodile Rock," "Rockin' Robin," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight") makes complete sense. It's unfortunate, however, that the disc isn't based on the original songs that appear in the episodes (such as "Armadillo" or "Three-Toed Sloth"). The songs are performed with the same kind of bouncy jubilance heard in the episodes, but they don't match the educational nature of the story lines. If your child is the least bit fond of The Backyardigans, The Backyardigans (released in 2005) is different in that it takes its content directly from the episodes. It also has greater replay value, is more educational, and will expose your child to several styles of music. In comparison, Diego, Dora and Friends' Animal Jamboree seems like it was cranked out with as much consideration as a T-shirt or sleeping bag. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi