2009 holiday DVD guide: Plop these Christmas videos in the player

Eric Henrickson / The Detroit News

It's holiday time again, and that means a new batch of DVDs to help get you in the mood. Here's a look at this year's new Christmas releases for kids and families. No new titles related to the season's other holidays have been forthcoming. Prices given are the suggested retail prices, but most retailers offer discounts.

"VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas -- A Story of Joyful Giving" (Big Idea, $14.93): Nicky the Pepper joins the "VeggieTales" cast in this story about a modern-day little girl and the boy who became the real St. Nicholas.

"Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws" (Disney, $29.99/$39.99 -- available Tuesday): After conquering space and every sport except synchronized swimming, the Disney dogs must help Puppy Paws, the son of Santa Paws, re-learn the true meaning of Christmas.

"A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa" (Disney, $19.99): Gonzo, with a little help from the rest of the wacky Muppet gang, heads to the North Pole to deliver some important letters to Santa.

"Gotta Catch Santa Claus" (Lionsgate, $19.98): William Shatner stars as the voice of the jolly old elf in a story about a boy who sets out to prove the existence of Santa Claus, and winds up helping fight a bad guy named LeFreeze.

"The Dog Who Saved Christmas" (Anchor Bay, $19.97): Mario Lopez provides the voice to a problem pooch named Zeus who must become a hero when two bumbling burglars attempt to break into the house.

"A Miser Brothers' Christmas" (Warner Bros., $19.98): Squabbling brothers Heat Miser and Snow Miser must work together to save Christmas in this stop-motion animated sequel to "The Year Without a Santa Claus."

"Read and Share DVD Bible: Christmas" (Thomas Nelson, $14.99): This animated tale presents a gentle, straightforward retelling of the Christmas story for children.

"In Search of Santa Claus" (Infinity Entertainment, $9.98): The Smithsonian Institution looks at the history of Santa, from the fourth-century Bishop Nicholas of Myra (in modern-day Turkey) to the popular image created by ad man Thomas Nast for Coca Cola.

"Little Spirit: Christmas in New York" (Genius Products, $16.95): Faith Hill and Duncan Sheik contribute tunes to the story of a boy who goes looking for his dog in Central Park with the help of a magical spirit.

"Christmas With the King Family" (Infinity Entertainment, $19.98): Enjoy some nostalgia with the King family, staples of holiday TV in the 1960s and '70s, in a collection of new interviews and clips from their two series and 17 TV specials.

"Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure" (Paramount, $19.99): The Nickelodeon hit puts its spin on the classic tale as Swiper steals the Christmas star and Dora appeals to Santa to take him off the naughty list.

"A Merry Fraggle Holiday" (Lionsgate, $14.98): Gobo is discouraged with the Festival of the Bells in "The Bells of Fraggle Rock," one of the three episodes in this seasonal-themed collection of episodes from Jim Henson's series.

"Merry Sitcom: Christmas Classics from TV's Golden Age" (Shout Factory, $12.99): Get jolly with Christmas-themed episodes from six classic sitcoms, including "Bewitched," "The Flying Nun" and "That Girl."

"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" (Warner Bros., $19.98): This lesser-known "Peanuts" Christmas special features Linus and Lucy's little brother, Rerun, who thinks he's ready for a dog.

"Christmas Story" (Lightning Media, $19.97): Young Nikolas overcomes personal tragedy and spreads the joy of giving on his way to becoming the man we know today as Santa Claus.

"The Secret of the Nutcracker" (BFS Entertainment, $19.98): Tchaikovsky's classic ballet score and four dances are woven into this story of Clara who wants to find her father, who's in a World War II prison camp.

"Santa Apprentice" (Phase 4 Films, $12.99): It's time for Santa to train his replacement, and he must convince a little orphan named Nicholas that he's the one for the job.

"Scruff: A Christmas Tale" (Image, $9.97): An energetic puppy gets some "Christmas Carol"-style lessons in sharing and friendship.

"Christmas Angel" (SunWorld Pictures, $24.99): A "Secret Santa" named Nick helps a down-on-her-luck neighbor find romance -- and her Christmas spirit -- through helping others.

"Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure" (Anchor Bay, $16.98): Several festive shorts from the Nickelodeon show demonstrate how Wubbzy and his friends celebrate the holiday, including decorating the Figgity Fig Tree and cheering up Old Man Grumpus.

"WordWorld: Happy Holidays WordFriends" (NCircle Entertainment, $6.99): FROG, DUCK, DOG and the rest of the wordy gang bring their spelling lessons to the Christmas season in a couple episodes from the PBS show.

"Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas" (Universal, $13.99): George and the Man With the Yellow Hat must figure out the perfect gifts for each other in this story from the PBS show.

"The Christmas Choir" (Gaiam, $14.98): Based on a true story, workaholic Peter finds his Christmas spirit through forming a choir at a homeless shelter with the help of the nun who runs it.

"Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express" (HiT Entertainment, $16.98): This collection of holiday and seasonal episodes from the popular show about the gentle train and his friends includes a collectible toy train.

"The Christmas Clause" (MTI, $25.95): A stressed-out lawyer with a husband and three kids gets a wish for a different life when she sees Santa at the mall.

"Moonlight & Mistletoe" (Gaiam, $14.98): Holly helps her dad, Nick, save the family Christmas theme park, Santaville, and recovers her own belief in the holiday, as well.

"Snow 2: Brain Freeze" (Gaiam, $14.98): Nick Snowden, aka Santa, loses his memory, and it's up to his wife, Sandy, and No. 1 reindeer, Buddy, to save Christmas.

New to Blu-ray

Some classic movies and TV specials are making it to Blu-ray for the first time this year. Among them:

• "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

• "It's a Wonderful Life"

• "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (TV and movie versions)

• "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947 version)

• "A Christmas Carol" (1951 version)

ehenrickson@detnews.com (313) 222-2799 Read the Geek Watch blog at detnews.com/geekwatch.