One of my favorite TV show creators, Josh Selig, was once asked why he created such gentle preschool shows in an era of flashy CGI spectacles.

His answer? “Simple is good.”

Selig recognized that children see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Adults don’t notice the flower growing in the sidewalk crack, but a four-year-old will bend down and tenderly scoop it up.

Selig’s show Oobi took this concept and ran with it. With just their bare hands, the puppeteers brought Oobi, his sister Uma, his friend Kako, and his grandfather Grampu to life. They had fun, slice-of-life adventures exploring the ups and downs of a preschooler’s day. Here’s a link to the theme song if you need a visual.

There’s so much to learn from Oobi’s simplicity. In this three-part series, we’ll learn how to write simple preschool stories using the same techniques as Oobi. Let’s kick off this post with one of my favorite elements of storytelling: dialogue!

Simple Dialogue in Oobi

The characters in Oobi speak in short sentences, like toddlers. For example: “Oobi, you, friend!” “Kako…no like.” “Carrots good!”

You can gather the context of each phrase, even though they’re choppy. Some may criticize this technique for being “babyish”, but I think it’s brilliant. I understood Oobi when I was a preschooler because he spoke my language.

Here are some dialogue techniques that I found in the episode “Asparagus!” You can watch it on Paramount+.

Playing with Sounds

The writers of Oobi knew that children don’t always communicate with words. Children who are learning to speak may groan when frustrated or babble when happy. In “Asparagus!”, Grampu cooks dinner for Oobi and Uma. Watch what happens when Grampu introduces their supper:

GRAMPU

We have chicken…

KIDS

Mmmmmm!

GRAMPU

Potatoes…

KIDS

Mmmmmm!

GRAMPU

Annnd asparagus!

OOBI

Mmmmmm!

UMA

Huh?

We can tell that Oobi and Uma are hungry and excited – until the asparagus comes along.

Sounds bring texture to your writing. They’re fun to repeat and often become the most memorable part of your story. Think of the sounds or onomatopoeia a child uses when they’re happy, grumpy, or sad. Listen closely to children’s voices to hear each squeak and giggle. Then, write out what you hear.

Exploring Emotions

The dialogue in Oobi sounds like real toddlers, but it’s not the words alone that feel real – it’s the emotions behind them. Oobi respects children’s emotions and uses them to propel the plot. In this episode, Uma does not want to try asparagus. Why? “Asparagus…new.”

I love how this sums up a child’s response to new activities. They don’t know why they don’t like something; they just know it’s new, and new can be scary.

As writers, we’re taught to show and not tell. Preschoolers don’t work this way – they will show you their emotions, and they will tell you just how they’re feeling! With permission, watch kids at church, home, or preschool. Observe how they handle conflict. When Allie runs into Jack’s block tower, how does Jack react? Notice both his actions and his words. Is his voice growly or weepy? Are his words loud or quiet? Long or short? Use your observations to fuel your character’s feelings.

Love for the Reader/Viewer

Unlike Dora the Explorer or Blue’s Clues, viewers don’t solve problems to help Oobi, they just play with him. After all, “Oobi, you, friends!” Characters who form friendships with a reader or viewer are powerful. When a character befriends a child, that child receives a small piece of God’s love. This is why Mr. Rogers told us we were special, why Barney told us we were loved. Sharing God’s love through my characters is why I write.

How does Oobi show his love for the audience? In this episode, Oobi asks us to ring the dinner bell with him (“ring ring”). He and Uma encourage us to say “Yummmm!” and do a silly dance when she finally tries asparagus. Later, Oobi and Uma play a fruit guessing game with us. Oobi closes the episode with his familiar line, “Oobi, you, friends!”

There are many ways to share God’s love through interactive characters. The trick is to think of the child who will read or watch your story and write to them specifically. Think of ways to empower the child, making them “smarter” than the character. For example, your character could play a guessing game where the answer is revealed on the next page. Your character could need help singing a nursery rhyme because they forgot the words. Let the child know that your character loves them – and God does, too!

That brings us to the end of part one! Do you remember Oobi? Got any tips for writing simple dialogue? Share your thoughts in the comments! Happy writing!

Emma, you, friends! 😊