Wilbur (The Hub)

WILBUR (voiced by Julie Lemieux) and his barnyard friends -- Dasha (Emma Pustil) the curious duck, Ray (Ian Busher) the talkative rooster, and Libby (Taylor Barber) the kind-hearted lamb -- join forces to tackle dilemmas that young viewers can relate to, like a pal with a bothersome habit or things that go bump in the night. Unable to find solutions on their own, the animals turn to books for inspiration; the stories they read help them understand how to navigate the world around them.

Preschoolers will be drawn in by the series' cheery characters, engaging puppetry techniques, catchy tunes, and rhythmic storytelling. Plus, they'll pick up important clues about the mechanics of reading. The characters also encourage listening comprehension through interactive questions that await kids' responses; many retellings of the stories by both Wilbur and real kids reiterate each episode's theme and ensure that little ones won't miss a beat of the tales.

Developed by a trio of moms who saw a need for book-oriented preschool programming, Wilbur may very well get your kids jazzed up about reading, especially if you mimic the characters' excitement and style (follow the words with your finger as you read, let your kids turn the pages to find out what happens next, etc.) when you read at home.