Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey
By Stephanie Morgan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet intro to scientific questioning for preschoolers.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey
Community Reviews
What's the Story?
In ELINOR WONDERS WHY: A WONDERFUL JOURNEY, Elinor and her friends go camping with Ranger Rabbit to Hidden Lake, where they bump into Beatriz, an inventor and good friend of Ranger Rabbit's who studies frogs. But, on a hike to help Beatriz observe frogs, the kids discover that the frogs seem to be missing from the lake. Why? It's up to Elinor, Beatriz, and her friends to solve the mystery of the missing frogs by asking questions and making observations.
Is It Any Good?
Full of catchy songs and repetition, this new special is the perfect introduction to the scientific method for preschoolers. Encouraging questions and making observations while respectfully exploring nature, Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey teaches young viewers that asking questions is good for coming up with new ideas, learning things, and inventing new solutions to problems. The show also encourages making observations, especially in nature, and making drawings based on those observations. To add to the learning, plenty of facts about frogs are peppered throughout the show. Plus, both the park ranger and the inventor featured are women; one is even bilingual. This is a show your children will learn a lot from, both directly and indirectly. Just be prepared to go for lots of hikes with the kids after they finish watching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
What steps did the kids and Beatriz use to come up with new ideas? Why is nature a good place to come up with new questions and ideas?
Why is it always good to ask questions?
Why are observations important? How can drawing help with observing?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 18, 2022
- Cast: Markeda McKay , Wyatt White
- Network: PBS Kids
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: STEM , Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: April 18, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate