Overview

Zoboomafoo was an American educational television series for young children that aired on PBS Kids from January 25, 1999 to November 21, 2001. Created and hosted by brothers Chris and Martin Kratt, the program introduced preschool viewers to animals, their behaviors, habitats, diets and basic conservation ideas through lively demonstrations and simple scientific questions.

Format and main characters

The show mixed studio sequences with field footage. The title character, Zoboomafoo, appeared as a talking lemur who played and wondered about the natural world alongside the Kratt brothers. The lemur role was performed on-screen by a real Coquerel's sifaka named Jovian, and in some studio scenes by a puppet. Human hosts guided viewers through encounters with live animals, showing close-up behaviors and explaining animal traits in accessible language.

Educational approach and content

Zoboomafoo emphasized curiosity, observation and respect for animals. Episodes typically presented an animal guest or topic, demonstrated notable behaviors, and used simple experiments or games to reinforce learning. The show balanced entertainment — songs, jokes and sketches — with factual demonstrations about senses, diets, movement and life cycles suited to preschool comprehension.

Production, context and legacy

Developed in the late 1990s by the Kratt brothers who had previously worked on nature-focused programming, Zoboomafoo belonged to a wave of children’s shows that combined live animals with clear learning goals. Its friendly style and memorable title character made it a gateway series for many children to learn about animals. The program inspired books, home-video releases and ongoing recognition of the Kratts as presenters of animal education.

Notable features

  • Combination of real animal footage and puppetry to engage young viewers.
  • Hosts who modeled observational thinking and respectful interaction with animals.
  • Short, repeatable segments tailored to preschool attention spans.

For official information and episode listings see series page and the PBS Kids guide at PBS Kids.