GSEP Professor Kevin Wong Brings Early Literacy Expertise to PBS KIDS Series

Pepperdine's Kevin M. Wong, associate professor of education at GSEP, served as a curriculum consultant for Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures, a PBS KIDS animated series designed to help young children build foundational literacy skills. 

Over the course of two years, Wong collaborated with the program’s writers and creators as an early literacy consultant. His contributions included reviewing scripts, sharing relevant research, providing feedback on early video cuts, and helping the creative team translate evidence-based literacy practices into engaging stories for young viewers.

“It has been one of the highlights of my two years working with the writers and creators,” Wong shared in reflecting on the experience. “I’m confident the show will be well received.”

Building on the legacy of the Emmy-nominated Super Why!, the new series invites preschoolers and kindergartners into a colorful comic book universe where reading becomes a superpower. Through interactive, seven-minute adventures, its characters use literacy skills—including recognizing sounds and letters, building words, and exploring language—to overcome challenges and move each story forward.

The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group and animated by Brown Bag Films. It premiered on PBS KIDS on October 5, 2026, and episodes are available through PBS KIDS.

Wong’s involvement reflects his longstanding commitment to literacy, language learning, and educational media. Drawing from his experience as a former elementary school teacher and his research in multilingual education, he works to advance equitable and engaging learning opportunities for linguistically and culturally diverse children.

At GSEP, Wong chairs the MA in TESOL and MA in Teaching programs. His scholarship examines children’s language learning, heritage language development, bilingual education, and the potential of educational media to support vocabulary and literacy development.

Watch Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures on PBS KIDS.