KIDS FIRST! News

Calling all ARTHUR fans! Do you have an idea for a new friend for Arthur, D.W. or Buster? Well, here’s your chance to create a character for Elwood City. ARTHUR, the award-winning PBS KIDS GO! television series, and CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program dedicated to making life easier for kids with disabilities, are teaming up to announce the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search”!Beginning February 1, 2009, the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search” invites children ages 6-12 to send in their ideas for a new character for Arthur. And not just any character–one who can show that having a unique ability, character trait, or disability might make life a little bit different, but not any less fun. Kids can mail in their entries, with a drawing of their character and a description of what makes them special, starting February 1, 2009. The child with the selected idea, along with their character, will be featured in a live-action segment on the ARTHUR show. In addition, he or she will receive a visit from ARTHUR creator and author Marc Brown at the child’s school, local library, or PBS member station.The character search is designed to educate children about the importance of inclusion and how children of all abilities can play together. It also encourages parents and children to think about what life is like for someone they know who has a disability.”We’re looking for an exciting new character, who can show the gang in Elwood City that children come in all shapes, sizes and abilities,” said ARTHUR Senior Producer Jacqui Deegan. “Over the years, ARTHUR has helped children to embrace other kids’ unique characteristics as well as their own, and this new character will continue that tradition.”CVS Caremark All Kids Can supports programs and services that help children with disabilities learn, play, and succeed in life. For over 11 years, ARTHUR has celebrated the importance of friendship and the value of accepting and including kids with different abilities from all walks of life. For instance, Buster shows that kids with asthma can do just about anything, Marina shows her friends what it’s like to be blind, George succeeds as a student with dyslexia, and Carl–in an upcoming season–will share what it’s like to have autism.”We’re thrilled to partner with ARTHUR,” said Eileen Howard Dunn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations at CVS Caremark. “For years, we’ve watched the series become a trusted resource for kids to learn valuable life lessons, by relating to its vibrant, loveable characters. This is a perfect way to further our mission of helping kids develop an understanding and acceptance of disabilities.”The selected character will be chosen by a panel of judges including the producers of the ARTHUR show, and colleagues from CVS Caremark All Kids Can. The panel includes Tolon Brown from Marc Brown Studios; Terri Mauro, About.com’s Guide to Parenting Special Needs; Matt Cavedon from Boundless Playgrounds; Katy Beh Neas, Vice President of Government Relations for Easter Seals; and Susan Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Parenting magazine’s “School Years” edition. Nine additional finalists will receive prize packages including CVS gift cards and ARTHUR merchandise.Fans can visit pbskidsgo.org/arthur/allkidscan to download the entry form beginning February 1, 2009. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.Funding for the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search” is provided by CVS Caremark All Kids Can. 

Turkey, potatoes, squash…bananas? Be sure to keep America’s favorite little monkey in mind when making your to do list this Thanksgiving. Curious George, the Man with the Yellow Hat and their friends bring a hearty serving of (mis)-adventures to the PBS KIDS Thanksgiving week marathon “Feast of Favorites” beginning Wednesday, November 26 (check local listings for days and times).The marathon features the broadcast premiere of two CURIOUS GEORGE episodes from the series’ all-new Earth Science-themed third season: “The Man with the Monkey Hands / Whistlepig Wednesday,” and “George Digs Worms / Everything Old is New Again.” While the turkey is roasting and the pie is baking, kids can watch George and his friends compete in a recycling contest, explore weather patterns, dig for worms, and learn which leaves to stay away from in the backyard.EPISODE 6The Man with Monkey Hands – After warning George about the poison ivy lurking in the park, the Man with the Yellow Hat loses his balance and lands hands first in a brush of the itchy, poisonous leaves! With his hands bandaged, he’ll need help with everyday tasks such as brushing his teeth, making dinner, even typing a letter.  So being a clever little monkey, George invents some ingenious ways to make the Man’s life seem normal – like wearing swim fins to assist in picking apples off the floor and taping salad forks to his arms to act as temporary hands.  But George’s creations are put to the ultimate test when the Man has to present Professor Wiseman’s newest invention to the science board, salad forks and all!Whistlepig Wednesday – Mr. Glass’ unique version of Groundhog Day is an annual city tradition of predicting when winter will start. Every year on the last Wednesday of August, Sherry the Whistlepig emerges from her burrow.  If she sees her shadow, it means cold weather is coming.  But what makes Sherry’s shadow so special? To find out, George and his animal friends camp out at Sherry’s burrow, but fall asleep while waiting for her to wake up.  At the shadow ceremony, Mr. Glass mistakes a sleeping George and each one of his friends for a whistlepig and presents them for the world to see.  But does a monkey, dog, cat, or pigeon shadow count?EPISODE 7George Digs Worms – Why is Bill yelling at a mound of dirt? He’s worm racing!  George turns to a pile of decomposed leaves to find his own prize worm and challenges Bill’s “Fast Freddy” to a race.  Pretty soon, the entire countryside catches worm-racing fever and watch as George’s worm, named “Ooh Ooh Ahh Ahh,” races its way to the championship.  But when Mr. Quint takes the wrong lunchbox on his fishing trip, George’s worm farm is in danger of becoming fish bait!  Can George save his slimy friends in time for the championship race?Everything Old is New Again – The city is awarding the “Golden Arrows Award” to the building that collects the most recycling.  George is eager to help-once he learns what recycling actually is, of course. The building’s Doorwoman next door turns out to be tough competition, so George hunts down recycling materials from everywhere he can think of. The only problem is, he doesn’t know that he only recycle products after they’ve been used!  Will the tenants with the missing recyclables forgive a monkey who’s not just trying to win a contest, but also save the environment?

Guess who has your passport to adventure this fall? Buster Baxter, and he’s back in new special episodes of the hit PBS KIDS GO! series POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER. Buster is globe trotting overseas in international specials that chronicle his adventures in China and Egypt. The half-hour episodes will air Fridays during the regular Arthur timeslot starting on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings for times).”At a time when it’s more important than ever for kids to develop an understanding of the world around them, we’re thrilled to present our POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER international specials,” said Executive Producer Pierre Valette. “Through his lens, Buster has the invaluable ability to introduce kids to new faces, rich cultures, and the exciting ways that ancient traditions are interwoven into the modern lives of kids around the globe.”On the heels of the 2008 summer Olympics, Buster travels to China in “Buster in Beijing” (premiering November 14, 2008) where he sees that a rapidly modernizing China is merging the new and the old. Buster learns that in the midst of the towering skyscrapers of modern Beijing, the age-old traditions of tai chi, ribbon-dancing, pigeon-racing, and noodle-making continue to thrive. On his adventures, Buster meets Chen Xi, a 9-year old who heads her neighborhood’s recycling initiative – and Yiyi, an 11-year old skating champion who runs a foundation for kids with cancer. From them, Buster learns that being a global citizen means caring for the earth and the people in your community.Lastly, in “Buster’s Egyptian Adventure” (November 21, 2008), Buster discovers (much to his surprise!) that there are more minarets and mosques than mummies and mythology in Egypt today. In addition to exploring the bustling markets of Cairo, discovering the Great Pyramids, and taking a camel ride to the Sphinx, Buster also learns what it’s like to be a Muslim kid in modern Egypt. His adventures continue up the Nile River where Nubian children take him on a Felucca ride to Isis’ temple, invite him to a wedding, and introduce him to their pet crocodile. From the fertile valleys to the desert expanses Egypt is an eye-opening discovery at every turn.POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER pioneers a format that seamlessly blends animation with live-action documentary footage to tell Buster’s stories from around the world. The series also crosses media platforms, taking Buster’s television travels to the Internet. Kids can check out Buster’s personal blog, interactive games, video clips, maps, and original songs at pbskidsgo.org/buster. Additionally, companion books by Marc Brown (published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), and educational materials support and extend the series into classrooms and libraries nationwide.

Qubo Channel, the TV and online entertainment service for children, is securing its place as the destination for high-quality programming with a full slate of great new TV shows for kids and an expanded kid-friendly schedule. The fun starts on Monday, November 3 with the debut of four new series SAMMY’S STORY SHOP, MAISY, GOFRETTE and ADVENTURES FROM THE BOOK OF VIRTUES, an entirely new season of perennial favorite, DRAGON, as well as new episodes of many other popular Qubo shows (see attached grid for specific airtimes). Qubo Channel will also roll-out a new schedule that serves different age groups at different times of the day and will now feature several series on a daily basis.  All of Qubo’s shows will delight preschoolers and elementary school-aged children alike with engaging storylines that provide inspirational life lessons.In addition to the four new series and new season of DRAGON, Qubo Channel will also debut premiere episodes of 3-2-1 PENGUNS, BABAR, MISS BG, MY FRIEND RABBIT, RUPERT, THEORDORE TUGBOAT and THE ZULA PATROL.  And if that weren’t enough to keep them engaged and entertained, kids can now catch some of their favorite Qubo shows everyday as DRAGON, 3-2-1 PENGUINS! and JANE AND THE DRAGON are moving from their weekend-only time-slots to become daily series.  Finally, Qubo Channel has revamped its programming schedule to better address children’s viewing patterns.  Every day from 5 AM – 1 PM (ET), Qubo Channel will air programming for preschool age children while the shows airing from  1 PM- 12 AM are geared more towards children ages 6 and up.  (Again see attached programming grid for details).Here’s a closer look at what’s new for kids on Qubo Channel starting November 3:SAMMY’S STORY SHOP – Airs daily at 5:30 AM  (ET) Combining imaginative play with the magic of storytelling, SAMMY’S STORY SHOP brings best-selling and award-winning children’s books to life with animated video adaptations of classic children’s books, including such titles as  Snowy Day, Make Way For Ducklings, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Tikki Tikki Tembo and The Napping House, among many others.  Each episode opens with an animated introduction by Sammy, the Story-Chef extraordinaire.   Using an imaginary magic pan and spoon,  Sammy cooks up stories – two to three animated shorts – for his best friends Wiggly and Sharlene, to enjoy.   The anthology series is produced by  Scholastic Media,  a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.MAISY – Airs daily at 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM (ET)Based on the award-winning books by the British author Lucy Cousins, this colorful and endearing animated series features Maisy, a lovable mouse with a nose for adventure.  Joined by a colorful cast of friends, “Tallulah” the chicken, “Charlie” the crocodile, “Eddie” the elephant and “Cyril” the squirrel, Maisy is always up for trying new things and making discoveries that turn every day into something special. The series is distributed by NBC Universal.GOFRETTE – airs daily at 7 AM and 10:30 AM (ET)This animated preschool series makes its U.S. television premiere and chronicles the capers of an eccentric and inquisitive cat, Gofrette, and his friends who live in the colorful world of Zanimo.  Gofrette’s serendipity and out-of-the-box spirit teach children wonderful lessons about optimism and resilience. The series is jointly produced by Canadian-based Zoe Mae Productions and Subsequence Entertainment and is based on the best selling books from Doris Brasset and Fabienne Michot.  PorchLight Entertainment is the international distributor of GOFRETTE, excluding Asia and Canada.ADVENTURES FROM THE BOOK OF VIRTUES – airs daily at 3:30 PM and 9 PM (ET)  The classic animated stories in this series are adapted from the best-selling book The Book of Virtues by former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett.  Drawn from Greek mythology, American folktales, European fairy tales, African folklore, and more, the time-honored stories are designed to enlighten, inspire and spark the imagination, with each episode illustrating a central theme such as honesty, courage, responsibility, friendship and compassion.  The series is produced by PorchLight Entertainment in association with KCET/Hollywood.DRAGON _- airs daily at 9 AM and 12:30 PM (ET)Based on the books by best-selling Scholastic children’s author Dav Pilkey (author of the popular Captain Underpants series), DRAGON stars a kindhearted blue dragon who is friendly and helpful, but tends to see things from a much different perspective than most of us–and that’s when the fun begins. Set in a colorful world populated by a menagerie of animal pals, the series playfully explores themes that are universally identifiable to children: wanting a friend, being afraid of the dark, and trying new things.  This season, Dragon’s adventures include concocting an unusual lemonade recipe for his lemonade stand, resisting the urge to open a package that arrives two days before his birthday and what to do on a picnic when you forgot to assign someone to bring food or games!  DRAGON is provided by Scholastic.

Teach your children what election day is all about by watching the upcoming Election Day episode of the Emmy Award-winning animated series “WordGirl.”   The episode airs Nov. 4^th on PBS and the PBS Kids GO! cable network, and features lead character Becky Botsford running for fifth-grade class president. This is the perfect show for children on Election Day, giving them a taste of what elections are all about, and introducing the words “elect” and “candidate.”  (Parents will love it too, as it includes some slyly funny references to the current Presidential campaign.) Check out a two-minute teaser on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cawSBHnYm_A.