Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this preschool program focuses on the imaginative world of a little girl. The series' learning curriculum is based on social development and problem-solving and emphasizes sharing, caring, and helping others. Friendship and cooperation are key themes, and imaginative play is also core to this program, given its whimsical, lighthearted situations.
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- Kids say
The Girl with a Big Imagination
What's the story?
MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST is a colorful, whimsical collection of adventures based on the books by Michael and Betty Paraskevas.
Five-year-old Maggie is an aspiring explorer who yearns for adventure and excitement. With a little bit of magic and imagination, her favorite stuffed animals -- the Ferocious Beast and Hamilton the Pig -- become real playmates in Nowhere Land, a land Maggie creates in her drawings. With her map, her courageous heart, and her best friends, Maggie explores Nowhere Land and discovers the treasure that is friendship.
Is it any good?
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast's main focus is on the importance of friendship and what it means to be a good friend. Each of the three main characters has a different personality, with obvious strengths and weaknesses. These differences both complicate the group's adventures and provide ways to solve their problems together. Music is also strongly featured, since Maggie, the Ferocious Beast, and Hamilton always gather together in song while traveling through Nowhere Land.
Although the adventuring-with-animal-pals formula of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is nothing new in children's television, the series is still cute and entertaining for the preschool set. Some kids may not like the Ferocious Beast -- not because he's ferocious (he's very friendly and loving), but because of his odd appearance (he somewhat resembles a yellow elephant with the bald head of a man). Nonetheless, Maggie and her friends are full of fun and enthusiasm, and preschoolers will enjoy their wacky expeditions in Nowhere Land.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the importance of creative problem-solving and cooperating with others. Is it easier to solve problems on your own, or with others' help? How can sharing ideas help solve problems? How can you show someone that you're a good friend? Opportunities for further discussion are created by the structure of each episode: The main characters encounter a problem, learn to control their frustrations, and work together to solve their troubles.
TV details
- Premiere date: July 15, 2000
- Cast: Kristen Bone, Michael Caruana, Stephen Ouimette
- Network: Nick Jr.
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Book Characters, Friendship
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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