PBS's 'ZOOM' enhances its ethnic flair

BOSTON -- What is a Finnish pancake?

In the children's show "ZOOM," viewers find out the answer to that question -- and more -- as they travel the globe.

Although "ZOOM" has always had a multicultural twist -- featuring young cast members from different ethnic backgrounds -- this time around the show will be infused with an even greater ethnic flair.

The public television series that's "by kids, for kids" started its fifth season this month with an increased focus on foreign cultures. Producers say they decided to focus on promoting cross-cultural understanding after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"In today's world, it is important to expose kids to a wide range of people, viewpoints and experiences," said executive producer Kate Taylor.

"ZOOM" is geared toward children ages 5 to 11, and includes science experiments, recipes, plays, games, book reviews, jokes, chats, poems and volunteer ideas.

The original series aired in the 1970s; a revamped "ZOOM" came back in 1998. The new episodes will expose viewers to an array of global crafts and recipes as well as profiles of children in foreign countries.

In one segment, a cast member whose family is from Finland, shows how to make pannukakkua, or Finnish pancakes, which are baked in an oven and topped with powdered sugar or jelly.

The guest roster also includes Karla, a 12-year-old who talks about her homeland, Cuba.

Diane Levin, a professor of education at Boston's Wheelock College, says "ZOOM" isn't a "preachy" show.

"Many children are forming stereotypes about who the good guys are and who the bad guys are by how they look. ... There's no one trying to teach a lesson. It's much more child-centered in the way a child would think about these things," Levin said.

"ZOOM" also encourages its young viewers to volunteer for a range of causes, including visiting the elderly and cleaning up neighborhood parks.

Peggy Charren, founder of Action for Children's Television and a trustee of WGBH, which produces "ZOOM," says she hopes the emphasis on volunteering will encourage the show's young fans to be good citizens.

"This program helps you understand you can really make a difference. I think that has to start young if you're going to be the kind of volunteer who is going to make the world work right," Charren said.

However, Taylor stresses that "ZOOM" is not just about addressing serious worldly issues. It's still about children just having fun.

"The idea is to give kids a safe haven where they can play and create," she said.

For 11-year-old cast member Aline, her two years on "ZOOM" have been a time to make new friends and learn about the world.

She's traveled to her mother's native Argentina three times and to her father's native Brazil twice. She says she'd also like to travel to Scotland or Ireland.

"I'd love everyone to learn more about everyone else," she says. "Instead of judging really quickly, they should try to get into the heart of the culture."