Boston -- PBS will offer a new series designed for at-risk children titled "Martha Speaks," officials with the U.S. TV network say.

Lesli Rotenberg, PBS senior vice president for children's media, said the series is part of the network's growing effort to both help children from poor or immigrant families, as well as further educate children in the upper-income bracket, The Boston Globe reported Sunday.

"They want to make sure their kids are keeping up with the other kids," Rotenberg said. "Literacy is a really important building block."

The "Martha" series is based on a series of children's books by Boston author Susan Meddaugh, who created the works based on an idea from her son.

The stories about a dog that learns how to speak will be unveiled by PBS
Sept. 1, the Globe reported.

The network has already dedicated itself to 40 half-hour episodes, as well as
a second season. The Globe said "Martha" now joins the growing armada of reading-based PBS series such as "Super Why," "Word World" and the iconic "Sesame Street."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.