‘Zoboomafoo’ Draws Kids Into the Animal Kingdom

Without being there in person, kids won’t get much closer to an elephant’s eye--or its tail--than they will if they tune in today’s debut episode of “Zoboomafoo,” PBS’ zesty, animal-packed new nature series for preschoolers.

Aimed at ages 2 to 6, this up-close and personal look at familiar and exotic fauna is the latest venture from filmmakers Martin and Chris Kratt, creators of “Kratts’ Creatures,” the hit PBS wildlife series for older children.

The two shows share the brothers’ supercharged on-screen enthusiasm, live-action and animated bits and a fantasy character to interact with--here it’s a wide-eyed leaping lemur named Zoboomafoo, who’s seen in a real-life version as well as in animated and puppet personas.

The theme-based format is more intimate, however; instead of taking viewers around the globe, the brothers--biologist Chris and zoologist Martin--bring animal visitors to their cozily cluttered “Animal Junction” home base.

Clips of real kids with their pets figure into the mix too.

In the opener, the theme is “noses.” A baby elephant, dubbed “Toothbrush” because of its bristly hair, demonstrates its remarkably versatile nose and allows tight shots of its huge feet, face and tail. There’s a cartoon elephant and film of real elephants in the wild too.

Other nosy visitors are a pair of coatis, furry little pointy-snouted diggers that use their sense of smell to find tasty treats buried in sand, and a keen-nosed, droopy-eyed bloodhound that helps track Toothbrush when she takes off for her herd.

The fast-paced format is a mite cluttered with all the live and animated action, but the Kratt brothers’ ebullience is contagious, the shows are packed with fascinating facts, and there’s no losing sight of the heart of the show: those remarkable, let’s-get-acquainted animal close-ups.

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“Zoboomafoo,” KCET-TV, Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. Rated TV-Y (suitable for all ages including children 2-6).