Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
{{short description|Animated children's television series on PBS Kids}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.jpg
| based_on = {{based on|Ordinary People Change the World|Brad Meltzer}}
| voices = {{Plainlist|
- Aidan Vissers
- Ian Ho
- Zoe Hatz
- Wyatt White
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
- Joseph Trapanese
- Jason Lazarus
- Lindsay Pitts
}}
| open_theme = "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Theme"
| end_theme = "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Theme" (instrumental)
| composer = Meiro Stamm
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Canada
- United States
}}
| language = English
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes = 61
| list_episodes = List of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Brad Meltzer
- Christopher Eliopoulos
- Vince Commisso
- Blake Tohana
- Rob Weisbach
- Fonda Snyder
}}
| producer = Jennifer Bradley
| editor = Meghan Read
Tom Hastings
| runtime = 22 minutes (11 minutes)
| network = PBS Kids (U.S.)
TVOKids (Canada)
| first_aired = {{Start date|2019|11|11}}
| last_aired = present
| company = 9 Story Media Group
Brown Bag Films
}}
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is an animated children's television series produced by 9 Story Media Group, based on Ordinary People Change the World, a children's book series written by Brad Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos.{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/2019/11/13/brad-meltzer-xavier-riddle-secret-museum-interview/|title=Brad Meltzer on Finding Heroes for "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum"|website=TV Shows|date=November 15, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}} It premiered on November 11, 2019, on PBS Kids.{{cite web|title=PBS KIDS Announces New Series Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, Premiering November 11, 2019|url=https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-kids-announces-new-series-xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum-premiering-november-11-2019/|work=PBS|access-date=February 1, 2019}} The series follows young Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina, their friend Brad, and their robotic companion Berby, who visit the Secret Museum to meet historical figures portrayed as children. Each episode introduces a historical hero, such as Rosa Parks or Leonardo da Vinci, who inspires the characters to overcome their own challenges. The show aims to teach young viewers important values such as courage, kindness, and perseverance through engaging storytelling and real-world role models.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/columnists/francine-brokaw/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum-premieres-on-pbs-kids/article_df934e49-abc3-5ed3-955f-b934dc9fca39.html|title='Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum' premieres on PBS Kids.|last=Columnist|first=Francine Brokaw Community|website=Daily Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-11-22|archive-date=2020-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111043727/https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/columnists/francine-brokaw/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum-premieres-on-pbs-kids/article_df934e49-abc3-5ed3-955f-b934dc9fca39.html|url-status=dead}}
Premise
The series involves a Puerto Rican{{cite episode |series=Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum |title=I Am Jackie Robinson|credits=Qi, Hong (director); Meghan Read and Desmond Sargeant (writer)|network=PBS|airdate=February 18, 2025|season=2|number=21}} boy named Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina Riddle (alongside her stuffed turtle Dr. Zoom) and their best friend Brad. In each episode, a problem or difficulty is encountered. They go to the Secret Museum to time travel to the past to observe, interact, and learn from the historical heroes. They then return to the present and use their experience to solve the problem.{{Cite web|url=https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2019/11/07/christopher-eliopoulos-xavier-riddle|title=A New PBS Show That Lets Kids Learn from the Example of Historical Heroes|date=2019-11-07|website=WTTW Chicago|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-22}}
Characters
=Main=
- Xavier Riddle (voiced by Aidan Vissers in season 1, and Ian Ho in season 2) is the titular character and the leader of his group with his little sister Yadina and their friend Brad. He appears to be an excitable kid who is eager to go back in time and meet various historical figures.
- Yadina Riddle (voiced by Zoe Hatz) is Xavier's little sister, eager to explore the secret museum and learn about various historical figures.
- Brad Meltzer (voiced by Wyatt White) is Xavier and Yadina's best friend.
=Supporting=
- Berby is a small, egg-shaped flying robot who resides at the Secret Museum and functions as part of the time machine by transporting Xavier, Yadina, Dr. Zoom, and Brad back and forth in time.
Production
Brad Meltzer wrote the book Ordinary People Change the World and began a series based on the book named the Ordinary People series in 2014 with I Am Abraham Lincoln, I Am Amelia Earhart, I Am Rosa Parks, and I Am Albert Einstein.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/arts/books/2019/11/08/brad-meltzers-kid-friendly-history-comes-to-pbs/|title=Brad Meltzer's kid-friendly history comes to PBS|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}}
The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group's animation division, Brown Bag Films. 9 Story's Chief Creative Officer Angela Santomero states that Xavier Riddle lets kids know they have "the curiosity and adventurous spirit to change the world". Meltzer added to that statement: "When my own kids watch this series, I get to see them realize that there’s extraordinary within the ordinary."{{Cite web|url=https://thestreamable.com/news/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum-streams-on-pbs-kids-platforms|title='Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum' Streams on PBS Kids Platforms|last=Siegel|first=Fern|website=The Streamable|date=13 November 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}}
Episodes
{{Main|List of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum episodes}}
{{:List of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum episodes}}
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President
A TV special titled Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President aired on March 16, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kget.com/community/ricks-reviews/ricks-review-brad-meltzer-makes-history-fun-with-xavier-riddle-on-pbs/|title=Rick's Review: Brad Meltzer makes history fun with 'Xavier Riddle' on PBS|date=March 12, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.witf.org/2020/02/26/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-movie/|title = Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie|date = 26 February 2020}} In the special, Yadina, who dreams of becoming president one day, realizes all the presidents were men. She questions if she can still be president, even though it is something no girl has done yet. The trio visit the Secret Museum, where a five-part star is shown to them. They travel to different periods in time, where they meet women who are attempting to do something that has never been done before. Yadina learns from them on what is needed to do something that has never been done before, as she attempts to complete the star. She meets Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Amelia Earhart, Junko Tabei, Sally Ride and herself as an adult.{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-movie-i-am-madam-president|title=Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President - TV Review|date=April 2, 2020|website=www.commonsensemedia.org}} Amelia Earhart is the only historical figure to be featured in both the movie and an episode.
Broadcast
The series premiered on PBS Kids in United States on November 12, 2019. It premiered on TVOKids in Canada on December 10, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/xavierriddlehq?lang=en|title=Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum (@XavierRiddleHQ) {{!}} Twitter|website=twitter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}} It airs on Super3, a Catalan-language children's channel in Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccma.cat/tv3/super3/xavier-enigma-museu-secret/|title=Xavier Enigma i el museu secret|website=CCMA|date=6 April 2023 }} Season 2 was released on January 15, 2024.
Reception
=Critical response=
Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media gave Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum a mixed review. She stated that "the show makes many historical inaccuracies, which makes it odd for a TV show that wants to make history come back alive for kids." She also stated that "the show's tendency to play too fast and loose with the historical facts is confusing, and that 'Go for it!' is an unlikely motto for Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 and didn't complete her solo Atlantic flight as a grade school student, as Xavier depicts." George Washington Carver did have a secret garden as a child, in which he learned important lessons that impacted his career in botany. But, as Slaton states, "it's a real stretch to imagine him having to defend plants from renegade soccer players in 19th century Missouri", and that "the show seems to overlook his importance as an activist for ex-slaves and champion of sustainable agriculture, instead boiling his messages down to 'take care of plants and you'll take care of the earth.'" {{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum|title=Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum - TV Review|date=2019-11-19|website=www.commonsensemedia.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}
= Awards and nominations =
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
Attribution:
- {{Free-content attribution|
| title = Xavier Riddle
| author =
| publisher =
| source = Fandom.com
| documentURL = https://xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum.fandom.com/wiki/Xavier_Riddle
| License statement URL =
| license = CC BY-SA
}}
- {{Free-content attribution|
| title = Yadina Riddle
| author =
| publisher =
| source = Fandom.com
| documentURL = https://xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum.fandom.com/wiki/Yadina_Riddle
| License statement URL =
| license = CC BY-SA
| howto = no
}}
- {{Free-content attribution|
| title = Brad Scott
| author =
| publisher =
| source = Fandom.com
| documentURL = https://xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum.fandom.com/wiki/Brad_Scott
| License statement URL =
| license = CC BY-SA
| howto = no
}}
- {{Free-content attribution|
| title = Berby
| author =
| publisher =
| source = Fandom.com
| documentURL = https://xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum.fandom.com/wiki/Berby
| License statement URL =
| license = CC BY-SA
| howto = no
}}
External links
{{Portal bar|2020s|Canada|United States|Animation|Cartoon|Television|Education|History}}
- [https://pbskids.org/xavier Official website]
- {{IMDb title}}
- [https://www.tvokids.com/school-age/xavier-riddle-and-the-secret-museum Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum] at TVOKids
{{PBS Kids shows}}
Category:2010s American children's comedy television series
Category:2020s American children's comedy television series
Category:2010s American animated television series
Category:2020s American animated television series
Category:2010s Canadian children's television series
Category:2020s Canadian children's television series
Category:2010s Canadian animated television series
Category:2020s Canadian animated television series
Category:2010s preschool education television series
Category:2020s preschool education television series
Category:2019 American animated television series debuts
Category:2019 Canadian television series debuts
Category:American flash animated television series
Category:American children's animated adventure television series
Category:American children's animated comedy television series
Category:American preschool education television series
Category:American television shows based on children's books
Category:Animated preschool education television series
Category:Canadian flash animated television series
Category:Canadian children's animated adventure television series
Category:Canadian children's animated comedy television series
Category:Canadian preschool education television series
Category:Canadian television shows based on children's books
Category:American English-language television shows
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Category:Fictional American people
Category:Fictional Canadian people
Category:PBS animated television series
Category:Animation based on real people
Category:Animated television series about children
Category:Animated television series about siblings
Category:Child characters in animated television series
Category:Television shows set in museums
Category:Television series by 9 Story Media Group