“Dinosaur Train” One-Hour Special Airs This May on PBS Kids
Dinosaurs A to Z Special Encourages Kids to Practice the Alphabet While Learning About the Diversity of Dinosaurs
HOLLYWOOD, CA, Apr 17, 2012 — The Emmy(R)-nominated animated children’s series Dinosaur Train(R) will premiere the new Dinosaurs A to Z one-hour special May 14 on PBS Kids(R) to encourage preschoolers to practice the letters of the alphabet while learning about the diversity of dinosaurs. The episode will repeat on May 18 (check local listings).
In Dinosaur Train, young viewers join Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons, on whimsical adventures through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans as they discover basic concepts in natural science, natural history and paleontology. The Dinosaur Train, a colorful locomotive, is customized to accommodate all kinds of dinosaurs, and has the ability to visit the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds, while the Train’s Conductor, a knowledgeable Troodon, provides passengers with fascinating facts along the way.
Dinosaurs A to Z consists of four stories that follow Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don as they explore the diversity of dinosaur species while practicing the letters of the alphabet (Dinosaurs A to Z The Big Idea/Spread the Word and Dinosaurs A to Z Classification/Dinosaurs A to Z Picnic).
The one-hour special begins aboard the Dinosaur Train where Tiny gets the idea to gather all the dinosaurs in the Dinosaurs A to Z song for a picnic at Troodon Town. The conductor agrees, and as the Train starts picking up dinosaurs, Tiny, Buddy, Shiny and Don help keep track of how many of the different species have come on board. They learn about classification and organize the dinosaurs by their species, features, and size. When all 26 dinosaurs finally come on board, the Train has more extra cars than ever before and they need an additional engine to help pull it! Once they arrive at Troodon Town for the picnic, Tiny leads the 26 different “A to Z” dinosaurs in a fun, rousing, and historic singing of the Dinosaurs A to Z song!
The Jim Henson Company is also encouraging Dinosaur Train fans to join the “Nature Trackers Club.” Kids and their parents can visit pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/naturetrackers to download “Nature Trackers” activities and receive a free Dinosaur Train surprise to celebrate their achievement.