DINOSAUR TRAIN Returns to PBS Kids Today, 8/13

The EMMY-nominated animated children's series DINOSAUR TRAIN will premiere the new "Big Big Dinosaur Week" episodes beginning today, August 13 on PBS KIDS to explore the largest of the dinosaur species from different time periods. Encore broadcasts will run from August 17 to 19th (check local listings).

Throughout this week, "Big Big Dinosaur Week" will feature four new episodes that follow Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don as they discover the largest of the dinosaur species while exploring their natural surroundings. They'll also learn about nocturnal and diurnal animals, sunrises and sunsets, natural art and geysers. Additionally, "Big Big Dinosaur Week" will introduce a brand new train car on the Dinosaur Train -- the flatbed car.

The kick-off episode begins aboard the Dinosaur Train when the Pteranodon family gets the idea to travel around and meet some of the biggest dinosaurs. They even sing the song, 'The Biggest Dinosaurs,' before meeting Allie Alamosaurus, an enormous and friendly long-necked, plant eating sauropod.

The Jim Henson Company continues to encourage DINOSAUR TRAIN fans to join the "Nature Trackers Club." Kids and their parents can visit pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/naturetrackers to download "Nature Trackers" activities and receive a free DINOSAUR TRAIN surprise to celebrate their achievement.

DINOSAUR TRAIN™ is an Emmy-nominated and Parents' Choice Silver Honor TV series, and it consistently ranks in the top ten shows for kids ages 2 to 5*. In DINOSAUR TRAIN, young viewers join Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons, on whimsical adventures through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans as they discover basic concepts in natural science, natural history and paleontology. The Dinosaur Train, a colorful locomotive, is customized to accommodate all kinds of dinosaurs, and has the ability to visit the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds, while the Train's Conductor, a knowledgeable Troodon, provides passengers with fascinating facts along the way.

*Source: Nielsen NPower Live+7 AAs, August 2011-March 2012

SYNOPSES

"Remember the Alamosaurus / Sunrise, Sunset"
Premieres Monday, August 13 and Repeats Friday, August 17
The Pteranodon family gets the idea to travel around on the Dinosaur Train and meet some of the biggest dinosaurs. They even sing a song, 'The Biggest Dinosaurs,' before meeting Allie Alamosaurus, an enormous, long-necked, plant eating sauropod who is very friendly. Allie explains that her huge, strong legs hardly bend at all, but she can still have fun playing games with the kids, and teaching them some of her favorites!

Mom and Dad take the Pteranodon kids on an overnight camping trip where they watch both a sunrise and sunset, learning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The kids also find out more about nocturnal (night-active) animals, and diurnal (day-active) animals.

"A Heck of a Neck / Gilbert Visits the Nest"
Premieres Tuesday, August 14
The Pteranodon kids have a Nature Trackers adventure when they meet Denise Diplodocus, a super-long, super big dinosaur. At first the kids mistake Denise's neck for a snake, and tail for a bridge. Later, Denise amazes the kids, telling them how hard it is for her to raise up her long, heavy neck. Shiny and the others help her raise her neck higher than normal just once, but it feels better for Denise to keep closer to the ground and low-lying trees.

Shiny is nervous about Gilbert's impending visit to Pteranodon Terrace. She goes into a cleaning frenzy, wanting everything to look perfect, and her siblings to act perfectly. When Gilbert arrives, everyone starts having fun except Shiny who feels ignored. Soon Gilbert and the other kids persuade Shiny to join them, and they all eat, play, and laugh together.

"An Apatosaurus Adventure / Nature Art"
Premieres Wednesday, August 15
The Pteranodon kids visit the Jurassic Time Period to meet Apollo Apatosaurus, a huge, long-necked, long-tailed dinosaur who likes adventure. Apollo loves to whip his long tail, and does so as he leads the kids on a pretend adventure to find a tree with hard-to-reach, yummy, delicious leaves!