Parents' Guide to

Littlest Pet Shop

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Product tie-ins dominate so-so cartoon.

TV Discovery Family Channel Kids' Animation 2012
Littlest Pet Shop Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 16 parent reviews

Molly M.
Molly M. Parent of 6, 10 and 15-year-old
February 4, 2023
age 4+

The best show for kids.

The show is super fun and teaches great lessons to kids, such as being yourself and helping a friend in need. All of the characters are different and have their own cool personalities! You feel like the character’s friend joining them for all the adventures. Most other adult reviews I’ve seen are immature My Little Pony obsessed fans comparing it to their show… but they’re nothing alike and this is better :)

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Ishimotomikato
Ishimotomikato Adult
June 6, 2021
age 6+

Adorable show!

I showed this to my young daughters and they love this show! It's very cute and has good lessons such as friendship. I watched a couple of episodes and they're all innocent and cute.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 16 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LITTLEST PET SHOP follows the adventures of Blythe Baxter (voiced by Ashleigh Ball) as she and her dad move to a new apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop, a one-of-a-kind day camp for animals. Blythe strikes up a friendship with the animals after she realizes she can communicate with them. From abstract artist Minka Mark (Kira Tozei) to shop comedienne Pepper Clark (Tabitha St. Germain), this is a menagerie unlike any other, and with such diverse personalities under one roof, there are bound to be adventures and laughs all around.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (16 ):
Kids say (32 ):

Littlest Pet Shop hangs its hat on the appeal of its bobble-headed animal stars more than on content that might outshine its well-known cast, betting that kids will keep coming back for more because they feel affection for the characters. It's a win-win position for the show -- if your kids already like the Littlest Pet Shop toys, then they'll be drawn to watching them in action onscreen; if not, then watching their personalities develop will endear one or more of them to kids and almost guarantee that will translate into sales of toys, games, and other products. It's a tricky issue that influences parents' decisions about the media their kids consume, and ultimately it boils down to kids' susceptibility to this kind of imbedded advertising.

Blythe is the shining star amid otherwise run-of-the-mill characters and frivolous content of the show, and in her, kids (and girls in particular) will find a model of integrity, self-confidence, loyalty, and creativity. Even though she's faced with a difficult situation in being the new kid in town, she stays true to her values and seeks out friends who accept her for who she is. In so doing, she's able to show kids the importance of liking yourself and resisting pressure to change for the sake of an "in crowd."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about brand names. Kids: Were you already familiar with the Littlest Pet Shop toys? Does watching this show change your interest in them? Where else do you see or hear the toys' brand names in your daily life?

  • Do you have a favorite pet shop character in the show? What appeals to you about him or her? What makes him or her different from the others in the store?

  • How does being able to talk to Blythe help the animals? How does it change her feelings toward them? Why is it important to get to know a person before making a judgment about him or her?

TV Details

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.

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