Charlie and the Numbers is a series of short segments offered through Baby Network Limited. In the gently-paced computer-animated vignettes, young pajama-clad Charlie visits the Number Kingdom, where the numerals all have human qualities-or, the humans all have numeric qualities, depending on how you look at it.

Charlie embarks on a variety of child-friendly adventures such as chasing a butterfly or riding a toy horse. The Numbers join in, using lively music, dancing and nursery-rhyme-inspired songs to help Charlie-and little viewers-with number recognition and counting skills. The series may also help children with color and shape identification.

Charlie and the Numbers strikes a suitable balance between entertaining and educating, offering songs simple enough to stick with parents and even kids, who may memorize them with repeated viewing and eventually sing along, creating a neat little mnemonic device for learning. With its amusing animation and feel-good songs, Charlie and the Numbers adds up to a useful introduction to numeracy for toddlers and preschoolers.

Editor's note: Parents' Choice does not recommend television for children under two.