The New Musical Property Will Introduce Young Viewers to the Joy of Jazz and Self-Expression, Will Include a One-Hour Special and 20 Shorts

Arlington, VA, February 24, 2025 – Get ready to groove! Based on Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, the beloved children’s book by Emmy® Award-winning, Newbery medalist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander, the ACOUSTIC ROOSTER universe is coming to PBS KIDS with a special and a short-form series produced by GBH. This will feature ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, a one-hour special, and ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS, an upbeat new animated series of 20 shorts that will introduce viewers ages 3-5 to the vibrant world of the arts, specifically jazz music, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, creativity, and self-expression. Catch a sneak peek of the first short (“Rooster’s Old MacDonald Song”) here .

Centered on the titular character, a guitar-strumming rooster who joins the Barnyard Band of Jazz Greats, the series and special feature 24 original tracks composed by Juno Award-winning jazz musician Mark McLean, as well as special guests, including jazz icon Herbie Hancock and renowned jazz bassist Amy Shook. The music-filled special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, premieres on May 1. In addition to today’s sneak peek, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS will debut a second short on April 11, with the remaining rolling out weekly beginning May 9, 2025. The multiplatform world of Acoustic Rooster and his friends will also include an interactive game, Groovin’ with Acoustic Rooster, which allows kids to create their own music and play along with their favorite songs from the show.

“When my daughter was a baby, I was having a really hard time soothing her so I put on Ella Fitzgerald’s record ‘A Tisket-A Tasket,’ then I played Wynton’s Stardust, and she was captivated. Immediately stopped crying,” said Alexander. “Playing jazz for her inspired me to write Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band to share the history and the power of the music and the musicians with the world through a fictional barnyard band.”

The one-hour special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz. The toe-tapping special follows the musical adventures of the precocious, young Acoustic Rooster, who dreams of joining a world-class jazz band alongside his talented friends, including Mules Davis, Lil’ Herdin, Ella Finchgerald, Duck Ellington, and the Chick-A-Dees (an adorable trio of preschool chicks), whose names are all playful nods to famous jazz greats.

“Music has the unique ability to inspire creativity, foster connection, and help children express themselves in meaningful ways,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “ACOUSTIC ROOSTER uses the magic of jazz to spark a love for music as it supports personal growth, making it a truly inspiring and fun experience for young viewers.”

Each 3-minute episode of ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS follows Rooster and his friends as they go on musical adventures about friendship, fun, and jazz. These short stories highlight styles of jazz, musical concepts, as well as kid-relatable everyday experiences, each featuring an original song. Whether they’re helping a friend overcome sadness with a blues song or jumpstarting the day with a jazzy tune, Rooster and his friends will help kids understand the importance of expressing their emotions and how music can be a meaningful part of their everyday lives.

“At its core, jazz music is about collaboration and working together to create something magical and beautiful,” said executive producer Julius Harper. “Through the story of Rooster, kids will learn how self-expression and individuality can help everyone in a community work towards a shared goal and that music can influence everyday life.”

The ACOUSTIC ROOSTER library also explores universal themes for young children and their families, like bedtime routines, celebrating birthdays, and more through a jazz-infused lens. In addition, the series and special are designed to help kids grasp key jazz skills such as following the beat, call and response, and improvisation, as well as introducing them to various instruments and jazz styles (like ragtime), and more.

Art from the PBS KIDS special ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND will be featured in two new board books from Alexander. Acoustic Rooster and Friends tells Acoustic Rooster’s story through lyrical, jazzy text, and Acoustic Rooster Sings the Alphabet is packed full of jazz facts from A to Z. The books are published by Sleeping Bear Press and will be available on April 1, 2025.

The ACOUSTIC ROOSTER shorts and special were created by Alexander and Kay Donmyer and directed by Rachel Stolberg and Ranjit Gill. The shorts and special are produced by GBH and animated by Global Mechanic Media, Inc. Alexander, Angel Tyree, Harper, Tina Ouellette, and Chris Brodie serve as Executive Producers. ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND was written by Alexander and Donmyer. Advisors for the series include JB Dyas, PhD; Mark G. Meadows, RJ Root; and Joanne Seelig Lamparter.

Support for ACOUSTIC ROOSTER is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American People; the GBH Kids Catalyst Fund; and by public television viewers. Produced with the participation of the Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit.

About GBH Kids
GBH Kids is one of the top producers for public media, creating educational content for kids, parents, caregivers and teachers, including iconic PBS KIDS programs such as the award-winning Arthur and Molly of Denali, digital series such as Scribbles and Ink, games, apps and podcasts. GBH Kids, based in Boston, also works closely with PBS LearningMedia, providing digital curricula for more than 2 million teachers across all 50 states. GBH Kids is committed to accessible educational media and the healthy development of all children. Find more information at gbh.org/kids.

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. With PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Across media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS sparks children’s curiosity, helping them succeed in school and life. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime on the PBS KIDS Video app , connected TV devices, pbskids.org and more (no subscription required). Kids can play hundreds of educational games on the PBS KIDS Games app and pbskids.org . PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support children’s learning anytime, anywhere – empowering parents, caregivers, and teachers. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom , or follow PBS KIDS on Facebook and Instagram .

Media Contact:
Tara Mayes
tara_mayes@wgbh.org