 | 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. |
Lomax
- PBS Kids
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Musical dog's travels turn kids on to folk tunes.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's no content to worry about in this educational series, which exposes kids to music and a variety of instruments through interactive folk songs. The characters teach young viewers a brief part of each new song they introduce, and scenes of kids singing along encourage at-home watchers to do the same. Kids explore musical timing through body movements like clapping, stomping, and dancing.
What's the story?
In LOMAX, a decked-out train caboose called the Melody Hound Express is home to music-loving Amy (Amy Miles) and her furry friends -- Lomax (a.k.a. "The Hound of Music") and Delta the blues-singing cat. The fun-loving trio criss-crosses the country to discover the diverse heritage of American folk music. Their travels introduce them to plenty of characters -- both human and animal -- who share their passion for song, and each day brings new tunes to sing and new friends to share them with.
Is it any good?
This melodic series takes a refreshingly unique approach to promoting music appreciation by focusing on traditional folk tunes. Kids will probably be familiar with some of the timeless songs -- like "She's Coming Around the Mountain" and "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" -- and the simple instruction style makes chiming in a breeze, even when the song is new to them. While the show does include samples from other musical genres, it highlights the unifying quality of folk tunes and introduces an assortment of lesser-known instruments (fiddle and banjo, for example) that complement their heritage.
But the show's ace in the hole is that kids really will love it. The colorful cast of characters -- human and puppet alike -- ensure that the info-packed episodes are fun and never feel like a lesson. The characters' enjoyment of music is infectious, and kids will absorb all the educational content just by joining in the fun. Parents may even be inspired to sing along with the recognizable tunes, too, making Lomax a great choice for family viewing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about music. Kids: What types of music do you like? Do you have any favorite instruments or songs? How do different kinds of music make you feel? Do you like the music you hear in this show? How does it compare to the tunes in some of your other favorite shows?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
It's cute but my kids no longer like it
My two boys, 2 1/2 & 5, really liked the show when it first came out, but no longer are excited by it. I liked the music and the live action, and cute storylines, particularly since the songs were the "old fashioned" family songs that I grew up with. They thought the dog was really funny and they liked the music, but the storylines wander a bit and I think that's why it's no longer a favorite. We DVR it, so the kids get to pick what they want to watch, and it's pretty consistently Word World and Zula Patrol, with the occasional Mickey Mouse Club, SuperWhy, or Sid the Science Kid. Since they only watch about 2 hours of TV a week, there's some competition for their attention!
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| Topics: | music and sing-along, trains |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Network: | PBS Kids |
| Cast: | Amy Miles |
| Genre: | Educational |
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