Parents' Guide to Old Jack's Boat: Rockpool Tales

Old Jack’s Boat: Rockpool Tales Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

Gentle British series spins tall tales for preschoolers.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 3+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

OLD JACK'S BOAT: ROCKPOOL TALES is a British series that tells the stories of the sea creatures living in a rock pool off the shores of England. Old Jack (Bernard Cribbins) is a retired fisherman who lives with his dog Salty in a village on the Yorkshire coast. He loves to spend time in his fishing boat and tells stories about his childhood, which include the antics of a group of sea creatures. From Sheena the Shrimp to Bertram the Butter Fish, he share how the rockpoolers find ways to have fun, problem solve, and enjoy life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This enjoyable preschool series, which is a spinoff of the British series Old Jack's Boat, uses a combination of live action and animation to spin fun tales. The colorful sea creature characters are appealing, and thanks to the talents of Bernard Cribbins, Old Jack's gentle but animated narration makes it easy to be pulled in and remain engaged in the story world. While each of his accounts contain a hint of nostalgia, they also offer positive messages relating to friendship, team work, and community that never get old. Overall, Old Jack's Boat: Rockpool Tales shares thoughtful and imaginative tales that will appeal to kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Old Jack and his stories. How do you know the difference between an exaggerated story and one that's totally true?

  • What does Old Jack's Boat: Rockpool Tales teach us about being a community? How can everyone get along, even if we are all different or have different needs?

TV Details

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