PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
NetworkPBS Kids
LaunchedSeptember 30, 2000 (2000-09-30)
ClosedSeptember 5, 2004 (2004-09-05)
Country of origin
Owner
Original language(s)English

The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited (now Nelvana Enterprises) that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings, depending on station preference and scheduling. The shows that formed the Bookworm Bunch were all based on children's books: Corduroy (by Don Freeman), Elliot Moose (by Andrea Beck), Timothy Goes to School (by Rosemary Wells), Seven Little Monsters (by Maurice Sendak), George Shrinks (by William Joyce), and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (by Betty and Michael Paraskevas).

History

In August 1999, PBS and Nelvana teamed up to create the network's first-ever animated weekend programming block.[1] It was created to boost viewership of the preschool audience on weekends, specifically on Saturday mornings when that attention was shifted elsewhere; many PBS stations devoted their Saturday morning schedules to general audience programming, including crafting or do-it-yourself shows, meanwhile commercial networks had extensive lineups for Saturday morning cartoons. A proposed series called Junior Kroll and Company was part of original plans for the new block, but that idea was eventually shelved and replaced by Marvin.[2] This and the other five series were all based on a children's book, a theme that was inspired by a PBS-commissioned study from the University of Kansas that demonstrated the idea that children can learn to read from television programs.[3] Upon its launch on September 30, 2000, the Bookworm Bunch became the second preschool-oriented Saturday morning block on broadcast television after Nick Jr. on CBS, which premiered two weeks before. Although PBS intended on the block to be broadcast on Saturdays, some stations opted to air it other days, particularly Sundays when there was less competition from other networks.[4]

During the block's first season, all the shows (with the exception of the first 15-minute Corduroy episode) were shown either 15 or 45 minutes past the hour, in an effort to discourage "channel-flipping" to other competing children's cartoons. Another 15-minute Corduroy episode then ended the block, making its total runtime three hours. The Bookworm Bunch proved to be extremely popular in its first season, and weekend viewership increased dramatically. The first season ended on February 24, 2001, with reruns continuing until October 27, 2001.

The second and final season premiered on November 3, 2001,[5] and with this premiere came a drastic revamp. Elliot Moose and Corduroy were both dropped from the lineup entirely, thus shortening the block to two hours. The four remaining series (Timothy, Marvin, Monsters, and George Shrinks) were instead seen on the hour and half-hour. Timothy and Marvin both ended production by late 2001. The second season ended on February 23, 2002.

Following the second season of the block, two shows were picked up as separate, standalone series. This included new episodes of Seven Little Monsters and George Shrinks beginning January 6, 2003, in addition to a brand-new revival of The Berenstain Bears. The new episodes of Seven Little Monsters were 15 minutes, instead of the original 30 minutes, and were aired immediately after The Berenstain Bears in the same half-hour timeslot.[6] This did not last long as PBS eventually aired two 15-minute episodes of The Berenstain Bears back-to-back beginning September 15, 2003.[7] George Shrinks was given its own half-hour timeslot,[8] in which it also proved to be extremely popular. Given the success of these shows, many PBS stations carried them on their weekday schedule.

Reruns of the second season of the Bookworm Bunch block continued airing on weekends on select PBS stations and the PBS Kids Channel until September 5, 2004, when it was dropped altogether. Around this time, there were many new additions coming to the PBS weekend lineup (like Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder) and the new PBS Kids Go! block debuted in 2004, all of which effectively replaced the Bookworm Bunch. Meanwhile, many PBS stations continued airing reruns of the individual standalone series (including Monsters until the end of 2004, George Shrinks until 2009, and Bears which continues to air reruns on a limited number of stations as of 2023).

After PBS dropped the Bookworm Bunch block, some of the series were picked up by other commercial networks. U.S. cable channel Discovery Kids aired reruns of Timothy from 2004 until 2006, the now-defunct Qubo aired reruns of Elliot, Timothy, and Marvin as part of its daily programming, the now-defunct Canadian dub of BBC Kids aired reruns of George Shrinks until its closure on December 31, 2018, and the now-defunct PBS Kids Sprout aired reruns of Monsters until July 2006. The United Kingdom channel Tiny Pop aired reruns of Timothy until 2017.

Interstitial music videos

Music videos aired at the end of each program before the credits.[9] These music videos were essentially montages of scenes from all of the shows with musical accompaniment. Each of the songs was performed by American musical artist Nancy Cassidy, appearing on three albums released between 1986 and 1992 by Klutz (purchased by Nelvana in April 2000).

Season 1 (2000–2001)

  • Corduroy (first half) – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" (shortened version) (Appears on the 1988 album KidsSongs 2)[10]
  • Elliot Moose – "You Gotta Sing" (Appears on the 1986 album KidsSongs)[11]
  • Timothy Goes to School – "Rig a Jig Jig" (Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
  • Seven Little Monsters – "La Bamba" (shortened version; Appears on KidsSongs 2)[10]
  • George Shrinks – "You Gotta Sing" (reprise)
  • Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "Rig a Jig Jig" (reprise)
  • Corduroy (second half) – "Skidamarink" (Appears on the 1992 album KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]

Season 2 (2001–2002)

  • Timothy Goes to School – "Friends Are Special" (Appears on KidsSongs: Sleepyheads)[12]
  • Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse – "La Bamba" (extended version)
  • Seven Little Monsters – "This Little Light of Mine" (Appears on KidsSongs)[11]
  • George Shrinks – "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy?" (extended version)

Programming

Former programming

Original programming

The first season (2000-2001) of the Bookworm Bunch block ran for three hours, and the second season (2001-2002) ran for two hours.

Title Premiere date End date Notes Source(s)
Corduroy September 30, 2000 October 27, 2001
Elliot Moose Available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi
Timothy Goes to School September 5, 2004 Available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi
Seven Little Monsters
George Shrinks
Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse Available on Amazon Prime Video

Standalone programming

The most successful series from the weekend Bookworm Bunch block were stripped to five days a week, and joined Berenstain Bears as standalone programs.[13]

Title Premiere date End date Notes Source(s)
The Berenstain Bears/Seven Little Monsters[note 1] January 6, 2003 September 14, 2003 Reruns of this 30-minute program continued on select stations as late as 2004.[14]
George Shrinks January 23, 2003 Reruns continued on select stations as late as 2009.
The Berenstain Bears[note 2] September 15, 2003[7] September 10, 2004 Reruns continue on select stations as of 2024.
  1. ↑ One 11-minute episode of The Berenstain Bears and one 11-minute episode of Seven Little Monsters packaged within a half-hour timeslot.
  2. ↑ Two 11-minute episodes of The Berenstain Bears packaged within a half-hour timeslot.

References

  1. ↑ Elber, Lynn. "PBS launching Saturday series for preschoolers". OnlineAthens. Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Kidscreen » Archive » what's developing in kids production". Kidscreen. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ Zurawik, David. "PBS gives kids new Saturday morning shows". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  4. ↑ Bedford, Karen E. "PBS debuts 'Bookworm Bunch,' 2000 - Current.org". Current.org. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  5. ↑ "'PBS KIDS BOOKWORM BUNCH' Returns to PBS For a Second Season on Saturday, November 3" (Press release). Nelvana Limited. Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Berenstain Bears(R) Bring 40 Years of Literary History to 'PBS KIDS' With Premiere of 15-Minute Animated TV Series" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Award-Winning PBS KIDS® Launches New Programming This Fall 2003" (Press release). Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ "George Shrinks Grows to Five Days a Week With All-New Episodes on 'PBS KIDS'" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ "PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch Interstitials (2001)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 "Kidssongs 2 by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Kidssongs by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "KidsSongs: Sleepyheads by Nancy Cassidy". Apple Music. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Nelvana trio stripped on PBS Kids". C21media. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  14. ↑ "WGTE - TV 30 Schedule". 2004-08-17. Archived from the original on 2004-08-17. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
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