# Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is an animated children's television series produced by 9 Story Media Group, based on Ordinary People Change the World, a children's book series written by Brad Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos. It premiered on November 11, 2019, on PBS Kids. The series follows young Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina, their friend Brad, and their robotic companion Berby, who visit the Secret Museum to meet historical figures portrayed as children. Each episode introduces a historical hero, such as Rosa Parks or Leonardo da Vinci, who inspires the characters to overcome their own challenges. The show aims to teach young viewers important values such as courage, kindness, and perseverance through engaging storytelling and real-world role models.

## Premise

The series involves a Puerto Rican boy named Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina Riddle (alongside her stuffed turtle Dr. Zoom) and their best friend Brad. In each episode, a problem or difficulty is encountered. They go to the Secret Museum to time travel to the past to observe, interact, and learn from the historical heroes. They then return to the present and use their experience to solve the problem.

## Characters
### Main

* Xavier Riddle (voiced by Aidan Vissers in season 1, and Ian Ho in season 2) is the titular character and the leader of his group with his little sister Yadina and their friend Brad. He appears to be an excitable kid who is eager to go back in time and meet various historical figures.
* Yadina Riddle (voiced by Zoe Hatz) is Xavier's little sister, eager to explore the secret museum and learn about various historical figures.
* Brad Meltzer (voiced by Wyatt White, then Logan Nicholson) is Xavier and Yadina's best friend.

### Supporting

* Berby is a small, egg-shaped flying robot who resides at the Secret Museum and functions as part of the time machine by transporting Xavier, Yadina, Dr. Zoom, and Brad back and forth in time.

## Production

Brad Meltzer wrote the book Ordinary People Change the World and began a series based on the book named the Ordinary People series in 2014 with I Am Abraham Lincoln, I Am Amelia Earhart, I Am Rosa Parks, and I Am Albert Einstein.
The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group's animation division, Brown Bag Films. 9 Story's Chief Creative Officer Angela Santomero states that Xavier Riddle lets kids know they have "the curiosity and adventurous spirit to change the world". Meltzer added to that statement: "When my own kids watch this series, I get to see them realize that there’s extraordinary within the ordinary."

## Episodes

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 37 | 37 | November 11, 2019 (2019-11-11) | January 31, 2022 (2022-1-31) |
| 2 | TBA | TBA | January 15, 2024 (2024-1-15) | TBA |

## Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President

A TV special titled Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President aired on March 16, 2020. In the special, Yadina, who dreams of becoming president one day, realizes all the presidents were men. She questions if she can still be president, even though it is something no girl has done yet. The trio visit the Secret Museum, where a five-part star is shown to them. They travel to different periods in time, where they meet women who are attempting to do something that has never been done before. Yadina learns from them on what is needed to do something that has never been done before, as she attempts to complete the star. She meets Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Amelia Earhart, Junko Tabei, Sally Ride and herself as an adult. Amelia Earhart is the only historical figure to be featured in both the movie and an episode.

## Broadcast

The series premiered on PBS Kids in United States on November 12, 2019. It premiered on TVOKids in Canada on December 10, 2019. It airs on Super3, a Catalan-language children's channel in Spain. Season 2 was released on January 15, 2024.

## Reception
### Critical response

Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media gave Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum a mixed review. She stated that "the show makes many historical inaccuracies, which makes it odd for a TV show that wants to make history come back alive for kids." She also stated that "the show's tendency to play too fast and loose with the historical facts is confusing, and that 'Go for it!' is an unlikely motto for Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 and didn't complete her solo Atlantic flight as a grade school student, as Xavier depicts." George Washington Carver did have a secret garden as a child, in which he learned important lessons that impacted his career in botany. But, as Slaton states, "it's a real stretch to imagine him having to defend plants from renegade soccer players in 19th century Missouri", and that "the show seems to overlook his importance as an activist for ex-slaves and champion of sustainable agriculture, instead boiling his messages down to 'take care of plants and you'll take care of the earth.'"

### Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2020 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2020 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program | Cory Bobiak, Steven Boeckler and Susan Hart | Nominated |
| 2020 | TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2021 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2021 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Program | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Madam President | Nominated |
| 2021 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated Program | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2021 | TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2022 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |
| 2022 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Preschool Animated Series | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | Nominated |