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 A world of adventure and discovery in the innovative preschool series, It’s A Big Big World. Children will be engaged by a diverse group of animal characters, exciting stories and world music rhythms, while a multi-level age-appropriate science and geography curriculum taps into their natural fascination with a world much bigger than their immediate surroundings. The series is produced in “Shadowmation,” a visually striking technique that combines puppetry, animatronics and computer generated animation to create a uniquely rich world of characters and environments.
Set in a lush rainforest, the World Tree is home to the animals and the show’s metaphor for the world as a whole. From a distance, this tree looks just like any enormous tree, full of branches and leaves, but when viewed closer, the real complexity of life in the World Tree begins to reveal itself. Teeming with tree houses and habitats perfect for all of the different animals that live there, it has seemingly endless levels, and lots of nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered.
 Snook, an energetic giant sloth, is the host and guide through this new world. His friends in the World Tree include Smooch and Winslow, rambunctious marmoset siblings; Wartz, an eager-to-please singing tree frog; Madge, an ancient she-turtle with the map of the world on her back; Burdette, a bird who thinks she knows it all; Bob the Anteater, who is constantly overwhelmed; Ick, a braggart fish; Oko, an old monkey trickster and more. Each character has a unique perspective and scientific approach to situations, giving children great models for their own investigations.
Throughout the series, kids will get to know Snook and his many friends as they explore the world around them and learn how different things live, grow and change in an engaging and visually appealing way. One story features Smooch and Winslow who, with Snook’s help, look everywhere, up and down the tree, for their missing friend Wartz. They are finally surprised to learn that he is hopping at the bottom of the tree - hopping because he has metamorphosed from a swimming tadpole to a frog!
 “Children today are more affected by the global community than ever before. It’s a Big Big World offers parents and kids a very natural, positive way to think and talk about the world around them. Age-appropriate scientific concepts such as discovering what is essential for life to exist (food, water, air), understanding life cycles and learning how different creatures live and grow will be explored and reinforced through engaging stories and songs. The series will also introduce children to geography, providing them with a basic understanding that the world is bigger than their immediate surroundings -- giving them a sense that they are an important part of a larger community.
An immersive, state-of-the-art Web site at pbskids.org/bigbigworld will supplement the series’ educational goals and provide an additional interactive platform for viewers. Content on the site will include character tree houses inviting kids to explore the animals’ worlds, a ‘dance with Snook’ game and other printable games and activities. A “Parents and Teachers” section will also be accessible for educators and caregivers looking for resources to complement the lessons learned in the TV series.
Additionally, a national family and community outreach campaign designed to extend the educational lessons of the series beyond the TV screen will support the PBS Kids series. Components of the initiative are customizable activities and support materials created for parents, caregivers and children.
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