May - July 2026
PBS KIDS Celebrates Amazing People & Places Across the U.S. with New Content to Mark America’s 250th
Beginning in May, sweeping PBS KIDS Across America initiative features new series, specials, shorts, and playlists – from The Jim Henson Company’s WOWSABOUT and GBH’s AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS to CITY ISLAND: USA!, XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES, and more!
PBS KIDS invites kids and families to come along on an unforgettable cross-country road trip withthe PBS KIDS Across America initiative. From May through July 2026 and beyond, PBS KIDS will showcase amazing places and real kids throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as some of the American figures who have had an impact on the nation’s history.
Leading the way on May 1 is WOWSABOUT, a new special from The Jim Henson Company, followed by the launch of AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of live-action shorts from GBH KIDS on May 22.
Coming May 1
The wow is what it’s all about!
Set in breathtaking Sequoia National Park, Wowsabout, the new special from The Jim Henson Company for PBS KIDS, follows Roxy, a free-spirited singing hedgehog, and Ronald, an overprepared, tree-loving pig. She’s chasing “magical giants,” he’s after a Junior Ranger badge. Through nature’s AWE, plus music and art, they discover unexpected friendship in a hilarious, heartwarming musical adventure!
“In Wowsabout, our mission is to spark wonder and awe in kids and inspire them to care for each other and the world.... this is a one-of-a-kind special! It’s an open invitation for families to discover awe in the national parks and go on their own Wowsabouts together!”
— Halle Stanford, Co-Creator, Writer and Executive Producer
BONUS: Check out the Jim Henson Family Hub website here!
Coming May 22
On May 22, comes the premiere of GBH KIDS’ AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of 25 live-action shorts. Produced in coordination with 23 PBS stations across the country –including KLRN (Texas), PBS Wisconsin, and WHYY (Pennsylvania) to name a few – the series of mini-docs showcases kids from coast-to-coast, revealing what is special about where they live, their hobbies and passions, and how they are making a positive impact in their communities.
Each featured kid highlights a range of interests, activities, and experiences that celebrate what’s awesome about America. Viewers will visit Mahry from Iowa, who takes care of llamas on her family’s farm and introduces viewers to their community event called Llamaween; they’ll meet Sahana from Georgia, who shares her love of Georgia peaches, Bollywood dancing, and helps organize a park clean up; and they’ll learn about Cajun culture from Jacob of Louisiana and join him on a holiday-themed swamp tour with Papa Noel –and so much more – showing us “all kinds of awesome kids, one awesome country.”