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Parents' Guide to

The Wonder Pets!

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Kid-friendly mini-operas about teamwork and more.

TV Nickelodeon Kids' Animation 2006
The Wonder Pets! 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 2+

Based on 22 parent reviews

skingsland
skingsland Adult
February 20, 2019
age 2+

My son has been watching and loving it since he was 2; great values and catchy music

What I love about this show is that there's nothing really bad to worry about. No real scary parts (that I've seen), no bad guys, no violence, name calling, or bad messages for kids. And it hammers home the importance of teamwork (with a very catchy song), problem solving, and helping others, while teaching about different animals and where they live. One other thing I like is that two characters (Tuck and Ming Ming) have conflicting personalities that occasionally causes competition / jealousy problems and needs to be addressed, which feels very much like siblings would deal with. Yes, Ming Ming has a lisp so her pronunciation isn't perfect, and some of the episodes might not make complete sense to a smart 3 year old (like the underwater one). But compare this to something more vacuous like Paw Patrol, and I think it's waaaay better than that. Would I rather he watch Daniel Tiger? Sure, since I think it teaches a greater variety of lessons and the songs are better, but Wonder Pets is still one of the best TV shows for 2-3 year olds out there IMO. And lastly, some of the writing is super clever. There are plenty of jokes and pop culture references that go way over my 3 yo's head (like entire episodes about the beatles, or elvis, or film noir) that make it fun to watch for adults, without diminishing the safety or educational value for young kids.
Haylee M.
Haylee M. Adult
September 29, 2023
age 2+
I loved this show as a kid.
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Stars of THE WONDER PETS! Linny the guinea pig, Ming-Ming the duckling, and Tuck the turtle are classroom pets who, after the last child has left for the day, answer a tin-can call from a baby animal in distress somewhere in the world. They instantly fly, hop, or crawl into action by flying off to the rescue in their Flyboat (made from scattered playroom toys). The main characters communicate via song, using real children's voices. Award-winning composers have developed musical accompaniments that match the ups and downs of each adventure and the culture of the area explored.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (39 ):

Even though Linny, Ming-Ming, and Tuck are animals who sing opera and fly in a toy boat, they're very relatable for young viewers. First off, thanks to the preschoolers who provide their voices, they sound like real kids. Also, by using photo-puppetry, the animators manipulated photographs of animals to give the characters realistic visuals.

More precocious preschoolers and some kindergartners may find the fuzzy softness of these three pets, and the show in general, too young for their taste. Too bad, because The Wonder Pets!, which combines adventure, an exemplary model of teamwork in action, and interesting information about different animals in our world, is a brilliant addition to the world of children's television.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the characters' ability to stick with a challenge without becoming frustrated, to work together as a team, and, along the way, to share funny experiences with friends.

  • Which Wonder Pet is your favorite? Why?

  • Specific animals featured in the episodes, such as a baby dolphin caught in a net, may spark discussion about the challenges these animals face in the wild and how humans are intervening to support (or hinder) their survival.

  • How do the characters on The Wonder Pets! demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

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