The Critics Rave About Between the Lions!
"A whopping gold star to PBS for its fine-tuned, ground-breaking new educational series, 'Between the Lions'.... This stellar literacy tool can claim pride of place with the best of the best: PBS' 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' and 'Sesame Street,' the Disney Channel's 'Bear in the Big Blue House' and Nickelodeon's 'Blue's Clues.'"
--Lynne Heffley, Los Angeles Times
'''Between the Lions''' has the potential to be a landmark show. But don't take my word for it, since I'm way outside the show's target demographic. The 4-year-old TV critic in my household, a discerning viewer, delivered this verdict midway through the episode of 'Between the Lions' that airs today: 'I love this!' Chances are that sentiment will be widespread".
--Don Aucoin, Boston Globe
"'Lions' is a roaring success.... [It's] smart, charming, and actually makes phonics fun.... 'Between the Lions' makes a strong case for television as a boon to literacy. This one is highly recommended."
-- Paul Schultz, New York Daily News
"Charming and extremely useful. 'Lions' is a delight."
-- Marilyn Moss, Hollywood Reporter
"An imaginative literacy series [that will] get kids reading -- and roaring with laughter. PBS has created a welcome thing in this age of 'Teletubbies' and 'Barney'-- a fun educational show for kids with enough sops for adults to avoid inspiring a wave of vasectomies and tubal ligations."
-- James Poniewozik, Time Magazine
"Those parents who don't want their kids to have an indecent amount of fun while learning to read must immediately hide their remote control and put a channel lock on PBS. The dazzling and very smart 'Between the Lions' has recently roared onto the scene with one mission in mind: to make kids 4 to 7 wild about reading."
--Joanne Kaufman, TV Guide
"Well, tickle me Elmo! It's taken three decades, but public television finally has produced an encore for 'Sesame Street.' Take my advice: Head straight for 'Between the Lions.'"
-- John Kiewsewetter, Gannett News Service
"Parents, teachers and TV folk of all stripe, take note. It is possible to create an entertaining, thoughtful, age-appropriate and curriculum-supporting television show for kids.... Kids will love reading 'Between the Lions.'"
-- Jeanne Spreier, Dallas Morning News
"Graduates of 'Sesame Street' listen up. After years of struggling to find the right media mix to entice the 4-to-7-year-old crowd, PBS has struck gold.
-- Susan Avery, New York Magazine
"Charming and imaginative. The goal... is nothing less than to help young children 'tolearn to readí... and 'Between the Lions' seems well-designed for the task."
-- Steve Johnson, Chicago Tribune
"If the names Theo, Cleo, Lionel, and Leona don't mean much to you now, just wait. They're the characters from a new children's television show called 'Between the Lions,' and within a few weeks, they--and the magical library they inhabit--could be all your young patrons are talking about."
-- Diane Bakst, School Library Journal