Fall 2009 TV shows for kids

Jungle Junction

The preachy undertow of children’s television can be tiresome for adults. Even worse, well-intentioned stories about friendship and kindness are surely dulling your child’s critical eye for narrative. So we were psyched to learn that the fall lineup holds several witty new shows that teach lessons other than etiquette and ethics. The following programs explore science, the arts, even safe driving. Across the board, the information is just sophisticated enough that you might find yourself enjoying a refresher course in, say, Prokofiev.

Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps Tutued British mouseling Angelina, the star of best-selling books by Katharine Holabird, gets her second small-screen series this fall. Intended to expose the preschool set to music and dance, the show defines behind-the-scenes roles (choreographer, set designer) and performance terms (improvisation) before introducing movements from classic ballets such as The Nutcracker and Peter and the Wolf. The dance moves are accurate; during preproduction, experts from NYC’s American Ballet Theater provided Angelina’s animators with videos demonstrating proper technique. And that’s not the only nod to real, live dance: Head teacher Ms. Mimi’s loudly patterned tunic and tights read like a sly wink at the character of Mrs. Wilkinson from Billy Elliot on Broadway. WNET; premieres Sept 7 at 10:30am. Ages 4 to 7.

Busytown Mysteries Like a remake of the 1980s’ Bloodhound Gang for postmillennial preschoolers, Busytown Mysteries employs Richard Scarry’s signature illustration style and iconic characters to show the scientific method in action (form a hypothesis, gather evidence through experiments, etc.). The bite-size narratives draw connections between imaginative feats and intellectual exploits, like hunting down dragons in the streets and hunting down facts at the library. Cats Huckle and Sally, along with trusty worm Lowly, are joined by six-legged Goldbug, an on-the-scene reporter whose news dispatches bookend and explain the action. His theme song, à la Dora the Explorer’s “I’m the Map,” reinforces the ever-important who-what-when-where-why-how of mystery solving. CBS; premieres Sept 19 ; check local listings for time. Ages 3 to 7.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train The folks at the Jim Henson Company don’t shy away from mature subject matter. Their new CG-animation program uses the concepts of herbivorism and carnivorism as an allegory for promoting tolerance. (Some viewers might even perceive subliminal messages supporting sustainable farming.) Boasting the same clever wordplay in its song lyrics that you’ll find on Sesame Street, the series follows a family of pteranodons (including the adorable runt of the litter) who often embark on low-key “adventures”; most involve the clan’s procurement of food. The dinos often travel to fishing spots via the titular train, an old-fashioned locomotive with a kind conductor. WNET; premieres Sept 7 at 10am. Ages 3 to 6.

Jungle Junction While Dinosaur Train pushes mass transit, this British import acquaints viewers with automobiles, engines and the importance of road rules. Animal-auto hybrids—a pig on wheels, an elephant on bulldozer tracks—traverse a world of loop-de-loop roads; characters frequently turn to the viewer to ask for help in deciphering street signs. Although the inhabitants pride themselves on their ability to work together, the feel-good story lines are low on schmaltz and rich in humor. Sarcastic sidekicks include a bespectacled zebra and a crab who runs a smoothie stand; their one-liners are smart, surprising and truly rib-tickling. Playhouse Disney; premieres Oct 5 at 10am. Ages 2 to 5.

See more...

• Staying In
• Articles from this issue