(Boston, MA, USA):PBS International is thrilled to launch distribution of Elinor Wonders Whyat Kidscreen Summit 2020. Elinor Wonders Why from PBS KIDS, is a pre-school series inspiring kids to follow their curiosity, ask questions when they don’t understand, and find answers using science inquiry skills.
The main character, Elinor, the most observant and curious bunny rabbit in Animal Town, will introduce kids ages 3-5 to science, nature and community through adventures with her friends. In Animal Town, Elinor and her friends meet all kinds of interesting, funny, and quirky characters, each with something to teach us about respecting others, the importance of diversity, caring for the environment, and working together to solve problems.
“Kids love to ask questions about how the world works,” said Linda Simensky, Head of Content for PBS KIDS. “That’s what makes Elinor Wonders Why such a perfect show for preschoolers. Kids will recognize themselves in Elinor’s boundless curiosity as she pursues the questions she wonders about – making observations and reveling in nature’s amazing answers.”
The stories in Elinor Wonders Why(74x11’ + 1x55’ Special) center around Elinor and her friends Ari, a funny and imaginative bat, and Olive, a perceptive and warm elephant.In each episode, Elinor models the foundational practices of science inquiry and engineering design—including her amazing powers of observation and willingness to ask questions and investigate. When she encounters something she doesn’t understand, like why birds have feathers or how tiny ants build massive anthills, she just can’t let it go until she figures it out. In discovering the answers, Elinor often learns something about nature’s ingenious inventions and how they can connect to ideas in our designed world.
Elinor Wonders Why, created by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson and produced in partnership with Pipeline Studios, will debut on PBS stations in the U.S. starting September 7, 2020. Cham is the cartoonist behind the popular online comic “Piled Higher and Deeper” (a.k.a. PHD Comics). He holds a PhD in Robotics from Stanford University and is a former Instructor and Research Associate at Caltech. Whiteson is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine, and a fellow of the American Physical Society. He earned his PhD in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley and is an active researcher, using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN to search for exotic new particles. The two have collaborated on several projects aimed at exploring science-related questions with humor, including a podcast (“Daniel & Jorge Explain the Universe”) and a book (“We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe”).
“We want to encourage children’s curious nature and share with them the fun and joy of discovery. We hope to show children that science is not just a list of facts, but a way of answering questions, and of learning about the world,” said co-creators Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson.
PBS International is committed to bringing the most innovative, engaging, and fun children’s programs available to the global marketplace. At Kidscreen Summit, PBS International will bring their growing kid’s catalog featuring more than 1,000 engaging stories—from the long-running sitcom Arthur, which tackles universal kid problems, to the adventurous Molly of Denali, which is receiving rave reviews, to the exuberant creativity found in Pinkalicious & Peterrific.
“We are proud to bring Elinor Wonders Why, the newest in a long line of successful PBS KIDS series, to Kidscreen Summit and we are excited to continue growing our catalog with the amazing stories PBS KIDS creates for children around the world,” said Tom Koch, Vice President of PBS International.
Elinor Wonders Whyis being developed as part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS Ready To Learn Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The Ready To Learn Initiative is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.
About PBS International
PBS International is the worldwide co-production and distribution arm of PBS Distribution, a leading distributor of public media content around the world, reaching audiences through multiple platforms including television sales, digital distribution of OTT branded channels, TVOD, SVOD and VOD, as well as through theatrical licensing, DVD and Blu-ray sales, and inflight entertainment. PBS International offers broadcast and digital platforms around the globe 3,000 hours of the highest quality factual, lifestyle and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. For over 20 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations and producers.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
PRESS CONTACT: Sarah Marks, PBS International, +1 617-208-0747, semarks@pbs.org
The contents of this program were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. This projected is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A150003, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.