The Wonder Pets!
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Wonder Pets! is a very kid-friendly show about being part of a team, gaining confidence, and using responsive communication (the original musical compositions feature communication through song, like a mini-opera). It will help preschoolers and kindergartners learn more about working cooperatively with others.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Lovingly made, but repetitive
Good for young children
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?
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
- Premiere date: March 3, 2006
- Cast: Matthew Black, Scarlett Sperduto, Teala Dunn
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals, Music and Sing-Along
- Character strengths: Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
- Last updated: March 14, 2020
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