 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
It's a Big, Big World
- PBS
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Engaging show with good messages for preschoolers.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know each episode features a conflict shared by loveable animal characters. The tree they all live in is a metaphor for the world, filled with diversity and unity. In addition, topics in geography, geoscience, and bioscience are integrated into the stories with the characters learning and solving problems together.
What's the story?
From the creator of Bear in the Big Blue House comes another great show for young preschoolers using puppets to demonstrate characters living peacefully in the world. Their world is a gigantic tree filled with homes for all sorts of interesting and adorable creatures. The host is a tall sloth named Snook who is narrator, peacekeeper, problem solver, singer/dancer, playmate, and most of all -- a dependable adult caregiver. Other characters include sibling marmosets Smooch and Winslow, Wartz the tree frog, Bob the anteater, Burdette the bird, Ick the fish, old monkey Oko, and Madge, an ancient turtle with a map of the world on her shell. There are adult characters too, who help the child characters when needed. They're all very different in how they look and move, yet they all share the same tree and coexist peacefully and happily.
Is it any good?
IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD's puppetry is Banraku: puppeteers dressed in blue operate each puppet in front of a blue screen, giving the characters great range of expression and flexibility. The colorful background is added using computer-generated animation in real time. The effect is quite rich, full of depth and vibrancy.
The show is geared toward preschoolers who are moving from playing on their own or next to friends to playing with others and learning to negotiate, communicate responsively, and compromise. It may bore kindergartners on up, who have mastered these skills. But for younger kids, this is a highly recommended program.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the show represents diversity in our world. In what ways are we different and the same? Families can also talk about the ways the child characters solve their problems using communication, critical thinking, and turning to caring adults for support.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
April 9, 2008
AGE
Uplifting,friendly and warm
Music is catchy and easy to sing to. Characters are huggable and friendly. Topics are relevant and explained well. Production value is excellent. I like watching it!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Wonderful for children
My son loves this show, He dances to the music and actually stays put to watch to whole show unlike other shows that I have presented to him. It helps them to learn new things and see the world as well as getting them involved. It is such an amazing show.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great Toddler's TV
My 18 month old granddaughter loves this program. The songs are the best, she is starting to try to sing the theme songs. The charaters are wonderful. Thought they might be scary at first but she loves every one of them, even Oko. I hope this show lates a long long time.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I LOVE THIS SHOW
MY SON IS HIPNOTIZED EVERY TIME HE WATCHES THE SHOW HE LOVES IT HE LOVES EVERY CARECTOR AND LOVES ALL THE SONGS THEY SING AND HE IS JUST 1Y OLD ITS A GOOD SHOW A WATCH IT WITH HIM IS CUTE.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Question
My son watched this every day for a week when we changed our sleeping schedule. I never liked the song much -- well, it is really catchy, so beware... Hah. It's a good show, although one episode surprised me as it kind of had this underlying message of postmodernism... talking about the "spirit" of the trees and stuff like that. I'm sure the creators of the show have good motives, but it was enough to make me feel slightly uncomfortable. Don't let that one episode ruin the show for you, though. Overall, it's a pretty decent show.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Lovely, lovely program
This is one of the freshest new children's shows in the past 4 years. The characters are amusing and it's incredibly easy for preschoolers to understand the concepts the show puts forth. My son loves it and we talk about the show afterwards... he's learned about metamorphosis, how ice melts, why some animals fly and others don't and many other basic concepts. I also love how gentle and peaceful the characters are when they interact with one another.
Was this review useful?
|
|
April 9, 2008
AGE
EXCELLENT SHOW!!
MY DAUGHTER IS ONLY SIX MONTHS OLD BUT SHE LOVES THIS SHOW! WE ONLY ALLOW HER TO WATCH THIS AND OCCAISIONALLY SESAME STREET, BUT THIS CAPTURES HER ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SHOW! ALSO, THE MESSAGES IN THE SHOW ARE WHOLESOME AND EDUCATIONAL, SO I WON'T MIND HER WATCHING IT AS SHE GROWS OLDER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WITH SMALL CHILDREN!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
i hate this show.
it talks about spirits! bad!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | puppets, science and nature, wild animals |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | PBS |
| Cast: | Jay Simon, Melissa Creighton, Tyler Bunch |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
