New Series Supports Early Literacy Learning with Action-Packed Comic Book Twist

Austin, TX —  PBS Kids announced the premiere date for Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures, the animated series that builds on the legacy and success of the beloved Emmy-nominated Super Why! and Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures shorts.

The new series will empower preschoolers and kindergartners by supporting early literacy skills through exciting 7-minute stories that launch them into a colorful comic book universe where every interactive story adventure brings reading to life.

Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures, produced by 9 Story Media Group (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Clifford the Big Red Dog and animated by the award-winning studio, Brown Bag Films, will debut October 5 on PBS Kids.

“Literacy-focused content that engages, entertains, and supports young learners is needed now more than ever, which is why we’re thrilled to expand on the Super Why universe,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President & General Manager, PBS Kids and Education. “Through its fresh, comics-inspired format and fun-filled stories, the new series will help young audiences jumpstart a lifelong love of reading.”

The 39-episode Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures follows the Super Readers – Super Why, Wonder Red, Princess Presto, Alpha Pig, and newest reading hero, Power Paige – on out-of-this-world adventures as they use their own unique literacy powers and gadgets to protect Reader Valley from a group of silly Super Villains – with help from the viewer, “Super You.”

“It’s a full circle moment to reimagine Super Why! after 20 years in a way that ups the adventure, includes Super You, and feels true to the literacy power of the original series,” said Angela C. Santomero, Co-Creator and Executive Producer. “We know that kids and families will benefit from this new series as they learn, laugh, and help save the day.”

“Bringing Super Why’s Comic Book Series to life has been an exciting opportunity for our team to push the visual storytelling in a bold new direction,” said Coral Schoug, VP of Production, Brown Bag Films. “From the dynamic, comic book-inspired world to the pace and energy of each story, the series is designed to immerse young viewers while supporting the show’s core literacy mission in a fun and engaging way.”

Recent research has found a significant drop in U.S. children’s reading scores1 and has shown that a large percentage of children are reading below grade level.

Super Why! content and resources have helped children learn core early literacy skills, including alphabet knowledge, phonological and phonemic awareness, symbolic and linguistic awareness, and comprehension. Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures will build on this through stories that take place in a vibrant world where letters, words, and sounds have enormous power. The original Super Why! series first aired in September 2007 and continued for three seasons until 2016. The Super Why Comic Book Adventures three-minute shorts first aired in October 2023.

The newest series was designed with The Science of Reading – the comprehensive body of research that explains how our brains learn to read and write and informs instructional practices and approaches that support that learning – in mind. The stories and games incorporate foundational reading skills, including letter and letter sound knowledge, phonological awareness, phonics and decoding skills, spelling, vocabulary and oral language comprehension, and more. The series will feature new original songs that reinforce the curriculum and celebrate the Super Readers and “Super You” for saving the day.