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Well, that was quick. It seems to take at least a full year for new kids shows to hit DVD, but PBS Kids is rolling out the first Super WHY! DVD exclusively to shoppbs.org. Nice to see PBS capitalize while the show is still fresh and in demand. Plus it’s a pretty cool show to boot.
Play With Me Sesame, a long time mid day staple on Noggin, recently disappeared from their offerings. The half hour show features the most popular Sesame Street characters like Bert & Ernie and Grover. It turns out that the show is now airing on PBS Kids Sprout during The Sunny Side Up Show. The Sunny Side Up Show is a block of programming airing from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
PBS Kids will air a new show in fall 2008 called What’s the Big Idea?. The show’s educational goal is science readiness and it will be produced by The Jim Henson Company.
In a sketch-comedy format, What’s the Big Idea? focuses on an inquisitive youngster named Josh who explores everyday questions that preschoolers find fascinating. The 40×30-minute series will be created using the Henson Digital Performance Studio, which is a proprietary technology that allows puppeteers to perform digital characters in real time to create a more spontaneous result.
Angela Santomero and Samantha Freeman are the creators of Super WHY. The duo worked together on Blue’s Clues and wanted to take that show’s emphasis on educational research and do the same thing with Super WHY!. The two learned from Rosemarie Truglio, the VP of education and research for Sesame Street.
“This show is designed to be education, whereas some shows use research more for appeal,” explains Freeman. “Appeal is also part of our goal; but it’s there to help them learn.”
PBS Kids has premiered a new show where kid superheroes inspire preschoolers to embrace literacy and a love of books.
The kids on the show are inspired from famous fairy tales and include:
As soon as a problem arises, Whyatt calls his friends to the Book Club, where they transform into reading-powered superheroes: Alpha Pig with Alphabet Power, Wonder Red with Word Power, Princess Presto with Spelling Power, Super Why with the Power to Read and Super YOU with the Power to Help. Together, they are the “Super Readers,†jumping into books (literally) to find answers to everyday preschool challenges.
In the premiere episode Jill keeps knocking down Pig’s tower and he wants her to stop! The Super Readers fly into the Three Little Pigs story and come face to face with the big bad wolf himself. Along the way viewers learn about friendship, opposite words, and words ending with ALL (small, tall, etc.). Both my 4 year old and 6 year old enjoyed it, and especially my younger daughter who is looking to be able to read like her big brother can.
The story moves along at a nice pace, and the characters are likable. Plus kids probably will learn key elements of reading, without feeling like they’re learning something.
PBS Kids has made a huge commitment to this show, with an initial agreement for 65 episodes. The first season which debuted on September 3rd appears to have 20 episodes.
For more see Children’s Media Consultant’s review of the bevy of literacy focused TV shows debuting this fall.
PBS has announced that Miss Lori and Hooper, who serve as the hosts and educators during the PBS Kids programming block, will be back for a second season.
The second season will include the following:
PBS KIDS is strengthening the preschool setting in season two with new age-appropriate curriculum themes presented in a structured format such as “Music Time,” “Math Time,” “Art Time,” and “Reading Time.” Using letters, shapes, colors and other elements designed to get kids involved and engaged, as well as familiar environmental elements such as smocks, easels, mini tables and chairs, books and more, children will feel like they have entered a real preschool each morning on PBS KIDS.
PBS Kids also announced a new show titled SUPER WHY! would join the block.
This animated superhero series is designed to boost literacy skills through interactive fairytale adventures that encourage viewers to participate through entertaining and engaging games. Whyatt Beanstalk, younger brother of Jack from “Jack in the Beanstalk,” and his three fairytale character friends transform into the “Super Readers,” with special literacy-charged powers. The Super Readers jump into books to discover answers and find solutions to everyday preschooler questions and challenges.
PBS Kids(R) Launches Second Season of Popular Interactive Preschool Destination on September 3, 2007
Via Lifehacker, there are six episodes of Sesame Street available for free on iTunes.
The series is called Learn Along with Sesame and features over 2 and a half hours of educational programming. And did I mention it’s free?
PBS Kids announced that they have greenlighted a second season of the programming block hosted by Miss Lori and Hooper. The second season, set to debut Fall 2007, is to “feature even more interactivity and engagement as well as greater opportunities for parents and kids to connect the lessons learned through PBS KIDS content back to their daily lives.”
Curious George, which airs during the block, has become a staple in our household over the last couple months. With that as the anchor, my kids have become re-engaged with several other PBS Kids shows like Clifford and Dragon Tales. Both my son and daughter are fans of Miss Lori and Hooper.
Monday February 19th brings several new episodes across several networks.
Season 5 of The Wiggles begins at 7:00am with the season premiere. “Rainy Day” – Jeff and Greg embark on an arts and crafts project in which they piece together paintings to create a story during a rainy day. Then, during a new segment, Dorothy’s dancing alphabet, Anthony highlights the letter “A” and does the apple dance. Viewers are also introduced to the Mariachi Wiggles who sing “Fruit Salad” in Spanish.
Right after there will be a new episode of Higglytown Heroes featuring a farm veterinarian (or as my daughter says peterinarian).
At 11:00am The Wonder Pets will take on the Big Bad Wolf in The Wonder Pets Save the Three Little Pigs. In “Save the Three Little Pigs,†the Wonder Pets get a call from the Three Little Pigs who are distressed because the Big Bad Wolf wants to eat them. Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming fly into a puppet theatre and find the first pig building a straw house which he hopes will protect him. The Big Bad Wolf is denied by the hair of the pig’s chinny-chin-chin, so he huffs, puffs and blows the house down. Just as the Wolf is about to have his lunch, the Wonder Pets swoop in and rescue the pig. The trio comes upon the second pig and questions his house of wooden sticks, just as the Wolf blows it down. But the Wonder Pets swoop in and save the pigs just in time. They have high hopes for the third pig, but he’s building his house out of flowers! While Tuck suggests making the last house out of bricks, the Wolf decides he wants the pesky Wonder Pets instead. Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming run into the brick house which triumphantly remains standing, after the Wolf’s last attempt. The Wolf finally gives up on the Three Little Pigs and the Wonder Pets, and goes off to pursue Little Red Riding Hood.
And there will be 2 new episodes of Curious George on PBS Kids (check local listings for show times) as part of a President’s Day George-to-George feature. The first episode features Housebound where George breaks his leg at the museum and George Rides a Bike. In the second episode George decides he wants to be an acrobat in Unbalanced and he tries to survive cold weather in Curious George vs. the Winter.
There will be new George’s on all week.
PBS will debut the second season of
Link:Second Season of Franny’s Feet Debuts February 3 on PBS Kids
Show Link: Franny’s Feet at PBS Kids
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