(CNN) — Sesame Street is again tackling tough issues — expanding its “Little Children, Big Challenges” series by introducing a new character.
Alex is a Sesame Street character whose father is in jail.
Alex is part of Sesame Workshop’s online tool kit aimed to help kids understand and cope with parental incarceration.
It is also a tool to help caregivers talk about the subject with children.
Some find the character a bit odd — but one in 28 American children has a parent in prison.
Sesame Street has used its characters to tackle other tough issues — like divorce, hunger and military deployment.
