You probably remember the original Aesop fable. A flashy rabbit gets cocky, takes a nap, and a slow-moving reptile wins the race because he just kept going. It’s the ultimate "slow and steady wins the race" cliché. But if you’ve ever sat down with a preschooler to watch Super Why Tortoise and the Hare, you’ll notice something pretty different happening. It isn't just a rehash of an old story. Honestly, it’s a systematic deconstruction of how kids learn to read, wrapped in a race between a turtle and a bunny.
The show, which aired on PBS Kids and was produced by Out of the Blue Enterprises (now part of 9 Story Media Group), uses this specific story to tackle a very specific problem: sibling rivalry and competitive frustration. When Princess Pea gets upset because she can't win a game, the Super Readers jump into the book to find an answer.
The Mechanics of Super Why Tortoise and the Hare
In this version, we aren't just watching the race; we are changing it. The core mechanic of the show involves "Super Why" (Wyatt) using his Power to Read to change a sentence in the story. In the Super Why Tortoise and the Hare episode, the problem isn't just that the Hare is fast; it’s the way the characters interact.
Think about the way literacy is taught here. You have Alpha Pig doing "Alphabet Power," Wonder Red with "Word Power," and Princess Presto with "Spelling Power." It’s a multi-sensory approach. When they get to the Tortoise and the Hare, they find a Hare who is, frankly, a bit of a jerk. He’s not just fast; he’s boastful.
The episode doesn't just stick to the "slow and steady" mantra. It pivots. It looks at the emotional intelligence behind the competition. Most people think the lesson is about speed. It’s not. In the world of Super Why, the lesson is often about perspective.
Why the "Power to Read" Matters in This Context
Early childhood educators often talk about "print awareness." That’s the fancy term for a kid realizing that those squiggly lines on a page actually mean something. When Wyatt enters the book and highlights a sentence like "The Hare ran very fast," and the kids at home help him change "fast" to "slowly," they are seeing the direct impact of language on reality.
It’s powerful stuff for a four-year-old.
The Super Why Tortoise and the Hare episode specifically targets the word "fast." By swapping it out, the show demonstrates that the narrative isn't fixed. This is a huge psychological leap for children. They realize they aren't just passive observers of stories—or of their own lives. If Princess Pea is frustrated because she’s losing, she learns through the Tortoise that the way you participate in the race matters more than the gold medal.
📖 Related: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
Breaking Down the Literacy Milestones in the Episode
Let's get into the weeds of what's actually happening during those 24 minutes.
First, you've got Alpha Pig. He focuses on letter recognition. In this episode, the focus on letters like 'T' for Tortoise and 'H' for Hare helps build the foundation of phonemic awareness. It’s simple, sure, but it’s the building block of everything else.
Then comes Princess Presto. She’s the one who handles the "spelling power." She usually focuses on sounds—phonics. In the Super Why Tortoise and the Hare segment, she might help spell out words related to the race. This helps kids map sounds to letters, which is the "alphabetic principle."
Wonder Red is the favorite for many because of the "Word Bucket." She focuses on word families. If you can read "race," you can read "pace," "case," and "face." This rhyming structure is key for developing reading fluency. By the time Wyatt—Super Why—gets to the "Storybrook Creator" at the end, the child has been primed with all the linguistic tools needed to understand the final twist.
The Cultural Impact of Re-imagining Aesop
Aesop’s fables have been around for over 2,500 years. They’ve been adapted by everyone from Disney to Bugs Bunny. So, what makes this one different?
Basically, it’s the interactive element.
Traditional media is a one-way street. You watch the Hare sleep, you watch the Tortoise crawl. End of story. In Super Why Tortoise and the Hare, the "Super Readers" (and the viewer) are the ones who solve the problem. The "Super Big Problem" in the beginning—Princess Pea’s frustration—is mirrored in the book.
👉 See also: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
This is a technique called "bibliotherapy." It’s using stories to help children process their own emotions. By seeing the Tortoise deal with the Hare’s boasting, Princess Pea learns how to handle her own feelings of inadequacy during play. It’s a double-layered educational tool.
- Phonological Awareness: Identifying the sounds in the words used during the race.
- Vocabulary Building: Words like "boastful," "steady," and "persistent" are often introduced.
- Reading Comprehension: Understanding why the Hare lost, not just that he lost.
Misconceptions About the Show's Educational Value
Some critics used to say that shows like Super Why "game-ify" reading too much. They argued that by making it a superhero quest, kids might lose interest in actual, quiet books.
Actually, the data suggests the opposite.
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication found that children who watched Super Why showed significant gains in early literacy skills compared to those who didn't. Specifically, they performed better on tests of letter naming, phonemic awareness, and sentence comprehension.
The "interactivity" isn't just a gimmick. It’s a cognitive engagement strategy. When the characters look into the camera and wait for a response, it triggers the "parasocial interaction" effect. The child feels a responsibility to answer. They aren't just zoning out; they are participating in a digital classroom.
What Parents Often Miss
If you're watching Super Why Tortoise and the Hare with your kid, don't just let the TV do the work. The real magic happens in the "bridge" between the screen and the real world.
When the episode ends, the "Super Value" is usually summarized. But you can take it further. Ask your kid: "What word would you have changed in the story?" Maybe they would have changed "Hare" to "Robot." Maybe they would have changed "race" to "dance-off."
✨ Don't miss: Why This Is How We Roll FGL Is Still The Song That Defines Modern Country
This encourages "metalinguistic awareness"—thinking about language as a tool that can be manipulated. It’s the difference between a kid who can decode words and a kid who understands the power of storytelling.
The Hare in this episode is a classic antagonist for the preschool set. He’s not "evil," he’s just loud and self-centered. Watching how the Tortoise remains unbothered by the Hare’s antics provides a great template for social-emotional learning. It’s about "keeping your eyes on your own paper," so to speak.
Actionable Steps for Using the Episode at Home
If you want to turn a 20-minute cartoon into a legitimate learning session, you don't need a teaching degree. You just need to be present.
- Pause the Screen: When Wyatt asks "Which word should we change?", pause it. Ask your child why they think the current word is causing a problem. This builds critical thinking.
- The "Word Bucket" Game: After the show, grab a literal bucket or a bowl. Write down words from the 'ace' family (race, face, space) on scraps of paper. Have your kid "catch" them as you say them.
- Reverse the Roles: Ask your child to tell you the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, but they have to be "Super Why." They have to identify the problem and suggest a "Super Letter" or a "Super Word" to fix it.
- Connect to Emotions: If your child gets frustrated during a board game or a race at the park, remind them of the episode. "Remember how the Tortoise just kept going even when the Hare was being silly?" It’s a shorthand for resilience.
The Super Why Tortoise and the Hare episode remains a standout because it perfectly balances the "three pillars" of the show: letter identification, word manipulation, and emotional intelligence. It’s not just about winning a race; it’s about reading the world around you and realizing you have the power to change the narrative.
Reading isn't just a school subject. It’s a superpower. This episode proves that even the oldest stories can be broken down and rebuilt to teach the next generation that they are the authors of their own stories.
Next Steps for Literacy Development
To build on the lessons from this episode, focus on environmental print in your daily routine. This means pointing out signs, labels, and logos at the grocery store or on the street. Just as Wyatt identifies words in the "Storybrook" world, you can help your child identify "STOP" on a sign or "EXIT" over a door. This reinforces the idea that words are everywhere and they have the power to direct our actions. Additionally, consider reading the original Aesop version of the fable alongside the Super Why version to discuss the differences, which helps develop early comparative analysis skills.