WordWorld (PBS Kids)

WORDWORLD is set in a colorful land where everything has a name and where the places, objects, and inhabitants are formed out of the individual letters in those names. Whether it's a barn, a train, a bridge, or a duck, one glance at everything that appears on screen shows kids which letters make up its name. Each episode follows the daily adventures of the seven main characters (called WordFriends) who live in WordWorld. Preschoolers watch as Sheep, Frog, Bear, Dog, Pig, Ant, and Cat read and spell their way through the minor mishaps that occur around them.

This unique series is designed to change the way preschoolers build the skills they need for future literacy. In one segment, for example, the friends happen upon an egg that's fallen from its tree. Sheep soon discovers that the egg is surprisingly restless and refuses to stay in one place for long. The group brainstorms ideas about how to make it more comfortable, and Frog suggests building a nest. He gathers the components he needs to spell the word, and when the N, E, S, and T come together, they morph into a cozy bed for the tired egg.

The show is perfectly suited for preschoolers' learning level, and it will entertain them as it reinforces their knowledge of letters, sounds, and simple words. With its imaginative design and with the various font styles used to create the letter-based objects, the WordWorld package is delightful enough to draw in parents almost as readily as kids.