If good intentions were sufficient, this fall's children's programming would be the best. And in fact some of the new shows are first-rate. But the earnestness with which television caters to its youngest viewers' better instincts is enough ot bring out the brat in even the littlest angel.

BOOKMICE, which premieres Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. on TVO, is a weekly prime-time example of that earnestness we just mentioned. Any kid who took its message seriously would immediately turn off the box, grab the nearest book and furiously start reading. Admirable sentiments. But not likely, and not necessarily the stuff of which great TV is made.

That's not to say there's anything wrong with Bookmice. There isn't. But consider the logistics: Set in a library, the series features three puppet-rodents who feast on crumbs left by visitors and stories told by librarians.

In the debut episode, Leon, Norbert and Zazi are leaving the library to live in a cheese factory. Lured by the promise of an unlimited food supply, the trio is about to set out when Norbert gets cold paws. He's hooked on reading and listening to Kate, the young assistant librarian (Stephanie Broschart), tell stories and show videos.

Norbert refuses to leave and spends most of the half-hour premiere explaining why books are preferable to cheese. Along the way, we meet Lee (Andrew Roscos), a lonely recent arrival in the neighborhood. We also get to see the occasional animated short from Czechoslovakia. These minimalist cartoons are amazing in their simplicity.

Aimed at children aged 4 to 8, Bookmice may well become one of those programs that appeals more to parents. It espouses the kind of values and activities we approve of for our kids.

EUREEKA'S CASTLE, another new series on TVO, is less burdened by good intentions. It stars a delightful cast of strange puppets somewhat in the Jim Henson mode, which is to say they have outlandish appearances and equally bizarre personalities. The main character, Eureeka, is an under-aged witch who has trouble spelling. Magellan, her sidekick, is a baby green dragon with a sweet nature and kid face. Along with Batley, who thinks he's God's gift to batdom, they crash about a brightly-decorated castle and entertain a variety of strange puppet friends.

The dialogue is lively, the messages - they're there - are wisely sublimated. Thanks, too, to fast-paced editing and a number of video effects, Eureeka's Castle never lags visually.

Aimed at preschoolers, the program begins Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. It'll be seen Mondays and Fridays.

Also on the TVO schedule this fall are politically trendy offerings such as: MANY VOICES, a bi-weekly 15-minute series that examines "the conflict that arises when a child feels 'different' because of language, religion, dress or ethnic or racial stereotyping"; READING RAP, an eight-part series intended to turn bad readers into good; THE GREEN EARTH CLUB, which aims to give kids ways of helping the environment without being overwhelmed by it.

FAMILY

The Family Channel has come up with three new offerings, Take Off, The Adventures Of Tintin and Young Robin Hood. TINTIN, one of France's most enduring comic-book heroes coming to Family Oct. 7 (7 p.m.), was due for his own series. Having graced the storybook pages of 22 best-selling volumes, translated into 40 languages, the curly- haired adventurer clearly possesses star quality. He and Snowy, his trusty canine companion, made it to the small screen courtesy of Canada's Nelvana Studios ( Care Bears, Babar The Elephant) and Ellipse Productions of France.

YOUNG ROBIN HOOD, also animated and coming in November, takes the legendary bandit of Sherwood Forest back to his teenage years, when Little John really was little and Friar Tuck still slim. Why anyone would indulge in such an unnecessary exercise is baffling. Presumably the Kevin Costners of the world are too old to appeal to the Clearasil crowd.

TAKE OFF is that rarest of birds, a truly original television program. Involving a floating cast of young performers, each episode examines a specific theme, running from order and chaos to color and light. In a 30- minute show (Wed., 6 p.m.; repeated Sat., 11:30 a.m.), the central idea reappears maybe a dozen times, every one different.

According to its promoters, the purpose of Take Off is to demonstrate and encourage "divergent or lateral thinking to help children value and retain their natural creativity."

The dialogue of Take Off never sinks to such depths. At times, it's downright witty. The sincerity is evident but the cast doesn't let that get in the way. These kids seem to be having fun, and that can only be good. Why else would the pilot have won a Children's Broadcast Institute Award of Excellence earlier this year?

CBC

Much-beleaguered CBC has risen to the occasion in superb fashion with THE NATURE CONNECTION, a half-hour series (beginning Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m.) featuring the indefatigable David Suzuki. He sets out in each program with a small group of school children to explore a specific habitat, tidal pools, a rain forest, a backyard. The camera simply follows Suzuki and the kids as they lift rocks, dig for clams and generally root around.

Uncle David asks lots of questions and answers even more. Throughout, he emphasizes the connections amongst all living things, including us. He squirts a drop of ocean water under a microscope and a universe of plankton suddenly comes into view. But, as he points out, these invisible creatures are not only sustenance to many whales, they also constitute an immense marine forest far larger than anything on land.

There's nothing fancy about Connection except its locales. It's a relief to see a program shot on site, not manufactured in a studio. We get a sense of being along for the ride, and of learning, and more important, gaining insight.

Degrassi High may be over but DEGRASSI TALKS is yet to start (possibly next March). In these six half-hour documentaries, cast members of the highly regarded CBC series interview teens across Canada to find out what they think about everything their parents wanted to know but were afraid to ask: "sexual, physical and emotional abuse, depression, dependency on drugs and alcohol."

Degrassi alumni Pat Mastroianni, Neil Hope, Amanda Stepto, Stacey Mistysn, Siluck Saysanasy and Anais Granofsky scoured schoolyards, malls and other teen hangouts looking for the truth according to youth. It's not always pretty, but there it is.

YTV

Because it stars Ringo Starr, SHINING TIME STATION (Tues. & Thurs., 1 p.m.) has received an inordinate amount of attention. In fact, the former funny Beatle appears only twice per episode, mostly as narrator of adventures of Thomas The Tank Engine.

Ringo's character, 18-inch Mr. Conductor, inhabits a small town train station along with Station Master Stacy Jones (Didi Conn), Harry the Engineer (Leonard Jackson) and Schemer (Brian O'Connor). Together, they try to make the station a going concern and become great friends in the process. Mixing media - mainly animation and video effects - Shining Time flits between technologies faster that a speeding train.

RUPERT, the frightfully English bear who has figured in British life since 1920, has joined Tintin in being brought to the screen - and by none other than Nelvana. This animated series (Sat. & Sun., 11:30 a.m.), certainly better drawn than most, brings a new level of gentility to kids' television. Unfailingly polite and cheerful, Rupert's the kind of teddy that parents dream about.

In the first episode, despite being saddled with the dreadfully uncouth Podgy Pig, Rupe has a jolly good time and manages to save the day. There's a wonderful old-fashioned innocence to Rupert that seems out-of-place in the age of social awareness. He understands why good manners and a smile are so important. No lateral thinking here. This is a good little bear.

No survey would be complete without a mention of MANIAC MANSION, the novel and often hilarious YTV "family" show that reunites a number of former SCTVers, including Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Michael Short and John Hemphill as members of the Edison family.

Headed by Fred, (Flaherty) a frustrated scientist/inventor, the Edisons are a clan beset by disaster. One is Uncle Harry (Hemphill), a wisecracking mutant, part human, part housefly. He buzzes through the house, trying to steal the show.

It's hard to describe, but Time magazine rated it one of the best kids'/family shows on the tube. No doubt it's among the most novel.

- Christopher Hume
Illustration

Caption: Color photos: puppets in Bookmice; puppets in Eureeka's Castle; cast of DeGrassi High; Ringo Starr in Shining Time Station; Take Off's floating cast. Color drawings: Young Robin Hood; Tintin; Rupert the Bear.