Of all of the children’s programming available on cable television, there is one that I find particularly intriguing. “Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends” is a show about a family of bugs and, I just found out, is based on a series of books by David Kirk.
The show stars Miss Spider and her mate Holley. They are mother and father to several bugs, many of whom are adopted, and they take their parenting very seriously. Miss Spider (Flora) makes sure that all of the vegetarian meals that she prepares for her family are very healthy. She was raised by a beetle named Betty which makes her the perfect mom for such a family. Holley is a great dad and a talented musician. He also has a great love of natural beauty and always tries to share this love with his children.
Spinner is just like his dad and is the analytical one of the group. He is the one the others generally come to when they need advice. Snowdrop and Pansy are twin girls. While Snowdrop is quite talented at crafts, Pansy is a born athlete. Dragon, a dragonfly of course, is nine and the oldest of the children. He likes to have his space and he is still looking for his dragonfly family, no matter how much he loves his adoptive family. Shimmer is a jewel beetle. If you and your child watch NOGGIN frequently, you have probably heard her song all about beetles. Shimmer loves to eat flowers and play in the meadow. Wiggle is six and likes to blend in, though he has a great imagination. Squirt loves to play practical jokes and “surf the web.” Bounce is a bedbug and he is the “family clown.” He is also quite impulsive which sometimes gets him into trouble.
As you can probably tell, the premise of this show is that everyone in a family is different. Whether you have a biological family or an adoptive family, or a combination of both, it is all about learning how to live and work together. This show is a perfect way to help teach children how to get along with others.
“Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends” can be seen on NOGGIN and Nick Jr. Check local listings for channels and times. For more information, please visit Nick Jr. or NOGGIN.com.
Please see the article by my fellow Media Reviews blogger, Tristi Pinkston: