Busytown Mysteries (CBS)

Huckle (voiced by Joanne Vannicola), Sally, Lowly Worm (Paul Wensley), and the rest of author Richard Scarry’s beloved characters come to life in BUSYTOWN MYSTERIES. The series is set in the bustling burg of Busy Town, where adventure is always close at hand and each day presents Huckle and his friends with questions to ponder and queries to solve. No mystery is too big for this group of young gumshoes, who examine evidence and gather clues that help them unravel the mysteries behind the who, what, and where in question.

Scarry’s delightful illustrations transfer seamlessly to this animated series, and kids will get caught up in the brisk stories that encourage critical thinking. The mysteries are just right for the preschool set, typically relating to questions that kids would ask themselves -- like "Where did my sandcastle go overnight?" or "Who made those unfamiliar tracks in the snow?" As Huckle and his friends work to answer them, kids will see a pattern to their analytical process and begin to predict what might happen next.

With its timeless characters and worry-free content, parents can breathe easy about letting their preschoolers tune in to this fun series. Then again, since some moms and dads likely have fond memories of the characters from their own childhood bedtime stories, there’s plenty of reason to curl up with your kids and enjoy the show -- and perhaps open one of the books for an encore.