I know, I know. When you blog, 1 of the top Golden SEO Rules of Social Media is DO NOT EVER leave your post.

I left my post..

as it wondered “Where is she?” in my absence.

Nothing scheduled..

no new interactions to be had..

(insert maternal guilt here)

Yes, we’re all busy..but..but

I know. Excuses are like smiles..everyone’s got one.

So I’ll spare you the excuses and leave you with a few photos to fill you in on what we’ve been up to over the past month. Ughh! Has it truly been that long?!

Who knows..perhaps we’ll have a lengthier post about one or two of them down the road?

I really am a good friend..no, really.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood cast party in Toronto with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’s Addison Holley (Miss Elania), Jake Beale (Daniel Tiger), Amariah Faulkner (Katerina Kittycat) and Stuart Ralston (O the Owl).

Halloween traditions continue with Auntie extraordinaire, Dr Aunt Alice!

The Daily Show‘s Jason Jones and Samantha Bee took time out of their busy schedules to lay down some vocals for us. The best 🙂 🙂 voice over team in the business! Our incredible Executive Producer, Wendy Harris, is always there to assist.

Amazon Studio’s Creative Galaxy is becoming more creative every day..

 ..and it’s oh so scrumptious!!

Mister Rogers’ wife, Joanne, finally got to meet my hubbie & one of my daughters at The New School’s CREATIVITY & THERAPY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a tribute to Mister Rogers. I was honored to be on their panel that evening.

Forty four years before Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood saw the light of day, James Karageorge took this Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood photo in 1968.

That same year, Fred Rogers also premiered his show on it’s very first U.S. network.

Seen in the photo are: Fred Rogers, Greg King (Lighting) Michael Keaton (Stagehand), Nick Tallo (grip), Jimmy Seech (floor manager), Kate Kearney (Executive Producer) & Sandy.

Who knew Batman (aka Michale Keaton) was a stagehand on Fred Rogers?

Fact checkers: How did I do here?!

Creative Galaxy (the animated & interactive, art adventure series, designed to inspire kids’ creative thinking through crafts, story, music & dance) has received the green light from Amazon Studios for series production!

The Creative Galaxy series will be offered on Amazon Studios’ subscription video service at the end of this year.

It’s really rewarding to hear that customers loved Creative Galaxy. It’s been a passion project for me to bring the best arts & creativity to kids with Amazon and I’m so excited that kids are going to be able to enjoy a full season of the show early next year!

We need more innovative kids programming that puts a strong emphasis on creativity & education. I’m proud & honored to be collaborating with Amazon to make these shows for kids.

Thank you, thank you EVERYONE that viewed & commented over at Amazon Studios on Creative Galaxy & Sara Solves It! And regarding Sara, rest assured, she hasn’t been shelved. So stay tuned!!

xo

Angela

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on”  – Albert Einstein

Photo Credit: Denise Grant

Prince Wednesday is our favorite little prince, who despite, his royal upbringing, is quite the silly & impulsive preschooler.

Meet Nicholas Kaegi, the talented voice actor who helps bring Prince Wednesday to life! (…and did you know he played Whyatt in Super Why!?)

A rrrroyal hello to you! How old are you and where are you from?

I just turned 14 years old and I’m from Toronto.

In what ways are you similar to Prince Wednesday?

We are both very adventurous and share a good sense of humour!

If you had to pick one favorite episode, which would it be?

I would have to say that my favorite of them all is the episode where Teacher Harriet and the class choose their class pet.

If Prince Wednesday could do anything or go anywhere in the next episode, what would you want it to be?

In the next episode, I would like to see the characters go to an amusement park and see all the different exciting things they do there!

What’s your favorite book?

My favourite book is “Call the Shots” written by Don Calame. It’s a story about three boys with the goal of making the next big low-budget horror film!

When you’re not in the studio recording, what’s your favorite activity?

Outside of the studio my favorite activitie(s) would have to be all forms of athletics, especially soccer. Sports are a great way to make new friends & have fun!

What was the funniest moment for you while working on the show?

The funniest moment for me while working on the show would have to be the time when a foreign radio station kept playing in my headphones while we were trying to record! Luckily, we found a way to get rid of it.

Toronto native Nicholas Kaegi has appeared in such productions as Saw III, Camille, The Rick Mercer Report, Rookie Blue and Murdoch Mysteries. Nicholas attends a French language school and is bilingual. An avid sports fan, he enjoys skiing, soccer, volleyball & sailing, to name but a few. Nicholas can be seen around Toronto singing & playing lead guitar with his band “Volume”.

O the Owl is a precocious preschooler with an endless supply of information. He is always on the lookout for something “nifty galifty” to learn! This week, we’re bringing you a behind-the-scenes look at the talented voice actor who brings this character to life. Meet Stuart Ralston! 

Hoo Hoo, hello, Stuart! How old are you and where are you from?

Hi there! I am 10 years old and I live in Toronto, Ontario..That’s in Canada!

How are you similar to O the Owl?

I relate to O the Owl because I happen to love everything about owls. Way back when I heard about the part I was auditioning for, I thought that was such a coincidence! I think they are such beautiful creatures and very interesting to learn about. Also, I love reading books. I read a lot and read quite fast. That’s another similar thing about me and O. I enjoy learning about new things.

If O the Owl could do anything or go anywhere in the next episode, what would you want it to be?

If O the Owl could go anywhere in the next episode I would make him go to the forest. Maybe a hike with all his friends for them to appreciate the nature all around them. And to learn about sticking together so they don’t get lost.

What’s your favorite book?

My favorite book series that I have read would be either “Guardians of Ga’hoole” (all about OWLS!!) or the series “Warriors”. “Warriors” is about cats, just so you know – another animal of many that I really like a lot.

When you’re not in the studio recording, what’s your favorite activity?

When I’m not in the studio recording, I like to down hill ski with my friends and family at our little family ski club north of Toronto. I enjoy ice skating outdoors down by the lakeshore, swimming, taking piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, track and field events like 100m/ the relay and long jump, and the talent show at my junior school.

I like going out to interesting restaurants with my Mom, Dad and brother. I’m crazy about good food!!! I eat everything (but cheese and the yolk of an egg). I also I love to travel…anywhere!  My family has gone to many different interesting places for work and vacations. Oh, and recently I have just begun to write my first novel. I have always wanted to do that.

Stuart Ralston got his start in acting after appearing in an episode of Life with Derek at the tender age of three, playing the son of his real life father.  Since that time he’s become involved in school performances, voiced commercials and most recently animation.

Another little fact about Stuart is that he is currently planning a trip to Mountsberg Raptor Conservation Centre this summer where he’ll learn to care for birds of prey.  It’s not surprising that Stuart is thrilled to be cast as Owl in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.  All this for a 9 year old.  Not bad!

I met with The818’s Morgan Shanahan via Skype the other day to discuss my new creative arts program, Creative Galaxy, math based program, Sara Solves it, (Amazon Studios), the preschool tv biz, Fred Rogers and much more.

With our never ending to-do lists, it’s fun (and necessary) to sit and talk about why we do what we do.

See Morgan Shanahan‘s complete post “Blue’s Clues Creator Angela Santomero Launches Two Shows Via Amazon” at BlogHer & don’t forget to visit Morgan at the the818.com

Apple has picked Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood as it’s Show of the Week!

Download your free Daniel Tiger episode at iTunes this week.

And you thought it was going to be just an average Tuesday, in your neighborhood, didn’t you?!

Part of what makes Daniel Tiger‘s  Neighborhood of Make-Believe so rich and lively are the voices that bring our character to life!

So, who are the voices?

Meet Jake Beale.  He is an 11 year-old adorable boy with lots of spunk and enthusiasm for Daniel!  He gets to sing, he gets to imagine, and he gets to be friends with millions of preschoolers!

This week, we’re giving you a never before sneak peek, behind the voices that make Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood so special.

Can you feel the love?? 

Hi Jake.  You play a preschool tiger named Daniel but how old are you..really?   

I’m 11.

And you have a teensy bit of an accent, where are you from? 

I’m from Toronto, Canada.

How are you like Daniel Tiger? Are your personalities similar?

I like to learn about new things and teach others new things.We’re both funny and we both love to sing.  I love to sing in the shower and annoy my two older sisters.

If you had to pick one favorite episode, which would it be?

Good Morning, Daniel.

I love that one, too and not just because I wrote it! And you sing so beautifully in that episode! 

If Daniel Tiger could do anything or go anywhere in the next episode, what would you want it to be?

Jamaica!  Because I like to swim and I love the beach.

Maybe we should start a campaign so we could go to Jamaica and write and record an episode from there!  I’m packed and ready to go!

What’s your favorite book?

The Hunger Games.  I’ve read them..twice.

When you’re not in the studio recording, what’s your favorite activity?

Hockey.  Hockey.  Hockey.  And tennis.

What was the funniest moment for you while working on the show?

One time I burped in the recording studio.

Jake has been acting since he was four years old. His adorable raspy voice has helped him land roles in a number of cartoons and currently most of his time acting is spent in voice studios. Jake works very hard at balancing his time on set with his school work and other passions. When he’s not in the studio or at school you can find him playing hockey, spending time with friends and family, or relaxing at sleep-away camp. Share some of your favorite Daniel episodes below with Jake!

2013 Parents’ Choice Award goes to Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Congratulations to The Fred Rogers Company, PBS Kids, 9 Story Entertainment, Out of the Blue Enterprises & Voodoo Highway Music & Post. Lots of little happy faces are in agreement with the nation’s oldest nonprofit program created to recognize quality children’s media.

Congrats to all who continue the magic in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe!!