Count on June Bug!
Join June and her friends as they explore nature and make new mathematical discoveries that help save the day.
Inspired by the interrelationship between nature and mathematical concepts, and our mission to grow a love of the outdoors in young kids, we revolved our concept around a group of bugs who learn math as they work through each day’s adventures. After persevering through a problem and creating awesome memories with her friends, June always keeps a small souvenir from her adventure as a happy reminder of her motto: “You learn something new every day — count on it!”
The episodes are now available for streaming on YouTube. To enhance your viewing experience and dive deeper into preschool math, head over to PBS LearningMedia to access teaching resources, co-viewing ideas, and other activities.
Good Friends Add Up to Great Fun.
Meet the Cast!
Each of our bugs brings something special.
June Bug
June is an endlessly curious and open-minded learner, whose eagerness sometimes leads to clumsy missteps. However, she embraces setbacks with her favorite phrase "Whoopsie-doop!", which reflects her unfazed attitude towards challenges.
Antwon the Ant
Antwon, a Type "A" personality who thrives on order and structure, enjoys showcasing his math prowess to friends but is easily flustered. His pals remind him that problem-solving is fun!
Zig & Zag, the Bee Twins
Zig and Zag are energetic jokesters with a penchant for spinning themselves into comedic gags. They thrive on symmetry and teamwork.
CeCe Centipede
CeCe is a multi-talented creator with a sunny disposition and a handy set of many limbs. She sees math as an empowering tool to craft beautiful and helpful things that assist her friends to reach new heights.
Each of our characters showcases a different way of thinking. They all, in their own loveably capable way, problem solve and learn math concepts.
Stories Centered Around
Nature + Math
Preschoolers are fascinated by almost everything, but especially by the natural world — from tall trees to tiny bugs! This series harnesses nature as a gateway to using math as a tool.
Just as kids like to arrange, sort, and count things as they play, June and her friends figure out how to use math to “make things happen!” They use key skills like counting, measuring, identifying shapes, and making patterns. And they learn specific math vocabulary to help clearly think and communicate about what they are doing and finding.
June and her friends also model important learning behaviors, like being willing to try, openness to new ideas, and persevering.
Production
We partnered with seasoned children’s writer Kevin Del Aguila whose credits include Peg + Cat, Blue’s Clues & You, and Clifford the Big Red Dog, to craft 5 compelling stories. We made sure curriculum shone by consulting our wonderful educational advisors.
The characters came alive through the talents of Split Studio, and the world sang with a chirp and a beat from our innovative composer and sound designer, Ambrose Yu.
Developing dynamic, mixed-media preschool characters and setting takes lots of creativity and iteration! The concept for Count on June Bug! came from our amazing and talented colleague Eri Hashimoto. These are some early sketches and concept art of Eri’s, who inspires us every day with their boundless imagination about a world of bugs.
The scoop
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Executive Producers: Alex Herder, Sandra Sheppard, Jill Peters
Senior Producer: Michelle Chen
Directors: Katie Trayte and Eri Hashimoto
Producer: Katrina Deptula
Consulting Producer: Natalie Engel
Head Writer: Kevin Del Aguila
Episode Writers: Mike Capbarat, Kevin Del Aguila, and Katrina Deptula
Educational Advisors: Bob Krech and Sheila Williams Ridge
Music & Sound Design: Ambrose Yu
Animation Director: Conner Troxclair
Animation: Split Studio (Lucas Fernandes, Ana Carolina Antunes, Julie Passanezi, Gustavo Oliveira, Brenda Tocacceli, Ana Koehler, Victor Estevam, Leia Sales, Vanessa Gouveia, Henrique Valença, Ricardo Siqueira, Felipe Tadeu, Marcos Vinicius, Felipe Lopes, Eduardo Brugnago, Douglas Ayres, Sofia Guimarães, Cristiane Ribeiro, Marcos Vinicius, André Ikedo, Caique Carvalho, Carlos Iubel, Carolina Trezena, Hugo Oliveria, Lilian Nogami, Tiago Cordeiro)