My 3 year old son and I love this show. The Kratt brothers have silly antics like falling in the mud every show, very athletic/energetic backdrop activities (swinging, kayaking, hiking, biking, surfing, jumping etc.) they casually incorporate into the show. They have gadgets that appeal, like the food machine and the occasional project like dinosaur building are oh-so-great for my boy. They just exude fun and love for the animals at all times, as well as respect. Every animal one introduces, the other brother says, "X-animal, I love X-animals!!" I think they have a great understanding of how little kids process and what appeals. Zoboo, the lemur, has great sayings and his Zobooland imaginings are really great because he always applies whatever concept or animal attributes to his play with a set of claymation characters that are his friends. This is another show that I think does a great job of teaching and teaching lessons without hitting us over the head with them, but demonstrating them and showing with lighthearted examples.
Zoboomafoo
(Rated TV-Y, Children, cartoons, & animation, Where to watch: PBS)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Preschoolers will go wild for this animal show.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 3 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Zoboomafoo was written by Joly Herman
Parents need to know that this entertaining, colorful program makes learning about animals lots of fun. Kids will be exposed to vocabulary ranging from "slow" and "fast" to "grazing," "nursing," and all of the names of the featured animals and their habitats. The only confusing point is that Zoboo transforms from a real-life lemur to a puppet when he eats a snack. This transition is pretty seamless, because the puppet looks almost exactly like a real lemur, so the youngest viewers might come away thinking that lemurs can actually speak (parrots do, right?).
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the different animals featured on the show. What noises do they make? How do they eat? Which ones are most fun to act like?
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More on Zoboomafoo
What’s the Story?
Is It Any Good?
Zoboomafoo is easy to love, because it's so full of good stuff. Not only are Martin and Chris enthusiastic and playful, but they also seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves. This enthusiasm is contagious, and children are bound to respond to it. Along with their friend Zoboo the lemur, the Kratt brothers make learning about animals lots of fun. Often encouraging kids to "run like cheetahs," or to "chew like a horse," Martin and Chris make the interactive aspect of the show very engaging. Likewise, by prompting kids to learn about animals and their habitat, the Kratt brothers have created a truly educational program; especially when the hosts can bring the animals on to the set. Meanwhile, the manner in which Martin and Chris relate to animals is extremely respectful. They never antagonize or aggravate the animals, clearly setting a positive precedent for young viewers.
One segment of the show includes a fantasy element, wherein Zoboo tells a far-out story which is played out in claymation. It works, if simply because Zoboo is very childlike, saying things like, "I can't believe my mind," when hearing something incredible. The jumpy nature of these segments can be a bit odd, but it generally serves to enrich the program with an artistic element. PBS has done it again -- providing young viewers with compelling viewing. Zoboomafoo is a fun, educational show for preschoolers.
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great guy energy, perfect little kid wavelength
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Boring!
I love seeing the animals, but the show is for younger viewers. The animals are not worth it.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Setting a good example
Zoboomafoo is a wonderful show to educate children on the wonders of many animals. The one thing I wonder about is where the animals are kept and how they feel about being paraded inside Zoboo's 'hut'.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Fun for all ages
This is one of the only shows that my 8 year old daughter, my 3 year old son and I will all sit down and watch. Most shows are age specific for one of the kids but the botht hink show is utterly fantastic.
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