PBS Kids: Dinosaur Train - New Episodes & DVD Coming this Month!

PBS KIDS CELEBRATES EARTH MONTH ON-AIR, ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND IN COMMUNITIES THIS APRIL

Families will have the opportunity to “Explore the Outdoors” with new content from WILD KRATTS and DINOSAUR TRAIN as well as PBS station activities across the country

ARLINGTON, VA, April 1, 2015 – This month, PBS KIDS kicks-off its annual Explore the Outdoors initiative, which encourages families to shake off the winter chill, go outside and discover nature. The fun begins on April 6 with brand new themed on-air programming and online and mobile content. In addition, PBS stations across the country will be hosting local community educational activities to extend the exploration beyond the screen.

“After a long harsh winter across much of the country, families are ready to go outside and enjoy spring,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Media, PBS. “At PBS KIDS we’re always looking for ways to foster engagement with our audience long after the screen is turned off. April is Earth Month so it’s the perfect time to introduce our young viewers to the wonders of nature and provide families with educational tools and resources to plan their own outdoor adventure.”

Across the country, more than 50 local PBS member stations will be hosting Earth Month-related events to connect children to the environment through hands-on learning activities. Events will explore everything from studying the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, to the importance of recycling and lessons on how to grow a sustainable garden. Families will also have the opportunity to explore nature themes and environmental concepts with PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors activities and materials. 

Kids can play plant, animal and adventure-themed games by visiting pbskids.org/outdoors. More information about how to engage the entire family in outdoor exploration this April is available at pbsparents.org/outdoors.

PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors will include new episodes from science and nature-based series WILD KRATTS and DINOSAUR TRAIN. Outdoor-themed episodes from a variety of PBS KIDS programs, including a new episode of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, will also air throughout April (check local listings).

WILD KRATTS & DINOSAUR TRAIN: EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS WEEK

WILD KRATTS – New Episodes Premiere April 20, 21 &22

It’s always an adventure with the Kratt brothers and the Explore the Outdoors week includes the premiere of three all-new WILD KRATTS episodes. Learn about the amazing world of chameleons with Martin and Chris in “Chameleons on Target,” airing April 20. Then on April 21, it’s off to Madagascar, where Chris and Martin witness a dispute between two troops of Ring-tailed lemurs in “Lemur Stink Fight.” Finally, join Aviva when she unveils her new invention on April 22 in “Capture the Fishmobile.”

Families can take their adventures with Chris and Martin mobile with the newly updated Wild Kratts World Adventure App, currently available on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and coming soon to Android.  A Parents’ Choice Award Winner, Wild Kratts World Adventure is the ultimate Wild Kratts App to get you on the creature trail, playing and learning about creature powers with the Kratt Brothers. Recent updates to the app include three all-new games featuring new habitats and animals. From climbing with a spider monkey to swimming with dolphins, each multi-level game focuses on science and encourages kids to explore habitats around the world.

DINOSAUR TRAIN – New Episodes Premiere April 20 & 21

The Pteranodon family is always ready to head into the great prehistoric outdoors for fun and adventure!  In “Tiny's Fishing Friend/Butterflies,” premiering Monday, April 20, Tiny is on the hunt to find a mammal in the Mesozoic who likes fish after learning that many mammals don’t eat fish at all. Then, on April 21, Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don are excited that Keira Chirostenotes gets to babysit them for the night while Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon go out for a dinner on the Dinosaur Night Train in “Best Ever Babysitter/Plant a Tree.”

NEW DINOSAUR TRAIN DVD

A new DVD from PBS Distribution will also be available in April as part of the Explore the Outdoors effort.

Title: “Dinosaur Train: Explore Outdoors!”

Run Time: Approx. 100 Minutes

SRP: $12.99

“Dinosaur Train: Explore Outdoors!” DVD, available April 21, 2015, features eight dino-mite adventures:

·       “Tiny’s Fishing Friend”

·       “Butterflies”

·       “Best-Ever Babysitter”

·       “Plant a Tree”

·       “Birdwatching”

·       “ Cloudy with a Chance of Fun”

·       “One Big Frog”

·       “ Caving with Vlad”

Images, episode descriptions and more related to the above content are available on PBS PressRoom.

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms and community-based programs.  Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS also offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning. The PBS KIDS Video App is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

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"Aqua Kratts Week" on PBS!

PBS KIDS’ “Aqua Kratts Week” started today on PBS! Kids can join the WILD KRATTS brothers for a week of under-the-sea fun during “Aqua Kratts Week.” New and favorite episodes will take kids on a journey through the depths of our world’s ocean, meeting nautical animals along the way.

Three new episodes will premiere during “Aqua Kratts Week” with a focus on science classification, amphibians, and coral reefs, along with two other undersea episodes. A full list of episodes is below!

The following is a list of episodes that will air during “Aqua Kratts Week,” December 23 – 27 (check local listings for air dates and times).

“Sea Horse Rodeo,” December 23 
While exploring the world of the sea horse, Martin and Chris uncover a plot by Donita Donata to capture these amazing creatures and turn them into living jewelry. Science Concept: Scientific Classification

“Blowfish Blowout,” December 24 
When the miniaturized Kratt Brothers get swept up and lost in a current of plankton, they become part of a crowd of fish larva all headed to the most populated and diverse habitat on Earth – the coral reef. Science Concept: Early life cycle of reef fish and volume measurement.

“Speaking Dolphinese,” December 25 
The Wild Kratts are on a mission to decode the secret language of one of the smartest creatures on Earth – Dolphins! Science Concept: Animal communication.

“Aqua Frog,” December 26 
While the Wild Kratts explore the life cycle of the Bull Frog, they uncover a plot by Zach Varmitech to destroy the frogs’ habitat. With the help of some Wild Kratts kids, the team moves quickly to stop Zach. Science Concept: Amphibian Life Cycles.

“Rocket Jaw: Rescuer of the Reef,” December 27 
While checking out how coral reefs are formed, the Wild Kratts discover that Zach and Donita have sent robotic Parrotfish to collect coral to make jewelry. Martin and Chris must use the power of the greatest hunters of the reef to stop this evil plot. Science Concept: Introduction to Coral Reef and active mimicry.

**Note this information was provided to me so I could share with my readers on behalf of PBS Kids**

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PBS Kids: Wild Kratts "Rainforest Rescue" DVD Release

Arlington, Va. – March 7, 2013 – PBS Distribution announced it will be releasing two episodes of PBS KIDS’ popular WILD KRATTS series on the new DVD “RAINFOREST RESCUE.” Join brothers and wildlife explorers Martin and Chris Kratt (creators of the award-winning “Kratts’ Creatures” and Emmy-winning “Zoboomafoo”) as they embark on two creature-filled rainforest romps. As families follow the adventures of the Kratt brothers, they’ll meet interesting animals and witness many never-before-seen wildlife moments. The two episodes featured on this DVD are filled with humor, excitement and a whole lot of science.

The show transforms the Kratt brothers into animated versions of themselves. With their creature smarts plus their newly-invented Creature Power Suits, the brothers Kratt use amazing animal abilities to rescue their animal friends when they get into trouble. The two engaging and fun episodes featured on this DVD are detailed below.

Rainforest Stew 
When Chris and Martin go in search of an obscure rainforest creature to add to their Life Lists, the Wild Kratts become embroiled in the complex relationships of a tropical rainforest.

Shadow: The Black Jaguar 
Martin and Chris are trying to decide on their next wild cat adventure when they learn that Zach Varmitech has decided to “catnap” a black jaguar to use as a symbol for his new spybots.

“RAINFOREST RESCUE” will be available on DVD April 9, 2013. The run time of the DVD is 50 minutes and the DVD SRP is $9.99. Additional WILD KRATTS DVDs are available from PBS Distribution including “LOST AT SEA,” “JUNGLE ANIMALS” and others.

Produced by the Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Entertainment, WILD KRATTS transforms Martin and Chris Kratt, creators of the award-winning KRATTS’ CREATURES and Emmy-winning ZOBOOMAFOO, into animated versions of themselves, allowing the real-life zoologists to visit wild animals in their little-seen habitats and showcase key science concepts along the way. Geared to kids ages 6 to 8, each episode of WILD KRATTS presents age-appropriate science inspired by the natural abilities of the animals that the Kratt brothers – and young viewers – meet. The series premiered on PBS KIDS in January 2011 and is part of PBS KIDS’ ongoing commitment to STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – education for kids.

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer- and mobile-device-based browsers.  Follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About Kratt Brothers Company 

Kratt Brothers Company, founded in 1993, has created and produced over 200 episodes of television, including award-winning series: Kratts’ Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Kratt Brothers: Be The Creature and Wild Kratts. Through its full service animation studio, Kratt Brothers Company is currently in production on its third season of the Emmy-nominated hit, Wild Kratts. www.krattbrothers.com

About 9 Story

Founded in 2001, 9 Story Entertainment is an award-winning production and distribution company dedicated to delivering the most-loved children’s properties internationally. With 70+ employees and full production and distribution capabilities, 9 Story is a leader in the amazing and magical world of youth entertainment. www.9story.com

About PBS Distribution

PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally, extending the reach of these programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and our production partners.

PBS Distribution offers a diverse range of programming to our customers, including Ken Burns’s films, documentaries from award-winning series such as NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, dramas from MASTERPIECE, as well as films from independent producers and popular children’s programming. As a multi-channel distributor, PBS Distribution pursues wholesale/retail sales, consumer and educational sales through PBS-branded catalogs and online shops, and international broadcast and video sales. PBS Distribution is also a leader in offering programming through digital platforms including internet and mobile devices.

WILD KRATTS: RAINFOREST RESCUE

Street Date: April 9, 2013

Genres: Kids

Run Time: 50 Minutes

SRP: $9.99

Format: DVD

Remember: Every purchase keeps PBS going and kids growing. So buy your copy today! 

**Note this information was provided to me so I could share with my readers on behalf of PBS Kids** 

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WILD KRATTS Creature Math App for iPad - $1.99

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PBS KIDS Launches New WILD KRATTS Creature Math App for iPad

Educational app debuts on the heels of successful WILD KRATTS January special, which reached over 1.3 million kids ages 2-8

Arlington, VA, February 14, 2013 – PBS KIDS has launched WILD KRATTS Creature Math, the newest app from the popular WILD KRATTS series. Available exclusively for iPad, Creature Math offers a new way for fans to learn math skills while exploring creature powers with WILD KRATTS creators and stars Chris and Martin Kratt. Produced by Kratt Brothers Company, the Creature Math App allows users to practice basic math skills, like addition and subtraction, as they create their very own animal habitats. Players also learn valuable science concepts as they build homes and plant food items for the eight different animals featured in the game. 

The latest iOS app from WILD KRATTS, Creature Math adjusts automatically as players’ skill levels increase and introduces interesting facts about animals as players build up to four unique wildlife habitats. Children are challenged to manage the habitats in a way that helps the animals and habitats thrive. The WILD KRATTS Creature Math App is part of the Ready To Learn Initiative, an early learning project of PBS KIDS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Just as real-life zoologists Chris and Martin Kratt transform into animated versions of themselves and visit wild animal habitats on WILD KRATTS, the new app brings users on their own creature adventures,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Programming, PBS. “Creature Math allows kids to explore math skills at their own pace, by diving into the habitats of animals ranging from peregrine falcons to bullfrogs.”

WILD KRATTS Creature Math debuts on the heels of last month’s science special WILD KRATTS “Lost at Sea,” which brought millions of kids on an underwater adventure with the Kratt brothers. Nearly 1.3 million kids (ages 2-8) and over 1.6 million households tuned in for this hour-long underwater-themed special, produced by Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Entertainment.* WILD KRATTS also attracted the most unique visitors and was the top visited program site on pbskids.org in January (Google Analytics, January 2013). The series was the top streamed PBS KIDS program in January with a total of 26.6 million streams online and on mobile (Google Analytics, January 2013).

PBS KIDS is increasingly serving kids where they live, learn and play – helping to make anytime a learning time on mobile devices, on-air, online and beyond. PBS KIDS has more than 25 educational apps available, including the recently released WILD KRATTS Creature Power App, that are designed to help kids build literacy, math, science and school readiness skills. More information about PBS KIDS’ apps is available on pbskids.org/mobile.

“Today, millions of American children, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, start school without basic math and literacy skills, dimming their chances for a bright future,” said Debra Sanchez, Senior Vice President, Education and Children's Content at CPB. “Through trusted and effective public media content, such as the WILD KRATTS Creature Math App and other programs and online games developed as part of Ready To Learn, CPB and PBS are helping to narrow the achievement gap by giving all children access to high quality tools that will help prepare them for academic success.”

The WILD KRATTS Creature Math App will be made available for free to families in low-income communities through the PBS KIDS Mobile Learning Program, a national outreach program launched last year.  As part of the program, PBS and CPB are collaborating with Head Start centers and local PBS stations nationwide to distribute free app download codes, so that educators and families can better support children’s learning in Head Start centers, Title I schools and other community-based organizations in low-income neighborhoods.  Educators and families in these communities will also be able to obtain codes for use on their professional or at-home devices. 

The WILD KRATTS Creature Math App is also available for $1.99 from the App Store on iPad or at www.AppStore.com/WildKrattsCreatureMath.

*Ratings Source: NTI NPower Live+7 Reach & Frequency, 75% unification and a 6 minute qualifier; Live+7 AA% Kids Program Ratings ranker, week of January 21- 27, 2013

About Kratt Brothers Company
Kratt Brothers Company, founded in 1993, has created and produced over 200 episodes of television, including award-winning series: Kratts’ Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Kratt Brothers: Be The Creature and Wild Kratts. Through its full service animation studio, Kratt Brothers Company is currently in production on its third season of the Emmy-nominated hit, Wild Kratts. www.krattbrothers.com

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more. Follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About CPB

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting.  It helps support the operation of more than 1,300 locally-owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

About the Ready To Learn Initiative

The Ready To Learn Initiative is a grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement.  It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach, and research on educational effectiveness. 

The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

**Note this information was provided to me so I could share with my readers on behalf of PBS Kids** 

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