Television Review: Toot & Puddle
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this delightful series based on
the books by acclaimed artist Holly Hobbie is perfectly suited
for preschoolers. Toot and Puddle love to explore and learn new
things, and their fun-filled adventures include positive social
lessons about respecting others, communication, and solving
problems. The series also introduces preschoolers to
geographical concepts like using maps, and the pigs' worldly
travels expose viewers to cultural differences by incorporating
local language, cuisine, traditions, and architecture into the
stories.
Families can talk about being a good friend. How do Toot and
Puddle show their friends that they care about them? What
problems arise between them? How do they resolve them? How do
the characters use good communication skills to tell each other
how they feel? What are some examples of good communication?
Families can also talk about different cultures. What countries
did Toot and Puddle visit? What did you learn about these
places? What differences exist between our lifestyles and
theirs? How are they similar? If you could travel to another
country, where would you go? Why?
Based on the books by Holly Hobbie, TOOT & PUDDLE tells the stories of two young pigs who share an eagerness for adventure and an endless curiosity about the world around them. Each day brings opportunities for best friends Toot (voiced by Joanne Vannicola) and Puddle (Samantha Reynolds) -- and their menagerie of friends -- to discover new things, whether it's in the backyard of their cozy home in Pocket Hollow or across the globe in another country. Through their escapades they also learn important lessons in friendship, respect, problem solving, and conflict resolution, and they discover the beauty in the world's cultural diversity.
This gentle series gives preschoolers and their parents a chance to escape the daily mayhem and cuddle up on the couch for some top-notch storytelling. Enhanced by beautiful animation, this show brings to life a cast of endearing animal characters who delight in discoveries big and small and are always ready to learn ways to be a better friend and a more socially responsible person -- er, pig.
The show's heartwarming stories -- like coming in second in a race or not wanting to listen to others' ideas in planning a party -- are easily related to real-life scenarios for preschoolers, so parents can follow up with discussions tailored to issues their own piglets might be facing. Toot and Puddle's worldly travels will also pique kids' natural curiosity about other cultures as the friendly pigs explore local language, dress, music, and cuisine. If your kids can't get enough of these joyous characters, be sure to head to the library to check out some of their other adventures.
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