We were given some as a Baby Shower gift and more since from my relatives in the USA as DVDs are easily postable. As a result we have loads.
If you don't know much abou them they are basically DVD's with no running story but a general theme, so you can dip in and out of them. They use hand puppets who don't speak but are very animated and provide the humour aspect - (DD adores the puppets), they are set to classical music, they feature video of toys dancing around the screen or being played with which sounds wierd but actually works quite well, the chosen toys fit in with what ever the theme to that dvd is. They also have video clips of the natural world, lots of sunsets and skyscapes and landscapes and vistas. There is often a poetry element, and an element which shows some form of art. They also on some of the DVD's have other languages featured alongside english and sign language too.
I'll give you a run down of the ones we have and my thoughts, in case it helps.
Baby Mozart - Lovely for little babies, and DD still enjoys it now on the odd occasion we've put it on now she's older. (she's 2 now) Many freind's babies have been completely captivated by it - its relaxing but stimulating at the same time.
Baby Van Gogh - Really lovely - glove puppet vincent van goat (I know) paints lots of pictures (vasn gogh classics) and it explores colours. My favourite is the red deer in his sparkly cape.
Baby Shakespeare - This one is all about poetry and s really good - DD loves it, lots of stirring poems but also lots of funny puppet clips and big trains.
Neighbourhood Animals - DD's favourite - goes through all the animals you might find in your home, garden, and local habitats. Highlights are old macdonald sung by ducks and pigs.
Baby Galilleio - Discovering the Sky. Quite relaxing to watch and goes through all aspects of sky watching from obviously sun and moon - right through to galaxies and stuff. The only annoying thing is the little boys voice (which announces each new theme) DD loves the bay kangarro and his mummy - great puppets shows in the extras.
Baby Da Vinci - new one we've just been given - its all about the body - and so far so good - DD loves it. It teaches the words for bodyparts simultaneously in english, french and spanish. DD has picked up new words from it already.
Baby Wordsworth - words around the house. Teaches words to do with everyday items at home. Also teaches the sign language for these items. The deaf lady from Desperate HOusewives does the signing. DD has been learning baby signs since she was 5 months and has learnt so many new signs from this having only seen it a few times so far (its new) so I'd say it definately works. Wordsworth the cat is very cute too.
Baby Macdonald - completely brilliant - DD adores it - only just got it as a birthday gift and she loves watching it and singing to all the songs. She loves the rooster best.
We're after World Animals next. My MIL has bought the whole set and ships them for different celebrations as presents so we'll have them all eventually. I wasn't sure as I don't like much TV but they have been useful as she's got bigger and IMHO are better than some of the crap on Cbeebies etc.
She doesn;t watch much TV or dvd's in reality but these are very good.
Have only heard negative stuff about Baby Bach and Baby Beethoven aparently they're a bit laboured but I've not seen either.
HTH sorry for waffling.