Tot TV Watch

PBS Kids Sprout announced last week that they will be adding a new afternoon block, The Let’s Go Show, to their preschool line-up.  The new interactive show will debut on Monday, June 25th, and will encourage kids to ask questions, be curious about the world around them, and participate in a daily musical adventure.

(Image: http://www.fishwithfeet.com)

The Let’s Go Show, airing weekedays from 3:00-6:00 EDT, will be hosted by Miles (Milton Barnes) and his puppy friend Banjo.  Each day, the two of them will embark on a new musical journey where they will make many new discoveries, play, and learn.  After each show, kids can go to SproutOnline.com to find out more about the questions posed on the show.

Here are some of the things you can expect to see on The Let’s Go Show:

– Learn a song and have a “boogie woogie break” at Music Hill;
— Enjoy a special healthy snack prepared for them by Brussel Sprout at the Sprout Diner Field;
— Create age-appropriate science experiments at Wonder Why Valley;
— Encourage viewers to become “Sprout Scouts” by helping Miles and Banjo find their way to each location by asking questions;
— Inspire kids to be creative and discover all the great things they can make and do at home with their parents and caregivers.

PBS Kids, Sprout, Preschool, The Let’s Go Show, Miles, Milton Barns, Banjo

Who are The Hoobs? They are the latest Jim Henson creation to make their way to US television. Aimed at 3-5 year olds, the show follows The Hoobs as they spend their days seeking answers to simple questions about the world they live in. Tula, Groove, Iver, and Roma hail from far away Hoobland. The four colorful puppets travel the world in their Hoobmobile to learn as much as they can about life on Earth. They report their findings back to Hubba Hubba Hoob, who then records it in the large Hoobopedia.

The show appears to be fairly educational. It helps children learn the process of asking a question, looking for clues to the answer, following the presented information and eventually coming to a final conclusion. It also includes a nice variety of singing and dancing which helps to keep the child’s interest.

The one factor that I personally find a little annoying is their use of the Hoob language. Some of the common words that you will hear throughout the show are: tiddlypeeps (kids), Hooby groovy, Hooble-toodle-do, and Hoobalicious.

The series was first aired in the UK in 2000 and premiered in the US, on PBS’s Sprout, on December 25, 2006.

The Hoobs, Jim Henson, PBS, Sprout

It seems like I missed the boat once again, but lucky for me I might still be able to catch it. If you didn’t watch Sesame Street’s A Christmas Carol when it premiered in November, it will air again on December 24th on Sprout. Check your local listings for times.

Personally, I was always a fan of Oscar the Grouch and I can’t think of a more perfect character to portray the grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge. I think the whole family will enjoy this version of the classic Charles Dickens tale. Pieced together from past Sesame Street holiday specials, this one is sure to please adults who are nostalgic for their old Sesame Street pals as well as toddlers who are just discovering the joys of Bert, Ernie, Elmo, and Big Bird.