Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks

- Season 1

(2003)

Piggley, Ferny, Dannan and Molly just can't resist eating one of Mrs. Winks's fresh-baked pies...even though she told them it was off limits. The friends decide to pool their creativity to bake a new pie before Mrs. Winks finds out. After much hard work - and a run-in with a feisty goat who refuses to share the apples in his orchard - the kids realize that a simple apology might have been easier and wiser in the long-run.

Piggley has a big test coming up in school and hates the thought of giving up an entire weekend to study. He decides instead to catch the legendary 'Salmon of Knowledge,' an all-knowing fish that can help him ace the exam. While Piggley puts his faith in a questionably magical fish, Ferny and Dannan study. Ferny and Dannan are the ones who ace the test - and Piggley learns an important lesson.

Piggley's father tells him an old Irish tale about fairies disguising themselves as bugs and playing tricks on anyone who harms them. Soon Piggley and Dannan are convinced that fairies have turned Ferny into a flying beetle after he inadvertently smacks a bug on his arm. While Piggley investigates and experiments with ways to keep Ferny safe, Dannan hits the books to try and find a cure - and Ferny learns how much his friends care about him.

Piggley's favourite radio program, 'Piggley Trotter, Private Eye,' inspires Piggley, Ferny and Dannan to spend many imaginative and adventurous afternoons playing detective. One particular afternoon, they work together to solve an unusual mystery - the case of 'what a teacher does on his day off.'

Mr. Winks is going fishing and Piggley and his friends really want to go along. Dad doesn't think they're ready for the trip, so the three friends set out to prove that they're not only ready, they're also willing and able! They work hard to earn the privilege by doing chores around the farm, then they pull out all the stops and use their imagination to show Dad what excellent fishermen they will be. At last, off they all go for some early-morning fishing.

Piggley accidentally embarrasses his good friend Ferny by taking a photo of him with his pants ripped and his undies showing! After promising not to show it to anyone, the photo gets away from Piggley and is seen by everyone at school. He tries to apologize but finds that, for the first time, his best friend Ferny isn't willing to accept his apology. Piggley must use his ingenuity and creativity to regain Ferny's trust and friendship - and Ferny must find a way to forgive.

Young Piggley's insecurity rises when he discovers that his teacher, Mr. Hornsby, is coming to his house for supper. Piggley is certain he's going to 'grade' the Winks family and that they'll come up woefully inadequate! So Piggley and pals hatch a plan to make sure the Winks family gets passing marks. Much to Piggley's surprise, he discovers that Mr. Hornsby is just a regular person - and not so intimidating after all.

A series of odd circumstances convinces Piggley that Molly's new doll is actually a real leprechaun in disguise! Piggley and his friends set out to prove his theory and try to catch the leprechaun at his own game. They soon learn, however, that it's a good idea to get ALL the facts before jumping to conclusions.

When Piggley, Ferny and Dannan hear strange noises in the barn, Piggley decides it's the 'song of the banshee'-which frightens Dannan more than she wants to admit! When she finally confesses her fear to her friends, they search for the source of the noise...and discover it's only Wiley the sheep trying to lead his uncooperative flock in song.

Piggley, Ferny and Dannan rescue an errant egg - which they decide must be a dragon's egg. They hatch all kinds of plans to keep the egg safe, but when the creature inside emerges, it turns out to be a not-so-sweet wild swan chick. That's when the real work begins.

Sweet Shop owner Miss Nanny offers a reward for the return of her lost cat and Piggley and friends leap at the opportunity. Of course, catching a cat with a mind of her own is not such an easy task, but seeing Miss Nanny's happy face is a great reward.

Piggley and his friends (inspired by a spooky radio program) are convinced that the young boy whose family just moved into the small house up the lane from the Winks' farm is actually a mad scientist! But through open-minded, adventurous thought and action, they are finally able to put aside their fears and risk making friends with the young boy.

Young Piggley discovers the joy of the new sounds of rock 'n roll, and finds that he is suddenly eager to go to school-on Saturdays!-for his guitar lessons. When Piggley falters during his first public performance, Ferny and Dannan offer loving support and shared enthusiasm to help him regain his confidence.

When Mr. Hornsby asks the class to think about the meaning of the old expression 'you can't make a racehorse out of a donkey', Piggley takes it as a challenge! He sets out to change his donkey Finnegan into a racehorse. In the end, he learns that all living creatures have their own special talents - even donkeys.

Piggley and his pals try to track down and trap a Fir Darrig, a particularly mischievous leprechaun. In the process, the kids accidentally break a window and decide to blame it on the Fir Darrig. Soon it begins to appear that the Fir Darrig is taking his revenge on them for giving him the blame - or is it just their guilty consciences?

Mr Hornsby's tale of ancient Irish battles inspires the kids to act out their own crusade. The game that ensues brings to light the differences in the trio's heritage. Unfortunately, this puts Ferny on the opposing side because of his Spanish roots. Ferny finds it upsetting to be the enemy and begins to doubt whether Ireland is his true home. In the end, while Ferny learns that you can make anywhere in the world your home, Piggley and Dannan discover that introductions to new cultures can be an enriching experience.

When Piggley is put in charge of the sheep, his overly enthusiastic approach makes the sheep disgruntled-and causes Wiley to run away. Piggley must then use his ingenuity and understanding to bring his sheep home. Through the process, he learns much about how to do a job well and gains new respect from his father.

When Piggley overhears his dad is worried about the farm's poor milk sales, he launches a creative campaign to improve business. Dad is impressed and touched by Piggley's generosity of spirit. Piggley learns what a wonderful experience it is to help others when there is nothing in it for yourself.

When Piggley and Ferny join a 'boys only' storytelling club, Dannan is upset that she is excluded because she is 'different', but her friends soon realise that life is much more fun when she's around.

Piggley and his best friends Ferny and Dannan are challenged to open their minds and hearts to new friends when Mr. Hornsby requires them to do a team project with classmates they don't know very well. They end up seeing things in a different light when they take time to look under the surface.

Mr. Winks plants a treasure map for Piggley and his friends, but this is a map with a difference! The trio set about the tasks on the treasure trail and are having so much fun they don't realize they're doing their chores at the same time. But the real 'treasure' is learning that when work is done with the right attitude, it can even be fun!

Hector plays a joke on Piggley, Dannan and Ferny, but they don't think it's so funny. With a little gentle encouragement from Don Toro, Piggley and his pals look at their problem with Hector from a new perspective. They use their ingenuity to show him that 'jokes' aren't always so funny when the joke is on you!

The kids set out to write newspaper stories and Piggley and Ferny end up making up exciting adventure stories instead. But Dannan knows that news stories are about the truth and that the truth can be powerful - it can actually change the way you think about something or someone.

Piggley and Dannan think they know best how to help a love-struck Ferny get the attention of his schoolmate, Millie. While he appreciates that his friends are trying to help, in the end Ferny learns that he's really much better off trusting his own feelings and instincts.

Piggley tries to make the most of a bad situation by training his left arm to throw when his right arm is broken and put in a cast, but it's the help of his friends that enables him to overcome his temporary handicap and win the Ball Toss Contest at the annual School Fair.

Using creativity and cleverness, Piggley, Dannan and Ferny work together towards the common goal of finding and testing three lucky horseshoe legends in order to find the 'true' story behind the horseshoe Mr. Hornsby has hung on the schoolhouse door.