Parents' Guide to

Sam Archer: Third Grade Detective

Podcast Mystery GoKidGo Average run time: 15 minutes
Sam archer third grade detective artwork. Illustration of young detective with brown skin, green blazer and brimmed hat.

Common Sense Media Review

Robert Yaniz Jr. By Robert Yaniz Jr. , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Detective story with minor hijinks and strong female lead.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

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age 5+

Based on 1 parent review

Madelynn K.
Madelynn K. Parent of 5-year-old
April 27, 2024
age 5+

I love Sam Archer. She’s smart, funny, and has a great personality. She’s not talking about make-up or hair, or how adorable kittens are. She’s a quality protagonist for my daughter. I also love that this podcast is about entertaining kids, and doesn’t try to be educational. The only con is the ads for the ads at the beginning and end of the show. I wish there was more than one season! My daughter loved it.
See all 1 parent review

What's It About?

SAM ARCHER: THIRD GRADE DETECTIVE follows its title hero -- and her sidekick, JT -- as they attempt to unravel a mystery. In the first episode, JT's stuffed wolf toy goes missing, kicking off their partnership and the rest of the 10-episode series. Sam herself narrates the story as it unfolds, with the show frequently making her comments audible to the other characters. In many ways, the show aims to bring hard-boiled mysteries to young podcast fans.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Sam Archer: Third Grade Detective introduces kids to the world of detective stories through an age-appropriate lens that trades deadly stakes for a self-aware sense of humor. The show sprinkles in many of the genre's trademarks, including voice-over, over-the-top metaphors, and puns. Sam herself explains that she's a gumshoe, but also has gum on her shoe. And the school the characters attend is Raymond Chandler Elementary, named after the novelist who helped popularize the genre.

Produced by the female-founded audio production company GoKidGo, Sam Archer: Third Grade Detective goes to great lengths to establish its title hero as a powerful force to be reckoned with. Sam's a young girl with a real talent for solving mysteries and a penchant for getting in trouble. She insists on wearing her raincoat and hat everywhere. The comedic tone, surprising plot twists, and relatable main character are sure to get listeners hooked on the show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Sam and JT bend the rules in order to get closer to solving the case in Sam Archer: Third Grade Detective. Is the behavior acceptable since they seem to have a virtuous reason for not following the rules? How do we know if we're just trying to justify negative behavior or going against our values?

  • The adults in the podcast are often sarcastic or disinterested in the shenanigans the kids are invested in. What is the show saying about how grown-ups view children? Do you ever feel dismissed like this by adults you know? What could the adults do better to support the kids?

  • Sam Archer is curious and compassionate. How do these character strengths support her great detective work?

Podcast Details

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Sam archer third grade detective artwork. Illustration of young detective with brown skin, green blazer and brimmed hat.
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