‘Sesame Street’s’ Maria Returning to PBS With Brand-New Children’s Show

Mister Rogers and Mr. Hooper would both be proud. Sonia Manzano, the Emmy Award-winning actress who played Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 to 2015, has created an upcoming animated children’s educational show for Fred Rogers Productions. Alma’s Way, which will premiere in the Fall of 2021 on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and PBS KIDS digital platforms, is meant to foster self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy in viewers ages 4 to 6.

Forty episodes are currently in production, and each 11-minute-long episode will focus on Alma Rivera, a proud and confident six-year-old Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her parents and younger brother, Junior, and interacts with a diverse group of friends, family, and community members. In addition to inspiring self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy, Alma’s Way aims to encourage kids to develop and value their own questions and ideas. and questions. The series will also highlight different facets of Latino culture via food, music, language, and more. Viewers, for example, will see Alma take part in a bomba show, celebrate Noche Buena, and help make mofongo.“I am thrilled to return to public television and to work with PBS KIDS and Fred Rogers Productions on this project inspired by my own childhood,” creator and co-executive producer Sonia Manzano said in a statement. “Alma’s way is to think things through, and I hope by animating the thought process, kids will be inspired and excited about what goes on in their own minds. I want them to know we all have the power to think regardless of who we are.”

Alma’s Way, which will premiere in the Fall of 2021 on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and PBS KIDS digital platforms.