Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Caillou

Caillou is a Canadian animated children's television series based on books by Christine L'Heureux and Hélène Desputeaux.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Caillou is a Canadian animated children's television series that originally aired from 1997 to 2010. Based on the books by Christine L'Heureux and Hélène Desputeaux, it follows a curious four-year-old boy exploring everyday life.

What it is

Caillou is a preschool-focused series that aired on Teletoon in Canada and PBS Kids in the United States. The show is designed around ordinary experiences, family life, and interactions with friends, helping young children understand the world around them.

Origins and design

The series originated from a French-language children's book series created by Christine L'Heureux and Hélène Desputeaux. The character Caillou is bald, a distinctive design choice that made him visually recognizable. The name 'Caillou' means 'pebble' or 'stone' in French.

Voice cast and broadcast

The title character was voiced by Bryn McAuley (1997–2000), Jaclyn Linetsky (2000–2003), and Annie Bovaird (2003–2010). The series ran from 1997 to 2010, with strong Canadian roots in Quebec's publishing and television production scene.

In short

  • Caillou is a four-year-old boy.
  • Series based on French-Canadian children's books.
  • Aired in Canada on Teletoon, in US on PBS Kids.
  • Name means 'pebble' in French.
Canadian angle

Caillou is a Canadian-made children's series, first broadcast in Canada and closely associated with Quebec's children's publishing and television production scene.[1][8]

Quick questions

What is Caillou?
Caillou is a Canadian animated children's television series about a curious preschool boy of the same name.
Why is Caillou bald?
The character's baldness is a defining design choice that kept him visually recognizable as the character aged from the books into the television series.
How old is Caillou?
Caillou is four years old in the series.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caillou
    Supports: Series origin, premise, premiere date, and original voice actors.
  2. Kiddle — https://kids.kiddle.co/Caillou
    Supports: Canadian children's TV show basis and voice cast.
  3. Caillou Wiki (Fandom) — https://caillou.fandom.com/wiki/Caillou_(character)
    Supports: Caillou's age, bald design, and fictional-book-character background.
  4. TV Tropes — https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/Caillou
    Supports: Voice actors for Caillou.
  5. French Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caillou_(s%C3%A9rie_t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vis%C3%A9e_d%27animation)
    Supports: Canadian origin, preschool audience, and four-year-old premise.