Kids can learn valuable lessons at this ‘Circus’

“JoJo, what did you learn today?�

That’s the question a little clown girl answers at the end of each episode of “JoJo’s Circus,� a stellar new play-and-learn, highly interactive series for young children set in an irresistible stop-motion animated circus world.

It begins Sunday on the Disney Channel with a special evening premiere at 7:30 p.m.

What 6-year-old JoJo learns in the series’ first episodes ranges from the importance of following directions (when the teacher says don’t honk the orange clown nose on the pie-throwing machine, there’s a good reason) to being considerate of others’ feelings (baby elephant Dinky is too small to play big-kids’ games) and realizing that new challenges don’t have to be scary (it takes a lot of practice to do flips like the Flying Froginis).

Other colorful characters in JoJo’s circus world include her pet lion, Goliath; the clown schoolteacher, Mrs. Kersplatski; and the Reclining Spudinskis -- a family of sleepy potatoes.

Throughout each song-filled show, JoJo invites viewers to play along to a catchy beat -- to crawl like a cat, walk like an elephant, do a wake-up stretch and play “Fire Chief Says.� Viewers are encouraged to think about what’s happening too, as JoJo asks conversational, one-on-one-style questions that are followed by pauses, a la Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues,� for responses.

And, like “Blue’s Clues,� and Disney’s other gem, “Bear in the Big Blue House,� “JoJo’s Circus,� created by Jim Jinkins and David Campbell, Lisa Jinkins and Eric Weiner (with a real teacher of clowning serving as consultant on the animated clown movement), is a seamless mix of reassuring gentleness, top-flight creativity and meticulous adherence to the principles of child development.

“JoJo’s Circus,� rated TV-Y, begins its regular daytime schedule Monday, running at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. weekdays; and at 8:30 a.m. on weekends.