The new animated series, which aims to boost everyday literacy skills and empower preschoolers to navigate the world, launches February 2.
PBS Kids has announced that , a learning-rich animated series for young children, will launch February 2.The project aims to help boost everyday literacy skills and empower preschoolers to navigate their world using the various texts they encounter every day.
From Phoebe & Jay Productions and Mainframe Studios, the series introduces inquisitive and outgoing 6-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Jay Yarber, part of a multigenerational household, that live with their father Pete and Grandma Annie in the diverse, close-knit community of Tobsy Towers.“Every year, 40% of children enter kindergarten with literacy skills one to three years behind their grade level, creating a difficult gap for them to overcome,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS Kids.“We hope that ’s relatable characters, fun, family-centered stories, and foundational curriculum will help equip young viewers nationwide with the everyday literacy skills they need to find success in school and in life.” “We are grateful for the opportunity to create a show that features so many different neighbors and thinkers who laugh together, help each other, and go on fun adventures,” said co-creator Thy Than.
“We hope viewers recognize themselves in one of our characters and that the show inspires them to notice all the signs, symbols and texts that surround us in our daily lives.We’re very excited for families to watch and play with Phoebe and Jay together.” is created and executive produced by Than and Genie Deez, and is produced by Phoebe & Jay Productions and Mainframe Studios.Tanya Green is supervising producer.
Than is supervising director.Mike Alcock and Mark Sinclair are series co-directors.Michael Hefferon and Kim Dent Wilder executive produce for Mainframe.
Additional executive producers are Wendy Moss Klein and Nancy Steingard.Advisors for the series include Lead Curriculum Advisor, Kelly Cartwright, PhD, Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Child Literacy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D, licensed psychologist, children’s book author, and former Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Wendy Sapp, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer for Bridge Multimedia, Accessibility/Education Consultant; Tim Ojetunde, MEd, educator from South LA, Culture Specialist; and Cathy Tran, PhD, Writer’s Room Curriculum Consultant.Funding was provided by a grant from the U.S.
Department of Education as part of the Ready To Learn Initiative and a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
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