I have sat through morphing monkeys, armies of puppets and enough footage ... a discerning eye on the so-called smart baby fare -- such as the “Baby Einstein” and “Brainy Baby” series ...

She shot the first Baby Einstein video in her own basement with a borrowed camcorder, a few puppets, and an $18,000 budget. Five years later, she sold the company to Disney for a reported $25 million.

Taking on Baby Einstein’s DVD empire is a formidable task. But Juno, a precocious puppet with big googly eyes, pigtails and a red dress, is up for the job. Her strategy: Create original ...

the imagination of Baby Einstein founder Julie Aigner-Clark runs wild. She giggles as she winds up toy chicks that hop across a makeshift stage in a warehouse room filled with dolls and puppets.