Phoebe & Jay
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Monday–Friday at 9:30 AM beginning Monday, Feb. 2
PHOEBE & JAY is designed to support early literacy skills for children ages 3-5 by showcasing the various kinds of texts they see in their everyday lives—from signs and posters to labels and movie tickets — helping them understand, navigate, and participate in the world around them.
The titular twins live with their dad, Pete, an eternal optimist, with the support of their loving, no-nonsense Grandma Annie. The series captures some of the experiences and learning opportunities found in the fantastical Tobsy Towers, the unique setting for many of the close-knit Yarber family’s adventures, which was inspired by the grand old hotels in Los Angeles that have been repurposed into affordable apartments. In one story, after Phoebe and Jay accidentally get paint on the mail, they need to decode the addresses so each of their Tobsy Towers neighbors receive the correct packages. And in another, the twins discover reel-to-reel recordings left behind by Tobsy, the architect of Tobsy Towers, and create labels to sort the recordings.
The show’s literacy curriculum is designed to closely support preschoolers as they learn how to create and use the many types of functional texts that they encounter each day. It shows young viewers how they, too, can utilize these skills to explore their surroundings, pursue their interests, and accomplish tasks big and small in their own lives.