Themed Episodes for Preschoolers Have a Few Surprises and Lots of Treats, Brand New CYBERCHASE Episode on PBS KIDS GO! Invites Kids to Join the Gang in Saving the Halloween Howl Bash
ARLINGTON, VA (October 11, 2006) Halloween is a little less spooky and much more kooky with themed programming on PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! on October 31, 2006 (check local listings). Preschoolers can help solve mysteries with the Berenstain Bears and Piggley Winks from JAKERS! as they discover that some of the things they thought were scary, actually aren't so scary after all. On PBS KIDS GO!, early elementary school kids can use division to help thwart Hacker's holiday hijinks in an all-new CYBERCHASE episode and find out what it takes to make it to a giant pumpkin competition on POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER.
For more treats, kids can go online to pbskids.org and pbskidsgo.org for e-cards, printable coloring pages, make-your-own Halloween masks and much more. Parents can find Halloween safety tips, recipes and costume ideas as well as themed educational activities to promote early math, creativity and more at PBS Parents (pbsparents.org).
In addition, CYBERCHASE Online (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase) visitors will be able to download and sing along with the full "Halloween Howl" song. Through CYBERCHASE's 'Parents & Teachers' section, parents and educators will be able to access tips on how to make math less tricky and more of a treat by doing things such as letting kids figure out how much candy to buy, organizing candy and budgeting time for trick-or-treating.
On PBS KIDS (check local listings):
BERENSTAIN BEARS (Episode 110)
'Trick or Treat' Brother and Sister plan to avoid Widder Jones' house when they go trick-or-treating because neighborhood lore has it that she's a witch. Mama knows Widder Jones personally and tells the cubs what a sweet person she is. When the evening is over the cubs agree with Mama. They enjoyed visiting Widder Jones more than anyone else that Halloween. 'Lend a Helping Hand' En route to their friend's house, Brother and Sister stop to help the frail and elderly Widder Jones dispose of a fallen tree limb. The cubs soon wish they weren't so generous with their time when Mrs. Jones recruits them for other chores. While spending a Saturday cleaning out her attic, Brother and Sister come to enjoy the company of Widder Jones and find that lending a helping hand is a very rewarding experience.
JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS (Episode 109) 'Song of the Banshee' When Piggley, Ferny and Dannan hear strange noises in the barn, Piggley decides it's the "song of the banshee," which frightens Dannan more than she wants to admit! When she finally confesses her fear to her friends, they search for the source of the noise... and discover it's only Wiley the sheep trying to lead his uncooperative flock in song.
TELETUBBIES (Episode 535) 'Pumpkin Face' The Teletubbies leave their favorite things to watch Alex make a pumpkin head. She uses glue to stick big leaves on a pumpkin as ears, and a triangle shaped piece of paper for the nose. Alex puts marshmallows on the pumpkin for eyes and raisins on a smiley bit of material for teeth. Finally she adds straw for the pumpkin's hair and finds a hat for it to wear. A pumpkin appears in Teletubbyland. It has two ears, a nose, two eyes and big smile. Laa-Laa and Dipsy are very impressed with the pumpkin until it wears Dipsy's hat. The Teletubbies dance the round and round dance.
On PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings):
CYBERCHASE (Episode 501) NEW 'The Halloween Howl' The annual 'Halloween Howl' bash in Castleblanca promises to be spooktacular until Hacker takes over the Mayor's Castle and brings its seven stone gargoyles to life. Obeying Hacker's every command, the gargoyles capture the Mayor and imprison him in the dungeon. To gain control of the creepy creatures, the CyberSquad must figure out how to use division to evenly split up bunches of garlic and rock candy. But can they do it in time to rescue the Mayor and save The Halloween Howl?
ARTHUR (Episode 804) 'Fernkenstein's Monster' Inspired by Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," Fern tells a tale so scary that Arthur and the gang become afraid of her! Can Fern prove her skills as a writer and create a different story that's fun instead of frightening? 'D.W., Dancing Queen' Binky decides to teach D.W. to dance, but she just doesn't seem to get the moves. Is D.W. a no-talent klutz? Or is it Binky's teaching that needs practice?
MAYA & MIGUEL (Episode 109) 'La Calavera' When Maya wants to add some oomph to her presentation about Mexico for school, she consults her Abuela Elena, who allows her to borrow a prized possession: a calavera, or skull made of sugar, that is used in the yearly Day of the Dead celebration. Maya promises to let nothing happen to this special calavera. Her presentation goes well, but Maya loses the calavera! After Theo, Maggie, Chrissy and Andy each share their fantastical ideas about how the lost calavera will make Abuela feel, Maya herself feels horrible. She promised her abuela that she wouldn't let anything happen to it! Then, as luck would have it, Maya discovers that she accidentally switched backpacks with another student, and the calavera is recovered. An excited Maya can't contain herself, and while jumping up and down, breaks the calavera! Maya is determined not to let her abuela down, and goes to great lengths to have the calavera re-made. Unfortunately, this too is a disaster. When Abuela is finally told the truth, Maya is surprised - Abuela is happy! Not about the calavera, but about Maya's good grade on her presentation. And though Abuela misses the calavera, she thinks that rebuilding it together would make her even happier.
POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER (Episode 104) 'The Giant Pumpkins' Near Mt. Hood, Buster meets some regular-sized kids who grow giant pumpkins for competition. He also goes mountain biking, extreme, Oregon-style with siblings Jordan and Ashley.
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Contacts:
Jill Corderman, 703.739.5788, jcorderman@pbs.org
Alan Winnikoff, 212.679.2982, alan@sayleswinnikoff.com
Carina Sayles, 609.397.6200, carina@sayleswinnikoff.com