It's been years since I've watched Nick Jr or any of the PBS morning shows...my youngest is now 13 and it's been a long while since Rugrats or Barney held his attention! But last week I was holding my new granddaughter (Ruby) and flipping through the channels (she's only 8 weeks old but I was curious about how children's television might have changed). I tried watching Sesame Street but found that what my daughter and son-in-law said is true...it's really gone downhill. I checked out Nick Jr and discovered Wonder Pets--and what a surprise! The animation is great, the message is solid, the learning is offered in a fun, heart-filled way, and the music is terrific! I saw one NYTimes article that said the music for Wonder Pets is recorded with a live orchestra, so you don't get that canned, tinny condescending sound so many children's shows have. Congratulations to the makers of Wonder Pets. This is a fine work. I hope you're around for a long time!

I really liked this show when me and my 3 year old started watching it. Then I noticed the little duck says her r's wrong. I thought well thats OK. What child is going to pay attention to that. Well 2 weeks after watching this program about everyday, my 3 year old started speaking like that. Saying his r's just like the little duck. Well I immediately blocked that show from out list. I have found its hard to break habits, and I do not this to go any farther. I think if you are going to make a children's show it should be to help them not hinder them. Other than the speech problem this is a great show for children. We love the songs and singing along with them. I like the lesson about team Work. Thank you for your time.Lora

So the other morning I stumbled on the greatest kids show ever! Well, at least since Muppet Babies was taken off the air. Total, utter insanity titled... Wonder Pets. Now, I love guinea pigs, I have one tattooed on my arm, have 4 of my own,well,the leader of the wonder pets is none other than a Guinea Pig named Linny. Linny who sports a little baseball hat and cape hangs with a turtle who wears a Mary Tyler Moore style hat and water shoes named Tuck, and a stupid duck who can't pronounce her R's named Ming Ming and save baby animals and the occasional tree using repetitive songs and teamwork. The first time I stumbled on this mini opera masterpiece the wonder pets taught a baby swan how to dance,(why oh why did a swan need to dance?) and then rescued a puppy by letting him out the doggy door and singing a song about "Pee pee, wee wee and tinkle". Other adventures included saving a baby chimp from space, a cow stuck in a tree after a twister hit and Stegasaurus in a book (what are they Gumby now?) caught in a rock cave. It's cute, they teach kids little facts on each adventure, like when they went to Venice to save a cat in the canal, or that elephants live in Africa. And getting back to the repetitive songs (and kids freaking LOVE music no matter how lame the lyrics), sadly the other day at work I found myself humming their "What's gonna work? TEAMWORK" song, although their "The phone, the phone is ringing" opener tune is quite catchy also. Oh and the animation(?) is awesome. Its like a real picture turned into a cartoon or something. It just looks so cool, especially compared to the ugly animation of some kids shows (Dora I'm talking to you big head). Anyway so if you have preschool kids (it teaches that teamwork is where its at, that turtles like hugs, and while Guinea pigs, dolphins and skunks can talk, dogs cannot), or if you're a 22 yr old with an odd sense of humor (who doesn't even have kids and can quote Nightmare on Elm Street movies) this show is a MUST SEE. It's just too nutty and adorable to pass up. I can't wait for this thing to take off and crush that fat loser Dora...Goooo Wonder Pets!

Before you turn away thinking I'm a total loon, I must qualify that I am a high school Honors Science teacher, and I have taught everything from PreAP Biology to AP Physics, and everything in between for almost 20 years now. I believe that parents need to watch TV with their kids anyway, to make sure the kids do not watch too much TV, and to make sure that what they watch is appropriate for them. Truly, I have come to the conclusion that "grown-up TV" is just no fun anymore. Up to last year, I was a "CSI" and "West Wing" junkie.....ah well....Now, as for the Wonder Pets:This show is a real breath of fresh air. The show is hard to describe, except to say that every episode is operatic, humorous, and just a little nuts. First of all, this show is completely absurd. Joyfully, beautifully, (perhaps dementedly?) absurd. But it is so cool, and very funny! The Wonder Pets are Lenny, Tuck and Ming-Ming, a guinea pig, a turtle and a duckling, respectively. They lead a double life as classroom pets in an elementary school classroom during the day, but as intrepid animal rescue experts after hours. Every episode has dialogue spoken and sung, just like a middle school operetta, with repeated choruses of what the story and the characters are all about ("What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!") backed up by fully orchestrated music that sounds actually similar to say, a Wagner opera....yes, I did say Wagner. You just have to see it to understand. In fact, make sure you watch at least two full 1/2 hour episodes, because the first time you see this, it will leave you confused. But after you get it, you will, well,.... you'll GET IT! To quote Ming-Ming "This is SEWIOUS!" (Yes, the duckling's trademark line is delivered every episode like an infant Elmer Fudd, but it is just too funny to describe here). The messages of teamwork and looking out for the good of others is presented brilliantly here, not in any form of a preachy way, but in an enthusiastic, comical manner that young children can understand. Unlike other shows about social interaction, this show does not use the worn out technique of making a character do the right thing by making them feel guilty about having done the wrong thing to begin with (for all its good intentions I just can't stand "Franklin"). The Wonder Pets show that they are their brother's keeper in a proactive way. (Hey, that's pretty ironic, their brother's keeper, and they all live in cages in a schoolroom.....but I digress) Well, what can I tell you except that my favorite character is without a doubt Ming-Ming. Don't take my word, see this new gem for yourself. I hope it becomes a long term successful show like it's problem-solving predecessors "Blue's Clues" and "Dora the Explorer" One last word: Ming-Ming RULES! This is SEWIOUS!