DEAR AUNT POLLY and the COUSINS CLUB© is a 22-minute animated series about a savvy yet nurturing older woman, storyteller and playmate, who brings to life lessons from yesteryear that relate to issues children face today. Using mysterious letters, a magical shawl, and historical vignettes, she takes kids on exciting adventures to reveal a wider view of the world, one that spurs understanding and helps them imagine solutions to their own dilemmas.

Cast of Characters

AUNT POLLY »

UNCLE PETE became a well-known chef in New York after graduating from culinary school. Originally from Louisiana, he exudes warmth and humor and his speech is frequently marked by colloquialisms.

Aunt Polly sometimes scolds him for going along with the children’s mischievous schemes. Since retirement, Uncle Pete has taken up card tricks for fun and yoga for a balanced life. He can often be found in unusual postures in the yard or house. Of course, the Cousins try to emulate his poses and generally succeed where he has failed. He is not very handy but is creative about getting help from neighbors or advice at the local general store.

Uncle Pete drives a slow-moving Model T pickup, which he uses to transport his extra produce to the farmers market and to pick up food for his animals. He is particularly fond of Gates, the old draft horse that came with their farmhouse property. He has glasses that slide to the tip of his nose when looking askance at a child who has foiled his card trick. He dresses in khakis and plaid flannel shirts with wide suspenders, and he usually wears a crusher hat to hide his frequent ‘power naps.’

THE COUSINS

Dante and Mia, children of Aunt Polly’s nephew, love spending time with Aunt Polly and Uncle Pete along with their friends. Dante is high tech so Aunt Polly turns to him when she needs help with her various devices. He loves to pick on his younger sister Mia though she is the one best able to bring his myriad plans to fruition. Dante enjoys playing games with Uncle Pete and works to outwit him at card tricks. Aunt Polly is quite fond of Mia, who reminds her of herself as a young girl. Mia is curious, a bit sassy and has a great love for animals. She has a puppy named Cider who often trots alongside her to Aunt Polly’s house and chases the chickens, to the despair of Uncle Pete.

Miguel and his mother recently moved next door to Aunt Polly and Uncle Pete. His parents divorced so he and his mother emigrated from Mexico after she found a job teaching Spanish at the town high school. Miguel dresses with Latino flair and always wears a flat cap given to him by his father. He is shy and has trouble communicating since English is his second language. Miguel is small for his age but very athletic and is often seen juggling or kicking a soccer ball. He is learning to play the guitar while his petite yet strong-minded mother plays the bass.

Keisha is a young African American girl who is bright and mature for her age. Her parents own the general store and she often assists there after school. This gives her the chance to overhear local gossip, which she shares with Aunt Polly and the Cousins. Keisha is quick-witted and loves to speak in rhymes. She and Mia make up raps and work at their hip-hop moves. Keisha is not into sports like most of the Cousins as she much prefers dancing and her grown-up role at the store.

Louis is a hard-working boy who helps on his family’s dairy farm on the outskirts of town. He is up at dawn to do chores and has to be home by late afternoon for milking. Louis is very loyal to his friends, especially his best friend Dante. Louis thinks he’s dumb but he loves hearing Dante’s stories about the travelers who stay at the B&B run by Dante’s parents. These stories make Louis yearn for the day when he is free to travel, and he often asks Aunt Polly to show him her maps and post card collection. She sees his eagerness to learn and tells him someday he will surely see his favorite destinations.

Lincoln and Madison are twins named for US Presidents by their former Marine father. Their mother was Vietnamese and met their father in her home country many years after the Viet Nam war. Sadly she died young and he has remarried a locally-born hairdresser with whom he has a toddler daughter. Lincoln has a soft nature and follows Mia around like a lost puppy dog. He loves the arts and old Hollywood glamour, and his passion is tap-dancing. Lincoln also enjoys cooking with Uncle Pete and helps him serve up their special concoctions. Madison is outgoing and an over-achiever whose main interest is in sports. She is competitive with everybody, especially Miguel, whom she envies for his awesome soccer moves. But it rankles Madison that she is not the leader of the Cousins, a role held mostly by Dante. Her need to always win sometimes makes Madison forget to have fun.

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS

Joe, the Mailman, is Aunt Polly’s cohort. Along with her regular mail and novel rejections, he brings her special letters that reveal problems the children are experiencing. He always waits for Aunt Polly to read these letters, hoping to find out what they disclose. Joe is tall and lanky with wild curly hair. He is animated and at times incoherent as he tries to communicate using his long arms. Aunt Polly and Joe have a special bond as she knows he has a heart of gold; and Joe secretly enjoys delivering treats and bouquets from Aunt Polly to others on his mail route.

Harrington Hill IV and his younger sister Vivian aspire to be included but their snobbishness keeps them separate. Harrington understands the power of the Hill name as founders of the town and owners of the large and successful Hilltop Orchards. Vivian is very pretty and she knows a smile can get her whatever she wants from her parents. She looks down on the Cousins with an air of superiority although she and her brother desperately want to be part of the Cousins Club.

In DEAR AUNT POLLY & the COUSINS CLUB ©, Aunt Polly and Uncle Pete represent the experience and insight of an older generation, an essential thread in all societies. The children add dimensions of diversity with their unique backgrounds and personalities, and the series highlights their issues and interactions. The kids thrive under the attention and warm support of Aunt Polly and Uncle Pete, who pass along lifelong skills and time-honored social mores in a fun-loving, adventure-filled way.

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