The Jim Henson Company is bringing a new live-action preschool special to PBS KIDS with Wowsabout, a 22-minute adventure starring original puppet characters. Set against the sweeping backdrop of Sequoia National Park, the special celebrates the power of awe through the unlikely friendship of Ronald, a fastidious little pig, and Roxy, a musical hedgehog.
Created and written by Halle Stanford and Dorien Davies, Wowsabout follows Roxy’s quest to find the park’s “magical giants” while Ronald focuses on earning his junior ranger badge. Their journey blends music, art and playful misadventures, showing young viewers how curiosity and friendship can grow from exploring the natural world together.
The special is rooted in a curriculum developed by emotion scientist Dr. Dacher Keltner, author of “AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.” By spotlighting moments of wonder in nature and everyday life, Wowsabout encourages children to recognize awe as a feeling that sparks creativity, kindness and connection.
“Wowsabout brings The Jim Henson Company’s rich legacy of puppetry into the natural world,” said CEO Lisa Henson. With John Tartaglia directing and performing Ronald and Dorien Davies voicing Roxy, the production pairs heartfelt storytelling with research-backed emotional learning, inviting families to begin their own “Wowsabouts” when the special premieres later this year.