We just watched the new Wonder Pets episode entitled, Save The Beetles! It was actually cuter than I had expected. When I first heard about the episode all I could think was how cheesy is that. I ended up having to eat my words and admit that it was cute.

For those of you who don't know anything about the Wonder Pets I will give you a little introduction. The Wonder Pets airs on Nick Jr and Noggin, and is geared to preschoolers, thus it is a little too young for my girls but they get a kick out of watching it every once in a while, though it doesn't always hold their attention.

The show has three main characters who are classroom pets, Linny The Guinea Pig, Tuck the Turtle, and Ming-Ming The Duck. The three heroes work together to save baby animals around the world. They are able to save the animals due to the fact that use teamwork and cooperation. The theme song about teamwork will get stuck in your head!!! Just thought I should warn you, I find myself singing it around the house for days after I have seen and my girls have been known to sing it without having watched any Wonder Pets for weeks!

Animation types and techniques are not my field of expertise, instead I will leave that field to my brother in-law and husband, they can talk for hours about such things. I can tell you that the animation can be considered mixed-media, as they use a technique called "photo-puppetry," which allows the animators to manipulate photographs of real animals and uses drawn objects.

In the episode Save the Beetles!, the Wonder Pets are called upon to help save The Beetles, a rock group consisting of four beetles that are on tour and have got caught in some kelp in their yellow submarine. Can the Wonder Pets work together and free the submarine before it is too late? Will the Beetles make their show on time? Well, what do you think?

I will have to say that I was able to take the time and explain to my 5 and 6 year old girls who the Beatles were. We talked about their band, rock and roll and the individual members of the group. They sure did ask a lot of questions that I couldn't answer, I mean I know who the Beatles are, who doesn't, but the specific questions that they were asking I had to rely on the Internet to help me find the answers to those questions. Don't you love technology? Anyway, we are using this as a jump off point in discussing rock and roll and other famous bands. We will also be studying other genres of music and the famous musicians that arose from them as well.

It's amazing how a few minute program can bring so many questions, and new topics to discuss and research a bout.

If you missed the episode don't panic I am sure they will re-air it, though I have not been able to find any specific dates of when it will re-air. If you can't wait and want to see it now, hop on over to Amazon and get the DVD!