PBS KIDS Celebrates Amazing People & Places Across the U.S. with New Content to Mark America’s 250th

PBS KIDS invites kids and families to come along on an unforgettable cross-country road trip with the PBS KIDS Across America initiative. From May through July 2026 and beyond, PBS KIDS will showcase amazing places and real kids throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as some of the American figures who have had an impact on the nation’s history. Leading the way on May 1 is WOWSABOUT, a new special from The Jim Henson Company, followed by the launch of AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of live-action shorts from GBH KIDS on May 22. June will bring CITY ISLAND: USA!, a miniseries of shorts from Future Brain Media, and XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES, four specials from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films. Additional new content from MOLLY OF DENALI and ALMA’S WAY, as well as videos and games from fan-favorites such as ARTHUR, CYBERCHASE, SESAME STREET and more, are also on the way to help boost civics and broader social studies learning.

“We’re excited to embark on this fun and learning-filled adventure with kids and families across the U.S., its territories, and beyond,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS and Education. “PBS KIDS is uniquely positioned to share content that reflects the lives of our young audience, while also introducing them to the wide array of places and stories from across our country.”

Premiering May 1, The Jim Henson Company’s WOWSABOUT is a family-friendly adventure set in Sequoia National Park. The vibrant half-hour special, featuring live-action puppets shot on location, follows Roxy, an artistic and musical hedgehog, and Ronald, a fastidious, city-raised pig, as they explore the emotion of awe on their first camping trip together. Roxy’s free-spirited creativity and Ronald’s structured love of natural sciences set the stage for lots of humor, heartfelt moments, and of course music, as the duo learns to navigate friendship and discover the natural wonders of America, meeting real kids along the way.

Then, on May 22, comes the premiere of GBH KIDS’ AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of 25 live-action shorts. Produced in coordination with 23 PBS stations across the country –including KLRN (Texas), PBS Wisconsin, and WHYY (Pennsylvania) to name a few – the series of mini-docs showcases kids from coast-to-coast, revealing what is special about where they live, their hobbies and passions, and how they are making a positive impact in their communities. Each featured kid highlights a range of interests, activities, and experiences that celebrate what’s awesome about America. Viewers will visit Mahry from Iowa, who takes care of llamas on her family’s farm and introduces viewers to their community event called Llamaween; they’ll meet Sahana from Georgia, who shares her love of Georgia peaches, Bollywood dancing, and helps organize a park clean up; and they’ll learn about Cajun culture from Jacob of Louisiana and join him on a holiday-themed swamp tour with Papa Noel –and so much more – showing us “all kinds of awesome kids, one awesome country.”

Next up on June 12, PBS KIDS brings young viewers on an unforgettable cross-country adventure with CITY ISLAND: USA!, a dynamic new miniseries of six 2-minute shorts from Future Brain Media. Blending animation with real live-action locations across the country, the series follows Watt, the little lightbulb with big ideas, and his breezy best friend, Windy the kite, as they soar from City Island into real-life America. Guided by their teacher Mr. Rubric, the trio visits landmarks in each of the five U.S. regions. In true City Island fashion, the landmarks speak for themselves, sharing first-hand accounts of their history and special contributions to the United States.

In XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES, launching June 22, viewers can catch a series of four hour-long packaged specials from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films that celebrate “ordinary” American kids throughout history who went on to do extraordinary things. Animated episode compilations from the popular PBS KIDS series XAVIER RIDDLEAND THE SECRET MUSEUM spotlight numerous American heroes – from Julia Child and Mark Twain to Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, The Wright Brothers, and more. The themed specials center on leaders, athletes, artists, and innovators.

Rounding out the initiative are additional content premieres, including “Happy Birthday Qyah,” a special two-part MOLLY OF DENALI episode from GBH KIDS on June 15; and an ALMA’S WAY short from Fred Rogers Productions celebrating America’s 250 ^th birthday on July 2. PBS KIDS will also curate compilations of videos and games from fan-favorite series that support civics and broader social studies learning. Featured series will include ARTHUR, CITY ISLAND, CYBERCHASE, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, DONKEY HODIE, MOLLY OF DENALI, PEG + CAT, PHOEBE & JAY, ROSIE’S RULES, SESAME STREET, and TOGETHER WE CAN. A WILD KRATTS collection will feature animals seen across America such as bald eagles, bison, beavers, wolves, rattlesnakes, and much more.

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. With PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Across media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS sparks children’s curiosity, helping them succeed in school and life. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime on the PBS KIDS Video app, connected TV devices, pbskids.org and more (no subscription required). Kids can play hundreds of educational games on the PBS KIDS Games app and pbskids.org. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support children’s learning anytime, anywhere – empowering parents, caregivers, and teachers. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Facebook and Instagram.