Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Chatty canine's vocab lessons are fun for kids.
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Why Age 4+?
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Martha Speaks
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Parents say this show is highly regarded for its ability to enhance children's vocabulary and engage both young viewers and adults with its humor and relatable characters. While some criticize the animation and themes, many appreciate the educational value, noting significant improvement in their children's language skills and enjoyment of the storytelling.
- educational value
- character relatability
- engaging humor
- vocabulary expansion
- mixed animation quality
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 27 kid reviews
What's the Story?
MARTHA SPEAKS is based on Susan Meddaugh series of kids' books about a beloved family dog that gains the ability to talk after she eats alphabet soup and the letters are diverted from her stomach to her brain. Now graced with the gift of gab, Martha (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain) is eager to share her many opinions with anyone who will listen. That's all well and good until Martha's inexperience with the social intricacies of talking -- like when to stop! -- gets her into some hilariously sticky situations, and her 10-year-old human, Helen, must teach her the responsibilities that accompany her new skill.
Is It Any Good?
Who doesn't love a story about talking animals? It's always fun to see the world through their eyes, and Martha's no exception. Kids will quickly fall in love with the charming yellow canine at the heart of this series because she's fun-loving and excited to learn new things. What's more, kids will probably relate to her ups and downs as she discovers there's a lot more to responsible communication than just saying whatever you want whenever you feel like it.
From an educational perspective, Martha Speaks does a good job of exposing kids to new vocabulary. Four new words related to the story's theme are introduced in each segment; the new material is reinforced with a brief recap at the end. The show also makes an effort to weave in positive messages about qualities like self-confidence, friendship, and civic responsibility -- all great lessons for young kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication. Before Martha could speak, how did she communicate her needs to her family? Do you think they were able to understand her? How would you communicate if you couldn't talk? Have you ever gotten into trouble because of something you've said? What did you learn from the situation? What does Martha learn about when to share her opinions? Can you think of a time when it might be better to not give your opinion?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 1, 2008
- Cast : Madeline Peters , Tabitha St. Germain , Vanessa Tomasino
- Network : PBS Kids
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , Numbers and Letters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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