{"id":838,"date":"2019-10-16T16:06:34","date_gmt":"2019-10-16T23:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/?p=838"},"modified":"2019-10-19T10:42:39","modified_gmt":"2019-10-19T17:42:39","slug":"molly-of-denali-delightful-and-authentic-portrayal-of-three-generations-of-native-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/2019\/molly-of-denali-delightful-and-authentic-portrayal-of-three-generations-of-native-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"Molly of Denali * Delightful and Authentic Portrayal of Three Generations of Native Americans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.poster-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-844\" width=\"113\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.poster-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.poster.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 113px) 100vw, 113px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Molly of Denali<\/em>&nbsp;is an American-Canadian animated television series&nbsp;created and produced by&nbsp;Atomic Cartoons&nbsp;and&nbsp;WGBH Kids&nbsp;for&nbsp;PBS Kids&nbsp;and&nbsp;CBC Television.&nbsp;It premiered on July 15, 2019. The series is the first ever nationally distributed children&#8217;s show to feature an&nbsp;Alaska Native&nbsp;as the main character and protagonist. Thirty-eight half-hours have been ordered. Between the two 11-minute story segments, there is a special live-action segment filmed in&nbsp;Alaska. The series follows 10-year-old Molly, an Alaska Native girl from the fictional village of Qyah, and her family, friends Tooey and Trini, her dog Suki, and other residents. Her family runs the Denali Trading Post. It was created by Dorothea Gillim and Kathy Waugh and stars Sovereign Bill. The Molly of Denali theme song is sung by Phillip Blanchett and Karina Moeller. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror, Terry S. comments, \u201cThis animated show is truly delightful and quite authentic in portraying three generations &#8211; &nbsp;grand parents, parents and children. The images are true to form and culture.\u201d See her full review below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Molly of Denali &#8211; <em>Grandpa&#8217;s\nDrum and Have Canoe Will Paddles<\/em> (TV series)<br>\nBy Terry S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Come Along with Molly! | MOLLY OF DENALI\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L_FiNuKnTW8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Molly of Denali<\/em> is an animated TV series featuring a strong\nNative American 10-year-old girl from Alaska.\nThe show I watched has two 11-minute episodes: <em>Grandpa&#8217;s Drum <\/em>and <em>Have\nCanoe will Paddle.<\/em> The focus is on problem solving, while incorporating\nliteracy and technology skills. <br>\nAlaskan Native values are modeled including respect, sharing, team work and\nhonoring elders, family and cultural awareness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.a-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-843\" width=\"225\" height=\"107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.a-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.a-768x367.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.a-1024x489.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.a.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The program highlights a Native American community in Alaska. The lead character Molly is a strong, energetic young girl, full of life and an inquiring mind. In <em>Grandpa&#8217;s Drum,<\/em> she and Tuli find an old photograph of her grandpa when he was young together with a young girl. They discover he doesn&#8217;t like to sing anymore, because he no longer has his drum. They go on a quest to find the girl and his drum by using their research skills. In <em>Have Canoe Will Paddle<\/em>, Molly, Tuli and Trini get resourceful once again with their literacy skills to learn how to paddle a canoe. With their friendly social skills, they find an appropriate coach to teach them, so they can enter a race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.c-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-841\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.c-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.c-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.c.jpg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Native Alaskan children will proudly see themselves and their way\nof life and a broader audience will be introduced to a new culture. They will experience\nadventures with the lead characters and see their contemporaries problem\nsolving, learning and having fun. In <em>Grandpa&#8217;s Drum<\/em>, they will see Molly\nand Trini singing and their Grandpa remembering songs with his drum and\nteaching them. In <em>Have Canoe Will Paddle<\/em>, they will see the steps Molly\nand friends make to learn how to canoe and master the race. They will learn to\nknow that we are more alike than different. Viewers may be motivated to explore\ntheir own cultural backgrounds as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a very engaging show with fun characters that are eager to\nlearn. Each episode flows well, incorporating literacy and technology skills\nthat young children can relate to. It encourages them to go out and learn the\nskills they need to problem solve and have fun while doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.d-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-840\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.d-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.d-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.d-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.d.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Young children, parents, teachers and caregivers alike will learn\nabout the Native Alaskan culture and learn new Native vocabulary, as well as the\ndifference between now and then. In <em>Grandpa&#8217;s Drum<\/em>, we learn that when he\nwas a young boy, he had to go to boarding school and was not allowed to celebrate\nhis culture at school. Today, we find out that this does not happen. Children\nare at home going to school and can celebrate their culture. This animated show\nis truly delightful and quite authentic in portraying three generations &#8211; &nbsp;grand parents, parents and children. The images\nare true to form and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the two animated shorts in each episode, there is a\nlive action piece. In this episode, Molly answers questions about life in Alaska. We see children\nwho live there at the river comparing old photographs of a similar place and see\nwhat it looks like today. They learn a traditional song from an elder. One girl\nsays, &#8220;When I am dancing with ancestors, I connect with the past.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.e-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-839\" width=\"225\" height=\"135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.e-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.e-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Molly.e.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Molly of Denali<\/em> has all the benefits of inviting the viewer to\nquestion, probe and problem solve as described above, while introducing the\nviewer to a new culture and environment. It encourages one to look into\nsituations such as in <em>Grandpa&#8217;s Drum<\/em> when it helps him to reconnect with\nhis youth, re-learning the songs he loved with his new found drum, and then\nteaching and passing them on to the younger generation. Viewers will be\nmotivated and encouraged to explore their own cultural backgrounds. Similarly in\n<em>Have Canoe Will Paddle<\/em> where it shows how one can learn a new sport, if\nthey so desire. The role modeling of determination is inspiring. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nmoral of the series is: if there is a will, there is a way as it models problem\nsolving to get the results you want, gaining new skills and having fun while\ndoing it! Molly and her friends are terrific, inspiring role models for young\nchildren to get excited about learning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give this series 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4\nthrough 8. This airs on PBS Kids and CBC Television now, so look for it. Reviewed\nby Terry S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Molly of Denali&nbsp;is an American-Canadian animated television series&nbsp;created and produced by&nbsp;Atomic Cartoons&nbsp;and&nbsp;WGBH Kids&nbsp;for&nbsp;PBS Kids&nbsp;and&nbsp;CBC Television.&nbsp;It premiered on July 15, 2019. The series is the first ever nationally distributed children&#8217;s show to feature an&nbsp;Alaska Native&nbsp;as the main character and protagonist. Thirty-eight half-hours have been ordered. Between the two 11-minute story segments, there is a special live-action [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[87,90,91,95,92,86,89,94,93,96,88],"class_list":["post-838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-film-critics-blog","tag-atomic-cartoons","tag-cbc-television","tag-dorothea-gillim","tag-karina-moeller","tag-kathy-waugh","tag-molly-of-denali","tag-pbs-kids","tag-philip-blanchett","tag-sovereign-bill","tag-terry-solowey","tag-wgbh-kids"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=838"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":847,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838\/revisions\/847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/juror\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}