Super Why!

Super Why! is a CGI animated preschool series that follows Whyatt and his book-loving friends as they turn everyday questions into storytime missions. When a problem arises in the real world, the children transform into Super Readers and jump into classic tales to find solutions. Inside those storybooks they use spelling, alphabet power, and reading strategies to change details, solve puzzles, and help characters, then bring the lesson back to their neighborhood. The show blends short adventures with songs and interactive prompts, aiming to build vocabulary, phonics, and confidence in young viewers without revealing any surprises about later plots.

The series premiered on PBS stations on September 3, 2007, created by Angela Santomero and Cilbur Rocha. Production credits include Out of the Blue Enterprises and DHX Media through Decode Entertainment, and episodes have aired on PBS Kids, PBS Kids Sprout, and Kids' CBC.

Across households and classrooms the program became a familiar preschool tool, thanks to its simple catchphrases and story-into-story format. Episodes were distributed internationally, with edited versions appearing in places like Thailand, and parents often used the show's prompts to encourage shared reading and letter practice at home.

Critical and parental reception focused on the show's clear educational goals, with a user vote average of 6.8/10 from 17 votes reflecting modest overall approval. Reviewers and educators appreciated the focus on phonics, spelling, and narrative skills, while some noted the format could feel repetitive over many episodes. Themes center on teamwork, reading comprehension, problem solving, and building early literacy habits in an upbeat, encouraging way.

The series did not become a major awards magnet, but it found steady recognition among early childhood educators and families for its practical approach to teaching reading fundamentals. That grassroots appreciation helped it stay a go-to option for preschool programming during its run.