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TV

Jim Henson Company’s ‘Wowsabout’ explores awe, friendship and nature in Sequoia National Park

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The special, “Wowsabout,” is available to stream on the PBS Kids app.

Halle Stanford and Dorien Davies look for the “wow” in life.

This is why the duo teamed up for The Jim Henson Company’s latest special, “Wowsabout.”

“I’ve worked with the Jim Henson Company. I created ‘Sid the Science Kid’ and I wanted to create the puppet magic again,” Stanford says. “When I thought about creating a new show, we wanted to make it something for parents as well.”

The special marks the first time since “Sesame Street” that The Jim Henson Company has created puppets for PBS and the special celebrates the power of awe.

“Wowsabout” pairs two very different explorers on an unforgettable adventure.

Roxy, a free-spirited dreamer, is on a quest to find legendary “magical giants,” while Ronald, who’s meticulous and rule-following, is determined to achieve his carefully planned goal of becoming a junior ranger.

Together, the unlikely friends explore the “wows” of one of America’s most extraordinary places, Sequoia National Park.

“Wowsabout” premiered May 1 on New Mexico PBS and is available to stream on the PBS Kids app.

Stanford says the world of “Wowsabout” is rooted in a curriculum developed by Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists and author of “AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.”

According to PBS, the special, shot on location in Sequoia National Park, aims to help children recognize and name the feeling of awe by experiencing moments of wonder alongside Roxy and Ronald.

Through nature, music, storytelling and friendship, children learn how awe sparks curiosity, creativity, kindness and a desire to explore and care for the world around them.

Stanford says the special inspires children to notice awe in everyday moments and begin their own “Wowsabouts,” fostering connection to others and to the planet.

“Our mission is to spark wonder and awe in kids and inspire them to care for each other and the world,” Stanford says. “With the comedic brilliance of the performances from my co-creator Dorien Davies as Roxy and our director John Tartaglia performing Ronald, and a top-tier creative team, this is a fresh, one-of-a-kind special — an open invitation for families to discover awe in the national parks and go on their own wowsabouts together!”

Davies says, “There is so much research about the benefits of exposing children to awe, and Dr. Keltner’s studies about this emotion make it very clear that awe is a pathway to collaboration and compassion. I’m excited to be playing Roxy and to help kids tap into this powerful emotion. Awe can be such a uniting force, and it’s something we need a lot more of today.”

Davies and Stanford are looking forward to moving into other magical places as talks continue to make “Wowsabout” a series.

“This is our first time creating this world,” the pair say. “It’s important as we think the show will get families together to watch TV again.”