We’re big fans of The Zula Patrol. Such big fans, in fact, that we decided to devote this week’s entire newsletter to the animated half-hour show which has been called “the Sesame Street of outerspace.” If you haven’t yet watched the high-flying adventures of Multo, Gorga, Zeeter, et al, keep reading. We’re pretty sure we can convince you to give it a try.

(And don’t forget to tune in for the next issue of Smart News, when we’ll play the field of kids’ TV again.)

Poll
Science, math, reading…what’s television taught your kid?

• Share your story »

Coming to a Theater Near You
Start making room in your purse for a bag of Newman’s Own popcorn and a couple of organic juice boxes. On Saturday, March 29, The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space! – five never-before-seen episodes – will premiere in over 300 theaters around the country for one day only. (And at the kid-friendly time of 10:00 a.m.) Apparently, the Zula Patrollers will search for stolen frog eggs, help restore life in the canyon on Zula, solve a mystery of missing honey, and tunnel through dirt with some worm boot camp comrades to save their little wormy ecosystem.

• Find a participating theater »

Spin Off
You’re not really surprised, are you, that Zula Patrol also has a solid presence in cyberspace? At Zula.com, kids can even sing their favorite Zula song. Think: tiny science lessons, karaoke-style. Don’t miss “Concerning Turning.”

1. Because who wouldn’t want to watch a gaggle of aliens – including Gorga, a sort of outerspace piggie — play interplanetary hide n’ seek, whip up a batch of “galactic goo,” and attend a “Bowlin’ Stones” concert, while regularly outsmarting villain Dark Truder?
2. Because we’re total suckers for breathtakingly pretty shows, and Zula’s 3D/CCG animation fits the bill.
3. Because the best kids’ shows don’t just entertain, they teach. And yup, exploring gravity and explaining moon phases qualifies as “teaching.” (Did we mention each episode aligns with national education standards for K-2?)
4. Because along with the usual messages of helping others and being tolerant of differences, Zula also teaches kids how to keep their cool. (Next time your four-year-old starts to freak out because he can’t get his snow boots off, ask him what Captain Bula would do.)
5. Because the Zula crew uses a “Multopedia,” a 3-D holographic enyclopedia. And we totally want one.
6. Because each show wraps up with “Multo’s Moment,” where important lessons of the show are shown again and reinforced. Who doesn’t dig a good recap?
7. Because the Zula powers-that-be really don’t want your kid to just zone out on the couch for half an hour. They suggest recording each episode so you can occasionally hit “pause” and ask questions about the way the characters are behaving or make predictions about what’s coming up next. It’s called “active viewing.”
8. Because the writers of the show’s Jetsons-esque theme song found a word to rhyme with “Zula” – “hula” – and it works.
9. Because Zula’s tagline is “intergalactic brain fuel.” And all sleep-deprived parents like the sound of that.
10. Because we’re not the only fans in the universe. Parent’s Choice and Kids FIRST heart Zula Patrol, too.

• Click here for showtimes »

As part of the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America project, the Disney Channel has enlisted one of its popular television characters, Super Bunny, star of the new Playhouse Disney series, “Bunnytown,” to help impart the importance of reading.

Special thanks to the Disney Channel for producing this video for STA.

Watch the Video »

Ever make clouds in a jar? Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with pudding. But it’s still oh so very cool. Read on for the how-to of this experiment, which comes courtesy of The Zula Patrol’s “Launch Pad for Learning” Kit.
Read the rest of this entry »

Once upon a time during a freezing cold winter in Ohio, Deborah Manchester’s toes got very, very cold…

And so begins the story of the conception of The Zula Patrol. Our q&a with Deborah (Zula’s creator) fills in the details. Read the rest of this entry »

Start Reading: It’s Read Across America!
National Education Association’s Read Across America is here, and millions of kids, teens, and adults will be joining America’s largest reading celebration. We’re doing our part to get involved, which is why we asked some of your kids’ favorite TV characters to give us their reading suggestions.

Sure, TV’s no replacement for reading, but the bottom line is, learning never has to stop when the TV’s on.

Poll
Do you think TV watching negatively impacts children’s reading? Tell us what you think and we’ll highlight some of your responses in the next issue.

• Give us your two cents »

Want to know exactly HOW television can help you raise a reader? The experts at PBS spell it out here.

Outside the Box
Reading as a group sport? It happens. Visit www.nea.org to learn what page-turning events are taking place in your area.

Spin Off
A treat for the Seussically-oriented: Visit kidthing.com to view a brand new, animated, digital version of Horton Hears a Who. As Dr. Seuss himself once said, “If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good.”