The PBS alternative, he says, promotes ``good behavior, conflict resolution, problem-solving, functioning as part of a group _ the sort of things that 4-year-olds need to prepare them for school.″ And it certainly doesn’t carry with it the age-appropriate, pro-social curriculum that you’d expect to find on PBS.″ ``But it’s not necessarily age-appropriate for a preschooler. ``There’s a lot of kids’ programming on Saturday mornings,″ Wilson allows. Produced by Toronto-based Nelvana Communications Inc., ``Bookworm Bunch″ was designed to fill a void. And, pointing to the seven hours of children’s programming aired each weekday by PBS, he adds, ``This gives us a great opportunity to identify shows that we might then want to bring out to the full Monday-through-Friday schedule.″ ``It’s absolutely a commitment,″ Wilson declares. But ``Bookworm Bunch″ _ the network’s first-ever foray into Saturday morning _ is here to stay. The current ``Bookworm Bunch″ slate is in place for two years, says John Wilson, PBS’ senior vice president for programming services. _ 10:45 a.m.: A second 15-minute segment of ``Corduroy.″ This cartoon series about the carnival where a 9-year-old kid takes a summer job comes from Betty and Michael Paraskevas, whose books include ``The Tangerine Bear.″ Marvin has an equally quick wit: ``I can’t do my tribute to `Singing in the Reins’ without reins,″ he quips. ![]() _ 10:15 a.m.: ``Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse,″ whose star has the fleet-footedness of Fred Astaire _ with twice the feet. ``George Shrinks″ springs from the nimble mind of author-illustrator William Joyce, who also conjured up the irresistible ``Rolie Polie Olie″ for cable’s Disney Channel. When nature calls, George straps suction cups on his hands and feet and, then, like a mountaineer scaling the Matterhorn, climbs to the rim of the toilet bowl. Or, for that matter, from taking care of business. _ 9:45 a.m.: ``George Shrinks,″ an animated odyssey about a boy 3 inches tall whose Lilliputian stature doesn’t keep him from standing up to the normal-size world he inhabits. It’s adapted from the book by Maurice Sendak, the world-renowned writer-artist whose ``Little Bear″ is now a hit series on Nickelodeon. _ 9:15 a.m.: ``Seven Little Monsters,″ an animated series set in the loving household of Mom and her monstrous offspring. It’s created by author-illustrator Rosemary Wells. ``I wonder what it’s gonna be like,″ says Timothy, trying and failing to sleep the night before. _ 8:45 a.m.: ``Timothy Goes to School,″ in which our cartoon hero, a 5-year-old raccoon, faces the thrills and trepidations of starting school. ![]() What happens when King Lionel is about to receive the award for loudest roar, but then, suffering from stage fright, loses his voice? Find out on this series, from the ``Elliot″ books by Andrea Beck. _ 8:15 a.m.: ``Elliot Moose,″ a mixed bag of cartoons and live action with callow Elliot (note how this youngster’s antlers are little more than buds) and his animal friends. ![]() A gentle frolic through a big city and its diverse life, ``Corduroy″ comes from Don Freeman’s best-selling books about the winsomely upholstered bear. _ 8 a.m.: ``Corduroy,″ the cartoon adventures of a cuddle toy and the little girl who cuddles him. Their star power _ and that of the books that introduced them _ propel the six series making up the PBS Kids ``Bookworm Bunch.″ Well, starting this weekend on PBS, these disparate characters lay claim to a new three-hour block aimed at the preschool set. Seven monster siblings, a tiny boy and a dancing horse with taps on his (horse)shoes. ![]() NEW YORK (AP) _ A stuffed bear, a moose, a raccoon starting kindergarten.
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