The Thumbsucker

Bedtime Routine

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica, a young girl, decides she wants to do her whole bedtime routine, put on her bonnet, brush her teeth and use the potty, all by herself like her big brother Bernard. She keeps forgetting steps, gets frustrated, and finally asks Bernard for help, who suggests she come up with a strategy. She invents a memory song and manages all three steps in order, though she leaves a splashy mess to clean up. The story takes place at home with her mother and two brothers.

Small Uncle's Big Bath

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica discovers that her beloved plush toy, Small Uncle, has gotten dirty from all their play, and her mother says he is too filthy to snuggle at bedtime. Insisting she is a big kid, Jessica takes charge and washes him at the kitchen sink, working through five clear steps: undressing, testing the water, soaping, rinsing and drying. Along the way the toy jokes and squirms, but Jessica keeps him on track. In the end Mommy declares Small Uncle clean, and Jessica snuggles him to sleep after promising to take better care of all her toys.

The Big Kid Playground

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica decides she is ready to leave the little kid playground and take on the big kid playground by herself, while her dad watches from a bench with snacks. She meets Stanley, a boy who plays at being a superhero, and he shows her the slides, jumping mushrooms and wiggly bridge, though she keeps slipping and falling. After nearly giving up, she remembers her dad's words about trying, then climbs up to rescue Stanley when he gets stuck too high. She ends proud of herself and asks to come back tomorrow to keep practicing.

Grocery Store Friend

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica and her Daddy go to the grocery store on a pretend secret-agent mission to gather three ingredients for spaghetti dinner: tomatoes, noodles and cheese. Jessica keeps running into a new friend named Poppy, and their playing leads to the groceries accidentally ending up in another family's cart. Daddy stays patient, and Jessica works out that they can catch the other cart to swap the bags back. They recover the food, the two families meet, and Jessica and Poppy arrange a play date before heading home.

Glow Toy

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica visits the fair and wins a glow-in-the-dark dino toy she names Glow Glow Dino. Back home she and her small uncle try many ways to make it glow, from hiding under a blanket to searching the closet, but nothing works and she grows disappointed enough to want to trade it away. Her mother helps her notice the dino can still dance, tickle and roar, and Jessica starts having fun with it. That night the toy finally glows, and the family realises it just needed sunlight to charge.

Jessica's Restaurant

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica visits Rosie's restaurant with her dad and tastes gumbo for the first time, discovering that trying new food can be fun. Back home, she and her friend Stanley set up their own pretend restaurant, drawing a menu and serving snacks to family and friends. When their last crackers break, Jessica invents a new dish from carrots, peanut butter and crumbs. Everyone tastes it and enjoys the surprise creation.

Little Twin

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica meets a girl named Myra at the park and, because they look so alike, decides they are 'twins'. As they play bubbles, hopscotch, share a sandwich and dig in the sandbox, they keep discovering they like different things, which leads to an argument. With gentle advice from Grandma Jojo, Jessica apologises and the two combine their ideas into a shared 'space castle kingdom'. They end the day playing together as friends who are happily different.

Spike the Hedgehog

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica agrees to look after Spike the hedgehog while her friend Stanley and Lulu fly to the Philippines to visit family. With help from her mom and Small Uncle, she learns to feed him, clean his cage, and handle him gently, discovering that banana slices coax the shy pet out. When Spike escapes and hides under the bed, Jessica recalls Stanley's advice and lures him back safely. Stanley returns to a happy, settled hedgehog and thanks Jessica for the great job.

Sleepover

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica packs for an overnight stay at Grandma and Granddad's house but leaves her favorite toy, Small Uncle, at home. Across the day she plays hide and seek, dances, visits the garden, and makes a jiggly dessert with her grandparents. At bedtime she cannot sleep and cries because she misses her toy, until Grandma sits with her and helps her remember the fun she had. The next day Jessica returns home and happily reunites with Small Uncle to tell him all about it.

Family Photo

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica, a young girl, learns her family is heading to her grandparents' house for their yearly family photo and is asked to pick a special outfit. With help from her imaginary alter-ego Big Jessica, she tries on a dress, a soccer uniform, a monster costume, and a bunny suit, but each one is rejected as too tight, too sporty, or hiding her face. Noticing that nobody in the family likes their dressed-up clothes, she suggests everyone wear what they truly want. The family agrees, sings together, and poses for the photo just as they are.

Drawing Time

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica and her friends put on unicorn party hats to watch a movie, but the TV breaks and Dad cannot fix it right away. Left to entertain themselves, the children decide to draw their own story and imagine traveling through 'the lands of paper' to reach a unicorn dance party. Along the way they solve small problems with their drawn characters and help Felix, who thinks he is a bad artist, see the value of his own style. When Dad finally gets the TV working, the children choose to keep making up stories instead.

Jessica's Picnic

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica and her mother set out for a fancy 'big kid picnic' with homemade strawberry cupcakes while Dad and brother Bernard head to the museum. Rain, a broken-down van and a long wait at the mechanic wreck the plan one step at a time, and Jessica grows more and more disappointed. Her mother stays warm and reassuring, reminding her that a bad day still counts when they are together. Back home they hold a living room picnic and Jessica ends the day close to her family.

The Secret Invention

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica notices her older brother Craig gathering household items for a secret project and is desperate to find out what it is. He reveals the Balloon Mobile 5000, a toy car he built, then leaves her to watch it, warning her not to touch. Jessica touches it anyway, it breaks, and she rebuilds it using Craig's drawing before confessing the truth. Craig forgives her, and together they build an improved version using her idea to add a straw.

Big Kid Bike

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

A small red character named Jessica wants to ride a big kid bike with pedals like her friend Myra. After a discouraging fall, she asks her older brother Bernard for help, and he teaches her in stages, first balancing, then steering, then pedalling. She practises, wobbles, and falls again, but keeps going until she can ride to the park and show her friends. The episode ends with the reminder that everyone learns at their own pace.

Rain Rescue

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica, a young girl, plays in her backyard with her toy friend Small Uncle until Mommy warns that rain is coming and asks her to put her toys away. When Jessica realizes she forgot them outside, she launches a 'rain rescue,' gathering Harry the Hippo, Glow Glow Dino and Princess Priscilla while Mommy helps by radio as 'Commander Mommy.' Jessica braves wind, tall grass and puddles, then heads back out with an umbrella to save Small Uncle. The episode ends indoors with everyone dry and sharing hot cocoa.

Pool School

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica, an imaginative girl who loves pretending to be a shark, arrives with her mother for her first swimming lesson at an outdoor pool. Their teacher, Mr. Mark, guides a small group of children through floating, doggy paddle, kicking and getting their faces wet. Along the way Jessica makes friends with Logan and Stanley, talks about how everyone's body looks different, and works past her fear of the water. She ends by putting her whole head under and standing up for Stanley, with her mom cheering her on.

Big Grow

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica, a small kid, cannot reach her favourite Snacky Bears and decides she needs to grow big. With advice from her small uncle she eats vegetables, plays hard and sleeps, and even imagines a giant 'Big Jessica' who sings about being grown, but she still cannot reach the shelf. Her older brother Craig reminds her that she is fine at her size and that a big kid can also ask for help. In the end she uses a step stool to grab the snacks herself.

Mystery Toy

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica and her friends Myra, Stanley, and Felix find a mysterious green disc on the playground and take turns imagining it as a pizza pan, a tour bus wheel, a super shield, and a sled. Jessica's Daddy joins the play and reminds them to give the toy back if its owner appears. When a girl arrives looking for her lost 'Hexa Whirl,' the children return it right away. It turns out to be a flying disc, and everyone ends the day playing catch together.

Sick

recommended age Unlock co-watching from 2

Jessica wakes up excited for her friend Felix's birthday party but turns out to have a fever and must stay home in bed. To cheer her up, her toy friend Small Uncle helps her throw a pretend birthday party for her stuffed animals, complete with games, cake, and presents. Her parents look after her with medicine, water, and rest. By evening her temperature has improved, and Felix stops by with a goodie bag and an invisible hug.