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It's a Big Big World

It's a Big, Big World takes children into the rainforest, high atop the World Tree, home to a diverse group of animal characters. There they'll accompany Snook, an energetic giant tree sloth, and his pals--including Smooch and Winslow, rambunctious marmoset siblings, Madge, an ancient she-turtle with the map of the world on her back, and many others--on adventures and investigations of the world around them.

Created in "Shadowmation," a process that combines puppetry with computer animation, puppets (some controlled by up to three puppeteers) are filmed against a blue background and then dropped into a richly colored, computer-generated world. All this is set to the beat of dance rhythms from around the world--the kind of catchy, familiar music that kids and their parents will enjoy singing along to.

For ages 3 to 6.

Visit the Web site: http://pbskids.org/bigbigworld

Series Goals

• Use engaging characters and compelling stories to captivate children with life science and geography
• Help children learn about biology and the animal world
• Encourage kids to explore the world around them and make discoveries of their own

The program's guiding principle is that science isn't a bunch of facts, it's a process of discovery. Kids learn that there is a lot that they can discover about science, animals, geography, and the big, big world around them.

Parent's FAQ

Q. How will watching It's a Big Big World help my child?

A. Through the stories, kids will discover lots of cool, fun, facts that will pique their interest and encourage them to ask more questions. In addition to presenting a life science curriculum, the program also addresses basic concepts of geography.

Q. Aren't some of the topics-like metamorphosis-too sophisticated for my preschooler?

A. As the show's producer Mitchell Kriegman explains, "We learned from our science advisors that kids are much more receptive to science and scientific thinking and big words. Presented in the right way, they can absorb a remarkable amount of information." Kids want to know how tadpoles turn into frogs and why some creatures are brightly colored while others are well-camouflaged. And, much more so than adults, kids aren't put off by big scientific words. Terms like "metamorphosis" are fascinating to kids, so the series doesn't shy away from using language that kids will love to learn and add to their vocabulary.

Q. What should we do to get the most out of the show?

A. The best way to view the show is to watch it with your child. Follow these viewing tips to help her experience the joys of discovery along with Snook and the gang. Talk about the questions the show raises and help her do further research on the topics that intrigue her.

Q. How can I reinforce a love of science and geography after the show ends?

A. Try activities like Map It! and Do You Speak Bee? to nurture your child's natural curiosity. You'll both be surprised at how much you learn.

Learn more about It's a Big Big World in this interview with the show's creator, Mitchell Kriegman. »

When to Watch

Find out when IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD airs in your area, and also get episode descriptions and related activities!

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Attention Caregivers!

Get activities, video clips, lesson plans, and more from the Parents & Teachers section of IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD!