If you don’t have a little one in your household, you may have missed the launch of a new children’s show late last year. Carl the Collector follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who loves collecting things. The show celebrates Carl’s talents – his laser focus, attention to detail, and distinct perspective…all of which have helped him amass a large collection of goodies. With something for just about every occasion, Carl’s collection comes in handy for solving problems around the neighborhood with his friends. The show also explores how Carl struggles with anxiety in new situations and has some difficulty when things don’t go as planned. 

I love this show so much. I’ve written here many times about the educational rigor that is used to design public television children’s programming. That is so important and critical to ensuring that all children can build the foundational skills they need to be ready to learn in school. But there’s another longstanding hallmark of PBS children’s programming that I deeply value: ensuring that kids see themselves represented on screen. When the show debuted, stations around the country started hearing from parents who couldn’t believe it. It was the first time they’d seen a kid’s show center around a character with autism, and their kids were noticing. I loved hearing stories of kids running to find their parents to excitedly report, “Carl is just like me!”. 

Seeing yourself in art and entertainment is a basic human desire, and something all kids should get to experience. Thank you for helping make that moment possible for kiddos across the region and the country. 

Rachel Knight
General Manager