6 Smart Kids-TV Shows

By James Poniewozik

It's summertime, and for parents, that can mean only one thing: the eternal worry about the kids getting too much fresh air and exercise. Fortunately, the TV industry, ever vigilant against the dangers of UV radiation, has a full slate of safe vacation choices for toddlers, tweens and teens.

THE LIFE & TIMES OF JUNIPER LEE

(CARTOON NETWORK, SUNDAYS, 7:30 P.M. E.T.)

Cartoonist Judd Winick met his future wife Pam Ling on season three of The Real World. Now he's used her Chinese-American culture as the springboard for the story of a sarcastic 11-year-old who is the Te Xuan Ze, the protector of humanity from supernatural villains. It's a little derivative of Buffy the Vampire Slayer--O.K., a lot--but Juniper has its own clever twists; for instance, only she can see her monster enemies. Let it never be said nothing good came out of reality TV.

DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION

(THE N, FRIDAYS, 8 P.M. E.T.)

The kids of Degrassi High spend so much time learning about important social issues it's a wonder they have time left for geometry. In its fourth season this Canadian young-adult soap tangles with sexually transmitted disease, mental illness and cheating--oh, plus the aftermath of last season's school shooting. But Degrassi's frank, melodrama-free writing and well-chosen cast--who, shockingly, actually look and act like kids--save it from earnest afterschool specialdom.

CATSCRATCH

(NICKELODEON, FRIDAYS, 8:30 P.M. E.T., DEBUTS JULY 9, 8 P.M.)

If you have a cat, you probably suspect it wants two things: infinite luxury and you gone. In this SpongeBobian romp, a feline trio inherit a fortune from their late owner and indulge their fantasies. In various episodes, megalomaniac Mr. Blik travels to the moon in search of an ingredient for a barbecue recipe, sweethearted Gordon tries to find a unicorn, and ditzy Waffle hunts the world's most wicked mouse. You'll laugh till you cough up a fur ball.

TIME WARP TRIO

(NBC, SATURDAYS, 10:30 A.M. E.T., DEBUTS JULY 9)

Why do so many kids' shows feature books as magic objects? Are they ashamed of being TV? This take on the theme is at least based on a book series, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Three boys use a magic tome to time-travel, meeting odd characters--including their great-granddaughters. It's a clever history lesson that doesn't feel like homework.

THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE

(DISNEY, FRIDAYS, 8 P.M. E.T.)

The network says this cartoon is aimed at kids from 6 to 14. Is that even possible? Well, older kids will appreciate the savvy pop-culture parodies and the heroine, a sassy, tween fly with a nonconformist streak. When a clique of her trendy peers decides it's no longer cool to regurgitate food--part of the natural fly digestion process--she defiantly barfs on a plate of garbage and declares, in a Spartacus moment, "I am a fly!" The barfing jokes explain why the 6-year-olds will like it.

64 ZOO LANE

(NOGGIN, DAILY, 10 A.M. AND 4:30 P.M. E.T.)

This colorfully animated British import appeals to preschoolers' love of animals and hatred of going to bed. Every night, Lucy, who lives down the street from a zoo, climbs out of her bedroom window to hear one more bedtime story from the animals. Young viewers will be so transported by the exotic creatures, they'll hardly notice the gentle lessons. Just be sure you lock their windows. --By James Poniewozik