Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat is a new PBS animated adventure designed for 5 to 8-year-olds. Set against the backdrop of ancient China, Sagwa displays the boundless energy and fresh perspective of an 8-year-old discovering the world and learning some of life's most important lessons.

Based on the childrens book, Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, by acclaimed author Amy Tan, each episode features two 11-minute animated adventures. It also features a mini-documentary in which real children share their hobbies, music, special festivals, foods, and show off their neighborhoods. Through this combination of adventure and documentary, children explore both the culture of China long ago as well as the cultures of children around the world today.

Storytelling has long been used as a means of helping children understand and deal with the often difficult issues they face in their daily lives. Sagwa uses this timeless vehicle to bridge the gap between the context in which its stories are set and contemporary issues and challenges that children face today. By employing a setting that is different from the one in which most children live, Sagwa highlights both the differences and similarities that exist across cultures.

The heart of Sagwa

Who am I? How do I get along with others? What does it mean to be honest? How can I stand up for what I believe in? What are my responsibilities? What does it mean to be open-minded and tolerant? What is it like to be gaining more independence?

Sagwa addresses such questions at the heart of growing up by:

a) Modeling strategies for dealing with the personal and social issues children face as they grow into a variety of new roles.

b) Exposing children to elements of cultures other than their own and showing that children all over share many of the same interests and emotions.

Why is the series beneficial to children?

Through Sagwa's humorous adventures and the mini-documentaries, children enter the culture of China long ago and the cultures of children all over the world today. Discovering the similarities and differences they share with others sparks children's interest and appreciation of a wider world. While enjoying the cats' adventures in a beautiful, far-off land, children learn strategies for dealing with their fears, telling the truth in difficult situations, standing up for what they believe in, making friends and dealing with peer pressure, and many other challenges children face as they grow up.

How can I use the show with children?

You can help children get the most from Sagwa by:

* Encouraging children to talk about the stories and relate them to their own experiences.

* Talking about whether the solutions to problems seem realistic or not.

* Reading stories that deal with the same themes that appear on the series. (See the Suggested Reading list below.)

* Using Sagwa to launch storytelling activities, including writing, telling, illustrating, and acting out classic tales, real-life stories, and original stories.

* Engaging children in sharing stories and information about different cultures.

Suggested Reading

Here are some good books related to Sagwa's goals and themes, and characters.

Appreciating Differences

• Stellaluna by Jannell Cannon. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc., 1993.
  (Ages 4-8)

Consequences

• I Did It. I'm Sorry by Caralyn Buehner. NY: Dial Books, 1998.
  (Ages 4-8)
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald. NY: HarperTrophy, 1989
  (Ages 6-9)
• Nasty, Stinky Sneakers by Eve Bunting. NY: HarperTrophy, 1995.
  (Ages 8-12)
• Rosie's Story by Martine Gogoll. NY: Mondo, 1994.
  (Ages 5-9)

Family

• Deshawn Days by Tony Medina. NY: Lee & Low Books, 2001.
  (Ages 6-10)
• Elizabeti's Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. NY: Lee & Low Books, 1998.
  (Ages 5-6)
• Wood-Hoopoe Willie by Virginia Kroll. NY: Charlesbridge, 1993.
  (Ages 5-7)
• Zelda and Ivy by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. NY: Candlewick Press, 1998.
  (Ages 4-7)

Friendship

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Di Camillo. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2000.
  (Ages 8-10)
• Could We Be Friends? by Bobbi Katz. NY: Mondo, 1997.
  (Ages 5-8)
• The Piano by William Miller. NY: Lee & Low Books, 2000.
  (Ages 6-10)
• Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka. NY: Orchard Books, 1993.
  (Ages 4-7)

Honesty

• Baloney by Jon Scieszka. NY: Viking, 2000.
  (Ages 5-9)
• Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkeley Breathed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 2000.
  (Ages 6-10)

Making Choices

• Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki. NY: Lee & Low Books, 1997.
  (Ages 7-11)
• Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn. Lee & Low Books, 1995.
  (Ages 6-11)

Overcoming Fears

• There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer. NY: Dial Books, 1968.
  (Ages 5-7)
• Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. NY: Greenwillow, 2000.
  (Ages 4-8)

Perseverance

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, NY: Aladdin, 1972.
  (Ages 4-8)
• Solo Girl by Andrea Davis Pinkey. NY: Hyperion, 1997.
  (Ages 7-9)

Recognizing and appreciating what you have

• Abel's Island by William Steig. NY: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 1976.
  (Ages 6-10)
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Messageby Chief Jake Swamp. NY: Lee & Low Books, 1995.
  (Ages 5-8)
• Verdi by Janell Cannon. NY: Harcourt Brace and Co., 2000.
  (Ages 5-8)

Standing up for what you believe in/Believing in yourself

• Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara Barber. NY: Lee and Low Books, 1996.
  (Ages 6-8)
• Dumpy LaRue by Elizabeth Winthrop. NY: Henry Holt and Co., 2001.
  (Ages 5-7)
• Max, the Stubborn Little Wolf by Marie-Odile Judes. NY: HarperCollins, 1996.
  (Ages 4-8)
• Night Golf by William Miller. NY: Lee & Low Books, 1999.
  (Ages 5-8)

Animals, Pets, and Mythical Creatures

• Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies. Cambridge: Candlewick, 2001.
  (Ages 6-9)
• How to Talk to Your Cat by Jean Craighead George. NY: HarperCollins Juvenile, 2000.
  (Ages 7-10)
• The Dragons Are Singing Tonight by Jack Prelutsky. NY: Greenwillow, 1993.
  (Ages 5-8)

Children and Adventures Around the World

• Aesop's Fables by Jerry Pinkey. NY: Seastar Books, 2000.
  (Ages 6-10)
• Let the Games Begin! by Maya Adjmera. NY: Charlesbridge, 2000.
  (Ages 6-10)