Flipping for Values

Mary Lou Retton, a gold medalist in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympics, brings her boundless energy and physical talent to a young audience in the values-based television series Mary Lou's Flip-Flop Shop, now available on home video. Produced in Houston, the show has been airing regionally since September and stars Retton and a cast of boldly costumed characters who espouse creative movement along with positive thinking and self-confidence. The first three volumes released are Learning to Share; Our Special Friends and Having to Hurry. (Tommy Nelson, VHS, $12.99 each ISBN 0-8499-7514-X; -7515-8; -7516-6 ages 2-7, Nov.)

An African-American Heroine

In time for African-American History Month comes Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, the audio adaptation of the picture-book biography of the famous 19th-century abolitionist leader by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. In the capable voice of Renee Joshua-Porter, this account of how a girl suffers the horrors of slavery and later grows to be a strong, revered free woman will prove inspiring to listeners of any age. Bonuses here include Joshua-Porter singing a hymn composed by Truth and a reading of Truth's famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" (Audio Bookshelf [800-234-1713], one cassette/one CD, 41 mins., $13.95/$15.95, ages 7-up, Jan.)