PBS KIDS is expanding its literacy-focused programming with the announcement of Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures, a new 2D-animated series aimed at preschoolers and kindergarteners. The 39-half-hour show is scheduled to debut next fall.
The new series is a spinoff of the successful Super Why! franchise, which originally ran from 2007 to 2016. The property previously made a brief return in 2023 with a package of three-minute shorts sharing the new series’ name.
Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures is produced by 9 Story Media Group and animated by Brown Bag Films. The show was co-created by Angela Santomero (Blue’s Clues), Sarah Wallendjack (Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood), and Alex Breen (Charlie’s Colorforms City).
The longer format of the new series allows PBS KIDS to incorporate ‘new evidence-based curriculum concepts’ and integrate reading strategies into each episode. The show features heroes who utilize special literacy-inspired powers and gadgets to protect Reader Valley from antagonists.
The creation of the new series capitalizes on established demand for the franchise; the original show still generates approximately 165 million streams a year across all PBS KIDS platforms, along with 35 million views annually on YouTube.
PBS KIDS is pushing the new show across multiple platforms, with plans to launch four games and three digital storybooks following the 2026 premiere. The move to support literacy comes as American children’s reading scores have recently declined.
In related news, PBS KIDS has scheduled a February 2 launch date for the series Phoebe and Jay, which stars fraternal twins learning to read everyday words. That show’s release faced delays due to recent cuts to public media funding and the elimination of the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn Grant. The week also saw the announcement of a new Reading Rainbow series slated for Sony’s Kidzuko platform.
