Television Review: Franny's Feet
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this series exposes viewers to
racial and cultural differences around the world and even
thoughtfully touches on disabilities. Helping others is a
central theme, and Franny and her new friends talk openly about
their feelings. The show combines vocabulary development and
global learning with age-appropriate storytelling.
Families can talk about the places Franny visits. How are the
people different from Franny? What does Franny find she has in
common with them? Where have you encountered people who looked
or spoke differently from you? Parents can also talk about
sharing feelings with friends. What kinds of things make your
friends sad? How do you help them feel better?
In FRANNY'S FEET, 5-year-old Franny Fantootsie (voiced by Phoebe McAuley) slips on customers' shoes in her grandfather's repair shop and finds herself far from home on new adventures with new friends. Franny's destinations are determined by the types of shoes she dons: When a customer brings in his vacation sandals to be fixed, Franny ends up in Jamaica, dancing to the music of steel drums. Moccasins transport her to a powwow where she learns about the Native American culture. And a pair of zoris takes her to a Japanese tea ceremony. Franny often finds ways to help the new friends she meets solve problems, and the show even incorporates people with disabilities and draws thoughtful attention to them.
This show offers kids wonderful storytelling and encourages cultural awareness, emotional expression, recycling, and experiencing new things. As Franny would say, the show is a "fran-tastic" choice for kid TV.
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