I love this show for my 2yo twins. Manny is calm, helpful, and fun. I love that his voice is serene; young children don't need any help from TV characters to be hyper. He and his tools get in interesting situations that require problem solving and cooperation, but the writers make the solutions understandable for preschoolers. This show doesn't teach numbers or letters, but it is bi-lingual. Spanish words and English words are used interchangeably and the Spanish words are often explained without over-emphasizing to the point of being annoying. It's just part of their world, which is how it is for a lot of children in the US. The different characters show different personality types without straying into stereotypes. Gender roles for careers are definitely non-traditional: the mayor is a Hispanic woman, the hardware store owner is a white woman, etc. Overall, the best Disney show for preschoolers on TV right now.
Review of Handy Manny
