Wallykazam!: The Big Goblin Problem
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Friendly messages, superb literacy content, fun adventure.
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Wallykazam!: The Big Goblin Problem
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What's the Story?
In WALLYKAZAM!: THE BIG GOBLIN PROBLEM, Wally (voiced by Thomas Langston) and his friends must race to undo Bobgoblin's (Aria Capria) mischief of epic proportions. It all starts when Wally's Uncle Steve (Ben Schwartz) drops in to visit his nephew and accidentally leaves a bottle of double bubbles, which magically duplicate anything they land on. The bubbles fall into the hands of none other than Bobgoblin, who uses them to make multiple copies of himself. Trouble ensues for Wally when the goblins create a huge bowl of strawberry-pickle pudding, which threatens to swamp the entire town. Can Wally's magic stick and some carefully chosen magic words solve this oversize problem before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
At an hour long, this special is a double dose of everything kids and parents have come to love about Wallykazam! There's friendship, teamwork, encouragement, forgiveness, and creative problem-solving at play, all at the hands of endearing magical characters of every shape and size. Uncle Steve represents a strong element of mentoring that adds a lot to the mix, and his interactions with Wally remind kids of the value of trying your best, practicing new skills, and following the example of a good role model.
But what really sets Wallykazam! apart from its preschool-series peers is its masterful incorporation of educational content, and The Big Goblin Problem is no exception to that rule. Preschoolers won't even realize all they're learning as they sound out words and identify synonyms with the characters or try to keep track of how many Bobgoblins the double bubbles create. If the key to early learning is making it more fun than work, then there's nobody better than Wally to get kids on board.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Wally a good friend in Wallykazam!: The Big Goblin Problem. When someone has a problem he can't solve right away, how does he handle it? Kids: Why is it important to help a friend in need? How does it feel when someone helps you?
Why does Bobgoblin like to cause trouble? Is there excitement in breaking the rules? Does getting away with something make it right?
Parents and kids can expand on the show's literacy content by using the "magic letter sound" model at home. Choose a different letter sound each day and work together to identify objects whose names start with it. Can you think of words that rhyme with some of these? Can you identify synonyms for some of them?
How do the characters in Wallykazam!: The Big Goblin Problem demonstrate communication and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 6, 2015
- Cast: Thomas Langston , Ben Schwartz , Aria Capria
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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