More WordGirl for Scholastic & PBS

NEW YORK: Scholastic Media has received an order from PBS for a further 26 episodes of its hit animated comedy WordGirl, produced by Soup2Nuts.

The show airs daily on PBS KIDS GO!, the afternoon programming block for early elementary-school kids. Adding to the 52 episodes already on order, these additional 26 half-hours bring the total number of episodes to 78. The show is designed to foster a love for language in children. New episodes will further chronicle the adventures of Becky Botsford, a mild-mannered fifth grader who, when duty calls, transforms into WordGirl. In each episode, WordGirl defeats quirky villains with her powerful strength and her extensive vocabulary.

“With its humor, robust curriculum and engaging characters, WordGirl resonates strongly with children and parents alike,” said Deborah Forte, the president of Scholastic Media and executive VP of Scholastic Inc. “Our crime-fighting definition dynamo has a rapidly expanding fan base, and we are thrilled about PBS KIDS GO! ongoing commitment to—and their support of—the show.”

“WordGirl caused quite a ‘hullabaloo’ when it first launched as a TV series and we are excited to continue building on this as we guide children through vocabulary and literacy skill development in a fun and humorous way,” added Linda Simensky, the VP for children’s programming at PBS.