Nickelodeon Announces Cast for “Baby Shark’s Big Show!”

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 17, 2020

Doo doo doo doo! Nickelodeon has announced the cast for its highly anticipated new preschool series Baby Shark’s Big Show!. The new animated series will premiere with an original holiday special on Friday, Dec. 11, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Based on the world-famous pop culture phenomenon, the 2D-animated series will feature Kimiko Glenn (Orange is the New Black); Luke Youngblood (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone); Natasha Rothwell (Insecure); Eric Edelstein (We Bare Bears); Debra Wilson (MADtv); and Patrick Warburton (Family Guy).

Co-produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and SmartStudy, the global entertainment company behind the beloved children’s brand Pinkfong, Baby Shark’s Big Show! is made up of 26 half-hour episodes and will follow Baby Shark and his best friend William as they journey on fun-filled comedic adventures in their community of Carnivore Cove, make new friends and sing original catchy tunes along the way.

Meet the inhabitants of Carnivore Cove:

Baby (Glenn) – A sweet, bubbly, and abso-toothly fearless little shark who has a habit of biting off more than he can chew.

William (Youngblood) – A quick-witted pilot fish with a flair for the funny, William is always down for jaw-some adventures with his best bud Baby.

Mommy (Rothwell) – Fun-loving with a fierce streak, Mommy Shark works for the Mayor of Carnivore Cove.

Daddy (Edelstein) – A worrier who can’t help his loud and goofy nature, Daddy Shark is a dentist who flosses when he’s nervous.

Grandma (Wilson) – A new-agey prankster who’s all about good vibes and bubbleberry pies.

Grandpa (Warburton) – A charismatic shark who loves to tell stories about the glory days.

In Baby Shark’s Big Fishmas Special, the season’s hottest toy, Burpin’ Bubbz, is at the top of Baby and William’s Fishmas wish lists, and when Santa Jaws goes missing, it’s up to them to save the holiday. Following the premiere, the special will be available on Nick Jr. On Demand and Download-To-Own services, as well as NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App, which will also feature short-form content.

Baby Shark’s Big Fishmas Special is part of Nickelodeon’s “Nickmas” holiday-themed lineup which features joyous premieres and specials from the network’s live-action, animation and preschool series, including the season two premiere of original festive competition series, Top Elf; the brand-new star-studded special The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular; and all-new episodes of hit series Blue’s Clues & You!, The Casagrandes, Danger Force, All That and more, plus classic fan-favorite holiday episodes of Rugrats, PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Loud House.

New episodes of Baby Shark’s Big Show! will roll out across Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms in the U.S. beginning spring 2021, followed by Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels internationally.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Nickelodeon

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Celebrate Shark Week with Crayola & Baby Shark

by Jennifer SwartvagherAugust 6, 2020

The whole family can get in on the fun of Shark Week. Baby Shark items from Crayola will help your little one celebrate Discovery Channel’s Shark Week at home in addition to National ‘s Geographic’s Shark Fest 2020. From a brand new Color Wonder Activity Pad to the Baby Shark Art Set there is something for everyone.

Color Wonder Mess Free Baby Shark Activity Pad

Perfect for trips or on-the-go, these activity pads are a great size to throw in a bag. Color Wonder Inks only show up on specially formulated Color Wonder paper, not on skin, clothing, or furniture. This set retails for $4.99.

Baby Shark Art Set

Featuring 40 Crayons, 35 Pip Squeaks Markers, 15 Coloring Sheets, and 2 Baby Shark Sticker Sheets, kids can create unique artwork! The included Markers and Crayons are made with Ultra-Clean technology and wash from skin, washable clothing and furniture. This set retails for $19.99.

Baby Shark Color & Sticker Book

Offers 32 Baby Shark Coloring Pages and 4 Sticker Sheets—which include over 50 stickers! Kids can create at home or on-the-go for less mess fun! This set retails for $4.99.

Color Wonder Mess Free Baby Shark Coloring Pages & Markers

This set contains 18 Baby Shark Coloring Pages and 5 Color Wonder Markers. Color Wonder Marker inks appear only on special Color Wonder Paper, not on skin, clothing or carpets! The folder-style packaging also works as reusable storage. This set retails for $7.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Crayola

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Dive into Shark Week with Discovery Channel & Build-A-Bear

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 30, 2020

Shark week is coming! Discovery, Inc. just announced its exciting list of merchandising partners for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2020 airing Sun. Aug. 9 through Sun. Aug. 16. This year the consumer products program includes new and returning partners including Build-A-Bear.

Build-A-Bear is back for a third year with their Shark Week collection.

Great White Shark is available now and will arrive in stores throughout July. This powerful predator is known for its huge size and sharp teeth. This Great White Shark looks extra cool thanks to the official Shark Week logo on its paw pad.

Saw Shark is the newest online exclusive from Build-A-Bear. Known for their long, saw-like snouts and barbels that look like a mustache, saw sharks often swim in coastal waters. With plush fins and shiny blue fur, this smiley shark also features the official Shark Week logo on its paw pad.

You can personalize your sharks outfits, sounds and scents.

“Every year, we look forward to enhancing our viewers’ love for Shark Week by providing them with an appealing and diverse slate of merchandise,” said Carolann Dunn, Vice President, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery, Inc. “Our goal is to allow shark lovers to go beyond watching shark-themed programming by wearing or playing with shark-themed products, and this year’s consumer products programming provides the opportunity to do just that.”

For up to date information on Shark Week as well as photos and videos, follow #SharkWeek on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Discovery Channel

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Adorable Animal Cams You Can Watch All Day Long

by Karly WoodJuly 9, 2020

As the nation’s zoos and aquariums begin to reopen, you and the kids can still enjoy all your fave animals! From underwater creatures like sharks, sea jellies and puffins to majestic lions, giraffes and elephants, there are plenty of live cams streaming at this very moment. Keep scrolling to find easy ways to find out what your furry (and slippery) friends are up to!

Aquariums

Aquarium of the Pacific: Penguin Cam, Shark Cam, Sea Jellies Cam, Tropical Reef

Beluga Bits Citizen Science Project: Beluga Whale Cam

Explore.org & Polar Bears International: Beluga Whale Cam

Georgia Aquarium: Beluga Cam, California Sea Lion Cam, African Penguin Cam, Piranha Cam, Puffin Cam

Loggerhead Marine Life Center: Turtle Cam

Manatee Lagoon: Manatee Cam

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Jelly Cam, Penguin Cam, Shark Cam, Sea Otter Cam

OdySea Aquarium: Sea Lion, Deep Ocean, Shark Cams

Tennessee Aquarium: Secret Reef Cam, River Otter Falls Cam, Penguins Rock Cam

Vancouver Aquarium: Otter Cam, Jelly Cam, Penguin Cam

Farms & Home Cams

Farm Sanctuary: Wisconsin Pasture

Folly Farm: Barn Cam

GoatsLive

Horse Farms Live Streams

The Hen Cam

Beekman 1802

Snowy Pines White Labs

Zoos

Cincinnati Zoo: Daily Home Safaris with replays at 3 p.m. EST

Cleveland Zoo: Virtual Classroom at 11 a.m. and Virtual Exploring at 1 p.m. EST

Houston Zoo: Giraffe Cam, Gorilla Cam, Elephant Cam, Rhino Cam & Chimp Cam

Palm Beach Zoo: Daily videos and virtual activities

San Diego Zoo: Ape Cam, Baboon Cam, Elephant Cam, Koala Cam, Penguin Cam, Polar Bear Cam, Tiger Cam

San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Giraffe Cam, Burrowing Owls Cam, Elephant Cam, Tiger Cam, Condor Cam

Zoo Atlanta: Panda Cam

Zoos Victoria: Snow Leopard, Penguin, Giraffe, Lion & Zebra Cams

Sanctuaries

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary: 18 different Koala Cams

––Karly Wood

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Westmoreland State Park: Where Shark Teeth are the Main Attraction

by Meghan Yudes MeyersJune 18, 2020

Editor’s note: We’re making every effort to provide you with the most up-to-date information. However, there may be last minute closures due to Covid-19. We highly recommend that you call ahead or check a park’s website before you pack your kids (and all those snacks, and diapers…) and haul them across town. Stay safe!

Looking for a day trip that combines fun, nature, and a whole lot of learning? Then point your compass south to Westmoreland State Park in Colonial Beach, Va. Just a 2-hour drive from DC, this gorgeous park features 1200 acres on the Potomac River’s Northern Neck. It’s a beautiful spot to take the kids for a day (or weekend) of hiking, camping, fishing, boating, swimming and–the best part–hunting for ancient shark teeth.

photo: Virginia State Parks via Flickr

So. Many. Teeth.
Millions of years ago, Westmoreland County, VA was under water and a breeding ground for sharks, including the Megalodon, which is said to be the ancestor of today’s Great White shark. If you scoop up some sand at the water’s edge and sift through the pebbles, beach glass and mollusk shells, you’ll soon catch a glimpse of a pointy triangular-shaped shark tooth that is most likely millions of years old. You’ll find teeth from sharks such as mako, cow, sand and tiger, and if you’re lucky you might even find the tooth of a Megalodon (some are the size of a human hand!). But the coolness doesn’t stop there; you’ll also come across other artifacts, such as whale vertebra, stingray dental plates and crocodile teeth.

photo: Virginia State Parks via Flickr

Know Before You Go
But why so many shark teeth? If your shark-loving lad asks you this question, you can remind him that sharks have an unlimited supply of teeth, which are not firmly set in their jaws but in their gums, where they appear in layered rows. If a tooth falls out, another one simply moves forward to take its place. That means lots of fun fossil finds for the rest of us!

photo: Virginia State Parks via Flickr

Mark Your Calendar
Combine your trip with the free public event Music on the Cliffs which takes place on July 18 and Sept. 19. Grab a lawn chair and enjoy the sounds of summer while taking in a spectacular view of the Potomac River. Pets are welcome at these events!

145 Cliff Rd.
Colonial Beach, VA
800-933-7275
Online: dcr.virginia.gov

—Meghan Yudes Meyers and Jamy Bond

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Target Has All the Waterslides You Need to Survive the Summer

by Karly WoodMay 25, 2020

Summer is around the corner––is your backyard ready? It’s time to stock up on plenty of sunscreen, snag a new swimsuit and get a few new summer toys! We scoured our fave bullseye retailer and found a new stash of can’t miss water slides fit for any backyard. Whether it’s single, double or triple style, this slip and slide-inspired gear pretty much guarantees summer fun.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Target

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Easy & Fun Marine Science Activities for At-Home Days

by Allison SutcliffeApril 21, 2020

Seattle kids are easy to spot. They count harbor seals as friends and know how magical an orca sighting is, even if they’ve spotted them before. For kids missing the Sound, we’ve rounded up activities, virtual camps and live shows that are as engaging and as they are educational. Dive in!

Attend a Virtual Marine Biology Camp

Tune in to Ocean Initiative’s virtual Marine Biology Camp on Mondays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. via Facebook or Instagram. Here, kids can hear from two local scientists (who are also parents) about whales, dolphins, sharks and other animals that call Puget Sound home. Send questions your kids have to the team ahead of time, or post them live during the convo. There’s always something interesting to learn or fun to do when you tune in.

Sing a Whale Song

...or rather listen to our resident orcas on the Killer Wale Tales website. There are three cool clips to tune in to, plus fact sheets and an activity book you can download, all dedicated to the pods that live in local waters.

Sit Down for Orca Story Time

Invite your tots to listen to a whale of a tale live via Zoom, on April 24 and May 1 at 11 a.m. Rein from the Washington Environmental Council will share a different story each week for kids to enjoy.

Aquarium from Anywhere

Just because you can’t be there, doesn’t mean you can’t experience the Seattle Aquarium at home. Sift through the many coloring sheets, code breaker activities, virtual story times, marine science games and more to keep the kids engaged with this local fave. Psst… their livestream webcams are always a hit too.

Stream a Live Marine Science Show

Set your calendars for live STEM workshops on Mondays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. via Facebook, thanks to Gig Harbor based Harbor WildWatch. With a focus on local wildlife and waters, these workshops give kids the chance to ask questions and participate in easy experiments and activities at home.

Explore the Burke’s Beaked Whale

If your kids miss the impressive beaked whale that hangs from the ceiling at the Burke, they can get a look behind the scenes and find out how it was prepped and hung. Follow up this exploration with the Burke’s whale activity packet and shark hat craft and you’ve got your afternoon planned.

Print Out Activity Sheets

Pull out a few of these activity sheets courtesy of the Orca Research Trust and your kids will be entertained for hours. They’ve got story telling prompts, fact sheets, word searches, paper crafts and more, all geared for young kids looking to learn and have fun.

Spot Ocean Wildlife

Turns out that with WiFi you can pretty much go anywhere these days. So why not try to spot orcas with OrcaLab’s livestream? The cameras give six different views of Hanson Island up in B.C., an orca hotspot and also the home of OrcaLab.

—Allison Sutcliffe

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Entertain Your Kids with Google’s 3D Animal Feature

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 1, 2020

For the time being, zoos and aquariums are closed. Many have virtually opened their doors to let your kids experience virtual field trips. Now, you can bring the animals home with you.

Using your phone, search for any animal on Google. Next to the Wikipedia description, you will see a 3D picture of the animal. You will be given the option to “View in 3D.” Click that and the animal will appear on your screen against a white background. Below the 3D animal you will see a “View in your space” option. Click on that to give Google access to your phone camera. Now, the 3D animal will be inserted in your space.

The list of available animals includes:

Lion
Tiger
Cheetah
Shark
Hedgehog
Duck
Emperor penguin
Wolf
Angler fish
Goat
Rottweiler
Snakes
Eagle
Brown bear
Alligator
Horse
Shetland pony
Macaw
Pug
Turtle
Cat
Octopus
Dog

Happy animal spotting!

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Jennifer Swartvagher

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Wash Your Hands with Baby Shark

by Jennifer SwartvagherMarch 26, 2020

Are you tired of singing the birthday song when you wash your hands? Now you won’t be able to keep your kids away from the soap and water. PinkFong has released a new rendition of its hit song “Baby Shark” simply titled, “Wash Your Hands.”

The lyrics are simple and make hand washing a breeze. You can’t help but sing along, “grab some soap, doo doo doo doo doo” followed by “rub your hands, doo doo doo doo doo” and then, “rinse your hands, doo doo doo doo doo” and finally, “dry your hands, doo doo doo doo doo.” At the end, the cute shark family offers up a few other helpful tips to stay healthy these days, like “cover your sneeze, doo doo doo doo doo” and “cough into your elbow, doo doo doo doo doo.”

The video already has almost 1.5 million views and encourages fans to join the #BabySharkHAndWashChallenge.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Pinkfong via YouTube

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Be Ready for This Baby Shark Toy to Be on Your Kid’s Wish List in 2020

by Jennifer SwartvagherFebruary 20, 2020

It’s the song that toddlers helped turn into an earworm overnight, “Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo…” Now your kids can dance along with their favorite shark friend. Come fall, you’ll be able to transform your playroom into a dance floor with the Pinkfong Baby Shark Dancing DJ. We got a preview at Toy Fair 2020 and snagged a video, too! Scroll down to see him dance.

The Dancing DJ plays five fun Baby Shark songs and popular remixes, including the viral Baby Shark song. With dance detection technology, Baby Shark dances when your child dances. This toy also features two dance games to get your kids up off their feet: Baby Shark Dance Off and Freeze Dance.

The Pinkfong Baby Shark Dancing DJ will be available in Fall 2020 for $39.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

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