The Evolution of Kids' TV Shows: From Howdy Doody to SpongeBob - Perfect for Family Entertainment and Educational Screen Time

This book is wonderful. I highly recommend it for a wide demographic, especially parents and educators and everyone interested in the social history of (children’s) television. Jo Holz is extremely effective at recreating the zeitgeist of early children’s television programs to the present time. Her incisive and very spot on analysis of why particular programs (from their start, run and demise) fit into a historical context is informative and instructive. She provides convincing evidence about how prevailing societal values can be directly mirrored in shows that may be popular at a particular time for historical reasons and that serve both to educate and satisfy the needs of children at that time. Certain shows have endured and excelled because they kept up with contemporary norms, yet did not surrender aspects that made the show relatable and beloved. I felt a lot of nostalgia reading the book, not only for the TV shows of my childhood, but also those of my children. The type of research in this book is crucial for understanding what is valuable to present and future children and what types of shows can contribute to the education, enrichment, and entertainment of children.