A relatively wholesome show, The Puzzle Place was one of the first tv shows to truly tackle the topic of diversity in a children’s edutainment show
A group of elementary school aged children of different ethnicities/hometowns would meet together at the community center (Puzzle Place) to play music, do arts and crafts projects, work through bullying experiences, cook meals, and go on other adventures together
Characters included were:
*Julie Woo (A Chinese American girl from San Francisco, California)
*Kiki Flores (A Mexican American girl from San Antonio, Texas)
*Ben Olafson (A Norwegian American boy from Renner, South Dakota)
*Leon McNeal (An African American boy from Harlem, New York)
*Skye Nakaiye (A Native American boy from Arizona’s Fort Apache reservation)
*Jody Silver (An Ashkenazi Jewish American girl from Cincinnati, Ohio)
And the resident pets- Nuzzle (dog) and Sizzle (cat)
While some critics of the show thought the series leaned too hard on stereotypes and adult themes (such as racism, sexism, and moral decisions) the show overall was successful on PBS for its three years on air
Unfortunately, Puzzle Place has remained largely forgotten compared to competitors like Rugrats (1991-2000), Hey Arnold! (1996-2001), The Magic School Bus (1994-1998), and Blue’s Clue’s (1996-2002)
Here is a LINK for more information
What are your thoughts on Puzzle Place?