Entre les Lions

My kids are now 5 and 3 and they both just love this show. They stop whatever they are doing and pay attention to the show. They love Gawain's Word, Chicken Jane, and the musical skits. We always let our kids watch this entertaining and well-written program. Even my husband and I have found tips that we didn't realize before regarding English grammar.

i have to give wgbh props for making this show. this show is great for kindergarteners and early elementary children! the whole cast of puppet characters are so cute and the fast-paced and creative segments are sure to entertain kids while parents will be amused by the witty puns: for instance, gawain's word (wayne's world)and even the title between the lions (between the lines) are just a sample. the show really brings books to life for kids, especially when characters pop out of the pages of the novels. additionally, during the story readings, the narrator's words are highlighted so that children can follow along... this is especially important since one of the most important steps of literacy is to recognize words with their sound. there are also segments and songs about vowel sounds and sounding out words. this show is very innovative in the way it presents reading... i'm sure you'll agree once you watch the show.

perhaps those people who don't understand the purpose of this show might find it a little cheesy, but one must remember that who the targeted audience of this show is: young children, and while adults might find the humor banal, little kids who, who have a simpler sense of humor, find it hilarious. not only that, i totally trust the folks at wgbh... because this organization is dedicated in providing educational and entertaining programming for children. you can't overlook the fact that this company has a whole development, research, and content department that puts a lot of time and effort, as well as research and testing to make sure that the programs you see are developmentally appropriate and entertaining. they just don't take ideas and pull them out of their butts, there's a process that scrutinizes every program and episode so that the end result is quality programming.

the kids love it, and isn't that what really matters?

Let me start by saying that I have a child. I have read comments from several people either praising the show or hating it. And I fall in the category of liking it. The skits are childish but it's what helps keep child interested in the program. Since you may notice that children these days tend to have short attention spans or be more interested in video games instead of a book or informative programs. My only complaint these days is that there hasn't been very many shows like this out there. These days there are only repeats .Which sort of annoy my child.But it ends of giving us time to stop and read a book and bond. We only hope that PBS will have new programs that keep kids interested in reading.Not just the annoying bright colors and creatures and make odd noises...

When I was a kid all I ever wanted to watch was Electric Company. Seeing past episodes of it now, I kind of laugh and think it is silly, but it served its purpose. The whole reason behind the show is to teach pre-reading skills. The best way for most children to learn initially when they are pre-school age is through repetition. The characters are lovable, children will attach easily to them, which will also help to increase pre-reading skills. In this day and age reading starts so much earlier in school systems it's nice to have a show that is trying to help specifically with this task. Sesame Street is up there too it just isn't focused solely on reading. Some of my favorite Muppet voices are in this show: Moakley from Fraggle Rock among them. I love this show and think that it is a must to have in the household and my children both love it. Including Cliffhanger. However, their favorite is Chicken Jane. It's a FUN show.

"Between the Lions" is a thoroughly engaging, well written, entertaining program that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. My 3-year-old and I like to get up early and watch it together. The only character I could really do without is Arty Smartypants; the others are entirely likeable, even the curmudgeon Busterfield. My wife and I feel that "Between the Lions" is like "The Electric Company" reborn, except that the writing is superior, especially with the incorporation of puns and other wordplay that are meant for grown-ups to enjoy ("Click" the computer mouse, a dinosaur called a thesaurus, Clay and Walter Pigeon, Chicken Jane, the sidekick Russell Upsomegrub, the author Livingston Dangerously, Monkey C. Monkeydew, etc.). "The Electric Company" was fast-paced, musical, and educational, but it can't match the humor and thus the total value of "Between the Lions."