WordWorld

*WordWorld*
WordWorld
Genre	Educational; Slapstick; Comedy; children's television series;
Created by	Don Moody; Jacqueline Moody; Peter Schneider; Gary Friedman;
Directed by	Olexa Hewryk
Narrated by	H.D. Quinn
Theme music composer	Billy Straus
Composers	Nick Balaban; Nathaniel Reichman;
Country of origin	United States; Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	45 (90 segments)
Production
Executive producers	Don Moody; Jacqueline Moody; Olexa Hewyrk; Sue Hollenberg;
Producers	Sue Hollenberg; Alia Nakashima;
Running time	28 minutes
Production companies	The Learning Box; WTTW Chicago;
Original release
Network	PBS Kids
Release	September 3, 2007 –; January 17, 2011

WordWorld is an American children's CGI animated television series based on the books and the wooden puzzles of the same name. Created by Don Moody, Jacqueline Moody, Peter Schneider and Gary Friedman, the show was produced by The Learning Box and WTTW National.

WordWorld aired on PBS Kids from September 3, 2007 to January 17, 2011, with PBS later airing reruns on the national 24-hour PBS Kids channel from January 16, 2017 to October 2, 2022. 45 episodes were produced.

Premise

In the series, when letters are combined to spell words, they morph into the shape of the corresponding object. The animal characters and many objects are made of letters, and are respectively called WordFriends and WordThings. The main setting is a planet named WordWorld; despite its name, WordFriends and WordThings also exist in outer space. In each episode, the characters have a cartoonish adventure, and ultimately must "build a word" using synthetic phonics to solve a problem. Some episodes focus on concepts such as rhymes, compound words, and plural formation with -s.

WordWorld is designed to teach children how to spell. In non-English speaking countries, it is designed to teach children English as a second language.

Cast

H.D. Quinn as the Narrator, Dog, Fly, Duck and Ant
Lenore Zann as Kangaroo, Owl, and Tiger
George Bailey as Bug, Monkey, and Pig
Daryl Ekroth as Frog, Monster, and Fox
Mirm Kriegel as Elephant and Bear
Veronica Taylor as Sheep, Cow, Cat, Spider, and Bird
Marc Thompson as Robot, Bee, Shark, and Turtle
Meredith Zeitlin as Fish and Whale

Episodes

Series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
Season		Episodes	First aired	Last aired
	1	26	September 3, 2007 (2007-09-03)	December 1, 2008 (2008-12-01)
	2	14	February 13, 2009 (2009-02-13)	December 28, 2009 (2009-12-28)
	3	5	October 4, 2010 (2010-10-04)	January 17, 2011 (2011-01-17)

Season 1 (2007–2008)

No. In Series	No. In Season	Title	Original Air Date
1	1	"Runaway O/Happy Birthday, Dog!"	September 3, 2007 (2007-09-03)
". Build a Word: "BOX" "Happy Birthday, Dog!". Build a Word: "CAKE" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
2	2	"There's an Ant in Every Giant/Chef Sheep"	September 4, 2007 (2007-09-04)
"There's an Ant in Every Giant". Build a Word: "ANT" "Chef Sheep". Build a Word: "POT" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
3	3	"Rocket to the Moon/The Birds"	September 5, 2007 (2007-09-05)
"Rocket to the Moon". Build a Word: "ROCKET" "The Birds". Build a Word: "BIRD" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
4	4	"The Mystery of the Disappearing Pie/Duck's Family Reunion"	September 6, 2007 (2007-09-06)
"The Mystery of the Disappearing Pie". Build a Word: "BEAR" "Duck’s Family Reunion". Build a Word: "TRUCK" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
5	5	"Sh-Sh-Shark!/Dog Wants to Play Ball"	September 13, 2007 (2007-09-13)
"Sh-Sh-Shark!". Build a Word: "SHOE" "Dog Wants to Play Ball". Build a Word: "BALL" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
6	6	"Pies, Pies, Pies!/Waterlogged"	September 14, 2007 (2007-09-14)
"Pies, Pies, Pies!" Build a Word: "PIES" "Waterlogged". Build a Word: "LOG" Music video: "Dancing Dog"
7	7	"Dog's Camping Adventure/V is for Vacation"	September 17, 2007 (2007-09-17)
"Dog's Camping Adventure". Build a Word: "TENT" "V is for Vacation". Build a Word: "VINE" Music video: "Ride the Slide"
8	8	"Snug as a Bug/Nightlight"	September 18, 2007 (2007-09-18)
"Snug as a Bug". Build a Word: "RUG" "Nightlight". Build a Word: "NIGHTLIGHT" Music video: "Ride the Slide"
9	9	"Duck's First Sleepover Party/One Hat Fits All"	October 29, 2007 (2007-10-29)
"Duck's First Sleepover Party”. Build a Word: "BED" "One Hat Fits All". Build a Word: "HAT" Music video: "Ride the Slide"
10	10	"Dancing Dog/Pig's Big Moonlight Feast"	November 19, 2007 (2007-11-19)
"Dancing Dog". Build a Word: "DRUM" "Pig's Big Moonlight Feast". Build a (Right) Word: "CORN", "PIE", "CAKE" Music video: "Circus Sheep"
11	11	"Boppin' with the Bug Band/Shuffleword"	November 26, 2007 (2007-11-26)
"Boppin' with the Bug Band". Build a Word: "BELL" "Shuffleword". Build a Word: "PIT" Music video: "Circus Sheep"
12	12	"W Drought/Princess Sheep"	January 31, 2008 (2008-01-31)
"W Drought". Build a Word: "WATER" "Princess Sheep". Build a Word: "CROWN" Music video: "Take the Stage"
13	13	"Radio Read-a-Thon/Robots to the Rescue!"	February 15, 2008 (2008-02-15)
"Radio Read-a-Thon". Build a Word: "BOOK" "Robots to the Rescue!". Build a Word: "ROBOTS" Music video: "Take the Stage"
14	14	"Pl-Pl-Plane/Mail Mix Up"	March 3, 2008 (2008-03-03)
"Pl-Pl-Plane". Build a Word: "PLANE" "Mail Mix Up". Build a (Right) Word: "SAIL, PAIL, NAIL" Music video: "Take the Stage"
15	15	"Pig's Present/Tick Tock Space Clock"	March 21, 2008 (2008-03-21)
"Pig's Present". Build a Word: “JET” "Tick Tock Space Clock". Build a Word: "CLOCK" Music video: "Monster Maker"
16	16	"Castles in the Sea/Get Your Coat"	April 7, 2008 (2008-04-07)
"Castles in the Sea". Build a Word: "CASTLE" "Get Your Coat". Build a Word: "COAT" Music video: "Monster Maker"
17	17	"Superhero Sheep/Pirate Ship"	April 8, 2008 (2008-04-08)
"Superhero Sheep". Build a Word: "SLIDE" "Pirate Ship". Build a Word: "SHIP" Music video: "Monster Maker"
18	18	"Playing Spies/Wee Little Whale"	May 5, 2008 (2008-05-05)
"Playing Spies". Build a Word: "POOL" "Wee Little Whale". Build a Word: "SUB" Music video: "It's Time to Rhyme"
19	19	"The Race to Mystery Island/A Star is Born"	May 6, 2008 (2008-05-06)
"The Race to Mystery Island". Build a Word: "BOAT" "A Star is Born". Build a Word: "STAR" Music video: "It's Time to Rhyme"
20	20	"Back on Track/The Rainbow Birthday Cake"	May 23, 2008 (2008-05-23)
"Back on Track". Build a Word: "TRACK" "The Rainbow Birthday Cake". Build a Word: "CANDLE" Music video: "It's Time to Rhyme"
21	21	"Bit by Bit/Ride 'em, Cowbear!"	June 23, 2008 (2008-06-23)
"Bit by Bit". Build a Word: "BANANA" "Ride 'em, Cowbear!". Build a Word: "ROPE" Music video: "Pig's Perfect Pizza"
22	22	"Play Ball!/M is for Map"	June 24, 2008 (2008-06-24)
"Play Ball!". Build a Word: "BALL" “M is for Map". Build a Word: "MAP" Music video: "Pig's Perfect Pizza"
23	23	"Flying Ant/The Dancing Duck Bonanza"	July 7, 2008 (2008-07-07)
"Flying Ant". Build a Word: "KITE" "The Dancing Duck Bonanza". Build a Word: "STAGE" Music video: "Pig's Perfect Pizza"
24	24	"The Lost Letter L/Catch that C!"	August 18, 2008 (2008-08-18)
"The Lost Letter L". Build a Word: “LOG” "Catch that C!". Build a Word: "COOKIE" Music video: "Ride the Slide"
25	25	"A Kooky Spooky Halloween/Sheep's Halloween Costume"	October 6, 2008 (2008-10-06)
"A Kooky Spooky Halloween". Build a Word: "BAG" "Sheep's Halloween Costume". Build a Word: "DUST" Music video: "Monster Maker"
26	26	"The Christmas Star/A Christmas Present for Dog"	December 1, 2008 (2008-12-01)
"The Christmas Star". Build a Word: "STAR” "A Christmas Present for Dog". Build a Word: "BALL" Music video: "It's Time to Rhyme"

Season 2 (2009)

No. In Series	No. In Season	Title	Original Air Date
27	1	"My Fuzzy Valentine/Love, Bug"	February 13, 2009 (2009-02-13)
"My Fuzzy Valentine". Build a Word: "HEART" "Love, Bug". Build a Word: "BUG" Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
28	2	"Duck Saves Spider’s Web/Caterpillar Gets A Home"	March 31, 2009 (2009-03-31)
"Duck Saves Spider’s Web". Build a Word: "WEB" "Caterpillar Gets a Home". Build a Word: "BOX" Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
29	3	"Bugs to the Rescue!/Sheep's First Bike Ride"	April 13, 2009 (2009-04-13)
"Bugs to the Rescue!". Build a Word: "BALLOON" "Sheep's First Bike Ride". Build a Word: "BIKE" Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
30	4	"Duck's Hiccups/Achoo!"	May 11, 2009 (2009-05-11)
"Duck's Hiccups". Build a Word: "GLASS" "Achoo!". Build a Word: "ANTS" Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
31	5	"Get Well Soon Soup/Mmm-Mmm-Milk!"	May 12, 2009 (2009-05-12)
"Get Well Soon Soup". Build a Word: "BED" "Mmm-Mmm-Milk!". Build a Word: "MILK" Music video: "Get Up and Move"
32	6	"Get Set for ET/Duck Plays the Piano"	June 15, 2009 (2009-06-15)
"Get Set for ET". Build a Word: "JET" "Duck Plays the Piano". Build a Word: "PIANO" Music video: "Get Up and Move"
33	7	"Shark's First Day of School/Shark's First Loose Tooth"	July 13, 2009 (2009-07-13)
"Shark's First Day of School". Build a Word: "FLAG" "Shark's First Loose Tooth". Build a Word: "PILLOW" Music video: "Get Up and Move"
34	8	"Duck at Bat/You Can Never Have Too Many OO's"	July 14, 2009 (2009-07-14)
"Duck at Bat". Build a Word: "BAT" (Happened twice) "You Can Never Have Too Many "OO"s". Build a Word: "ROOF" Music video: "Get Up and Move"
35	9	"The Best Nest/Duck's Family Reunion"	September 7, 2009 (2009-09-07)
"The Best Nest". Build a Word: "NEST" "Duck's Family Reunion". Build a Word: "TRUCK" (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "Take the Stage"
36	10	"Bed Bugs/Snug as a Bug"	September 8, 2009 (2009-09-08)
"Bed Bugs". Build a Word: "BED" "Snug as a Bug". Build a Word: "RUG" (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "It's Time to Rhyme"
37	11	"Totally Terrific Duck/A Star is Born"	October 12, 2009 (2009-10-12)
"Totally Terrific Duck". Build a Word: "TIE" "A Star is Born". Build a Word: "STAR" (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
38	12	"Dog's Having a Party/Dog Wants to Play Ball"	November 6, 2009 (2009-11-06)
"Dog's Having a Party". Build a Word: "HORN" "Dog Wants to Play Ball". Build a Word: "BALL" (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "Ride the Slide"
39	13	"Welcome Home, Duck/The Lost Letter L"	November 10, 2009 (2009-11-10)
"Welcome Home, Duck". Build a Word: "ROCK" "The Lost Letter L". Build a Word: “LOG” (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "Get Up and Move"
40	14	"Bear's Bed Sled/Sh-Sh-Shark!"	December 28, 2009 (2009-12-28)
"Bear's Bed Sled". Build a Word: "SLED" "Sh-Sh-Shark!". Build a Word: "SHOE" (Repeat of a Season 1 episode) Music video: "Take the Stage"

Season 3 (2010–2011)

No. In Series	No. In Season	Title	Original Air Date
41	1	"A String’s the Thing/J-J-Jelly"	October 4, 2010 (2010-10-04)
"A String’s the Thing". Build a Word: "STRING" "J-J-Jelly". Build a Word: "JAR" Music video: "Ride the Slide"
42	2	"Hide and Seek/Kite Flight"	October 5, 2010 (2010-10-05)
"Hide and Seek". Build a Word: "LAKE" "Kite Flight". Build a Word: "KITE" Music video: "Get Up and Move"
43	3	"The Really Red Ruby/Firefighters to the Rescue"	November 1, 2010 (2010-11-01)
"The Really Red Ruby". Build a Word: "ROCK" "Firefighters to the Rescue". Build a Word: "FIRE" Music video: "Pig's Perfect Pizza"
44	4	"Think in the Rink/X Marks the Spot"	November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)
"Think in the Rink". Build a Word: "RINK" "X Marks the Spot". Build a Word: "X-RAY" Music video: "Fruit Cha-Cha"
45	5	"Race to the Spaceship/Sandbox Surprise"	January 17, 2011 (2011-01-17)
"Race to the Spaceship". Build a Word: "SPACESHIP" “Sandbox Surprise". Build a Word: "SANDBOX" Music video: "Get Up and Move"

Reception

Critical

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the series 5 out of 5 stars; saying that, “This show is perfectly suited for preschoolers' learning level, and it will entertain them as it reinforces their knowledge of letters, sounds, and simple words. With its imaginative design and with the various font styles used to create the letter-based objects, the WordWorld package is delightful enough to draw in parents almost as readily as kids.”^[1]

Awards

2009 Emmy Award Winner Outstanding Children's Animated Program Outstanding Writing in Animation^[2]

2008 Emmy Award Winner Outstanding Achievement in Main Title^[2]

Three 2007 Parents’ Choice Awards: Gold Welcome to WordWorld DVD Rocket to the Moon/The Birds DVD WordWorld Television Series^[2]

Creative Child Magazine – Creative Toys Awards 2008 Preferred Choice Award: Barn Bucket Set 2008 Seal of Excellence Award: Pull-Apart Plush^[2]

2004 Preferred Choice Award: Pull Apart Plush^[2]

2008 Toy Wishes Magazine All-Star Award WordPuzzle with Sound: Duck's Beach Party^[2]

Interactive Media Awards 2007 Best in Class: PBS Kids WordWorld Website^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Ashby, Emily (3 September 2007). "WordWorld Review". Common Sense Media.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "awards". wordworld.com.

External links

Official website
WordWorld at IMDb

[Emily_Ashby-1] Ashby, Emily (3 September 2007). "WordWorld Review". Common Sense Media.

[awards-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "awards". wordworld.com.

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