The Magic School Bus
By Sarah Wenk,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
A fun, frantic, and educational ride for kids.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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The Magic School Bus
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Based on 15 parent reviews
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Educational for ages
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What's the Story?
THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS is quite a vehicle. At the command of schoolteacher Miss Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin), it can transform into any possible shape and size (including a "bathysphere" shaped like a bathtub) and carry a group of kids off to adventures in space, under the sea, or even inside the human body.
Is It Any Good?
There's lots of fun and learning along the way, though at times the pace is so fast that it can be easy to miss some of the educational value. Some of the effects used in the animation can be pretty strange, too -- the sight of a group of mussels with the heads of children, each wearing a jet pack, isn't something you see every day, but it will keep kids and parents entertained.
The Magic School Bus series strictly follows the formula of the book series created by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. From dinosaurs to beehives, kids get an inside peek into the inner workings, history, and function on a wide range of topics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the explorations that the class goes on in each episode.
Also, what kind of field trips does your child go on? What would their dream field trip be? Ask your kids what they learned about at the end of each episode. Did they study that subject in school?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 10, 1994
- Cast: Lily Tomlin
- Networks: ION, NBC, qubo
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Cars and Trucks, Adventures, Book Characters, Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: February 19, 2023
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