Donkey Hodie, a new PBS Kids series from Fred Rogers Productions, premieres Monday, May 3, on NPT with two episodes at 11:30 a.m. and noon. The show features Donkey Hodie – a sweet, yellow donkey with a bright, magenta mane – and her pals: Purple Panda, Duck Duck and Bob Dog. Each episode encourages preschoolers to dream big and overcome obstacles, to be resourceful and discover they are capable of solving problems on their own — and to laugh themselves silly along the way.
Donkey Hodie will air weekdays at noon and weekends at 7:30 a.m. on NPT; weekdays at 3 and 11 p.m. and weekends at 8 a.m. on NPT3 PBS Kids. The episodes include catchy songs – a mix of original new music and reimagined versions of Mister Rogers’ songs – that reinforce the show’s positive messages and fun adventures.
NPT will host a free virtual preview of Donkey Hodie followed by a fun educational activity on Thursday, April 29, at 10 a.m. This virtual event is free, but RSVPs are required at wnpt.org/events.
Donkey Hodie is the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie character from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (referred to in the new series as “Grampy Hodie”). Inspired by the quirky, funny side of Fred Rogers, Donkey Hodie furthers his mission of helping young viewers navigate the challenges of childhood.
Children’s programming is available around the clock on NPT3, NPT’s 24-hour PBS Kids Channel. Watch NPT3 over the air at 8.3, on Comcast 242 and Charter 189 (or 192, depending on your viewing area). NPT3 PBS Kids is available for streaming at wnpt.org/npt3.