outside the (toy) box

Hey, hey, hey.  Tomorrow PBS is launching WordGirl, which is almost my dream come true. 

WordGirl is a hip, clever cartoon about an alien (in human form) supergirl from the planet “Lexicon” who fights enemies with her vocabulary and monkey sidekick (targeted toward kids from 4-9, but some minor violence etc., might make it best for 5 or 6 year olds if you have sensitive kids).  It ran as little 2 minute spots, but is now its own 30 minute show, and it premieres tomorrow. 

I know, I know you’re thinking, how fun can a show be where vocabulary is a weapon? Very fun.  I suspect it will even count as “cool,” but you’ll need to check with your resident 6 year old.  Or, decide for yourself - check out a 2 minute episode here.

It does have some standard cartoon stereotypes — the genre is like a hammer, not a feather, after all – but WordGirl (”Becky” by day) is a strong, smart, brave girl and she appears to be a girl of color* too, so I’m on board!

(*This is what I see. One of the production team members tells me that she is intended to be “racially ambiguous,” you are free to project what you like!)

The show also has a great website with games and parent/teacher resoucres, worth checking out.

Check the PBS listings for showtimes.

Welcome WordGirl!  We’re happy to have you!