I took some Chinese-language lessons years ago, but all I retain at this point are a few greetings and "Would you like to dance?" I'm actually a terrible dancer, so I'm not sure why this last one stuck with me... If you'd like your little ones to learn a bit of Chinese, watching Ni Hao, Kai-Lan is an almost surefire path to success. Kai-Lan is basically the Chinese version of Dora the Explorer, introduced in the hope that young kids will enjoy a casual smattering of Chinese mixed in with early-school instructional content. Compared to Dora, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan seems more refined and more cutesy in that pervasive Sanrio fashion. It feels like the show straddles the line between a core Pre-K audience and older kids, because some of the messages will be lost on the youngest viewers. Not only is the narrative sometimes richer than comparable shows for this age group, but the focus on emotions and feelings makes this entry of Kai-Lan special.

With only three episodes packed in, this DVD feels like half a release. That said, there's still an hour and a half of content here. In the lead episode, that inspired the title of this collection, "Princess Kai-Lan" plays peacemaker between a group of feuding foxes and bears. It's a regular standoff situation in this magical kingdom, but Kai-Lan mediates, and the two sides realize they can resolve their issues. The mending is made easier because two little members of each tribe want to be friends, a platonic twist on "Romeo and Juliet." The episode "Lulu's Cloud" finds Kai-Lan helping her little monkey friend Ho-Ho (who may well be the cutest character on Nick Jr.) get over his fear of trying new things. Speaking as the father of a 2- and 7-year old, this is a frequent issue. Watching Ho-Ho overcome his fears may not tilt the scales for your little ones, but it at least makes a good reference point for those times when you're cajoling them about trying something new and delicious. The final episode, "The Moon Festival," is about adjusting expectations when things don't work out exactly as planned. Kids tend to build wildly out-of-scale expectations anyway, so the idea of coping and redirecting is a good lesson.

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Princess Kai-Lan on DVD may be short on content by about one episode, but those packed in are good quality. The show is a winner, and speaking Chinese may eventually become as important to American kids as speaking Spanish, especially if China continues its path to economic dominance. In the meantime, before our little kids grow up to be cubicle denizens, they can enjoy the light-hearted fun of a little Chinese princess and her consort of cute critters.