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PBS KIDS Announces Animated Holiday Line-Up

Celebrate December with new specials and fan-favorite classics; ‘Alma’s Way’ helps viewers celebrate Nochebuena and Three Kings Day; ‘Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas’ reveals the true holiday spirit; and ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ returns with a special presentation on December 19.

PBS is celebrating throughout December with a line-up of Holiday Classics and new specials. The brand-new Alma’s Way special will help viewers everywhere celebrate two very important holidays for many Latino families – Nochebuena and Three Kings Day. And any animated holiday celebration wouldn’t be complete without the classics from Peanuts, Arthur, Wild Kratts, Curious George, The Cat in the Hat, Peg + Cat, Nature Cat, and Let’s Go Luna – all coming to PBS KIDS in December, all month long (check local listings).

In “Alma’s Nochebuena,” when Alma’s family’s Nochebuena traditions don’t go as originally planned, she must learn to celebrate in a whole new way. Then, in “Three Kings Day Do-Over,” after Alma notices Junior hasn’t played with her Christmas present, she skips playtime to make a do-over Three Kings Day gift. The special premieres December 13 on PBS KIDS.

PBS KIDS Holiday Classic Specials Lineup 2021

Returning seasonal specials airing between December 1 and December 26 on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel include (check local listings):

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown becomes the director of the gang's holiday play. Can he overcome his friends’ preference for dancing over acting, find the “perfect” tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas?

The classic Peanuts special returns to PBS and PBS KIDS for a special broadcast presentation on Sunday, December 19, at 7:30 pm ET/PT on the NPS and at 7:30/6:30 CT on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel during the Family Night block.

Nature Cat: A Nature Carol

Viewers can join Nature Cat and his pals for an extra-special, hour-long Christmas movie. In this homage to A Christmas Carol, Nature Cat is bursting with what he thinks is "Christmas spirit," and wants to celebrate with lots of presents for himself, and by decorating the woods with bright lights and loud festive music for everyone. Daisy, Hal and Squeeks are upset because Nature Cat's desire to celebrate Christmas in a great BIG way is causing problems with their friendship as well as bothering all of the animals in the woods. It’s not until Nature Cat is visited by three Christmas Spirits that he finally sees the true meaning of Christmas.

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There’s only one dilemma – neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.

The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!

This adventure finds the Cat in the Hat, Nick, and Sally on a journey around the world to help a lost reindeer find his way home to Freezeyourknees Snowland in time for Christmas. On the way, the Thinga-ma-jigger breaks down, and they depend on a variety of animals – from African bush elephants to bottlenose dolphins to red crabs – and their remarkable abilities to help them make an amazing journey home. 

Let’s Go Luna: Luna’s Christmas Around the World

When the Circo gets stranded in Antarctica on Christmas Eve, Carmen enlists Luna and the kids to play Santa and save Christmas for an unbelievably cute stowaway duckling named Lil’ Teeny.

Peg + Cat + Holidays

“The Hanukkah Problem” – When Albert Einstein invites Peg and Cat over for Hanukkah, he shows them how to make a 2D piece of paper into a 3D dreidel. Later, they need to use this process to bring peace to Al’s home and save his Hanukkah.

“The Christmas Problem” – When Santa Claus is in trouble, Peg and Cat must solve their biggest problem ever: how to make and wrap presents for all the children of the world and deliver them using 100 sleighs.

“The Penguin Problem” – Peg and Cat coach a team of skiing penguins, who would have a shot at the Olympic gold medal if only they knew “over,” “under” and “in between.”

Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas

In this one-hour special, it’s Christmastime and the Wild Kratts are taking a break from creature adventuring to celebrate. But when the Wild Kratts receive an alert that their favorite creatures are suddenly disappearing around the globe, their holiday party quickly turns into a rescue mission. The Wild Kratts must race against time to thwart their greedy archrivals’ most miserly scheme yet! Will they be able to travel to the ends of the earth and return their baby animal friends to their homes in time for the holidays?

Arthur’s Perfect Christmas

Plans are underway in Elwood City for the best holidays ever as Arthur, D.W., their family and friends prepare for perfect gifts, perfect parties and perfect family traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even “Baxter Day” (Buster and his mom’s special celebration). The only problem is, just like in real life, perfection is hard to attain, and things start to fall apart.

Source: PBS KIDS