Carl the raccoon is a cute little critter. He’s kind to his friends, thoughtful and detail oriented. He also happens to be autistic. He and his friends are part of the new animated show Carl the Collector, the first PBS Kids series to feature main characters on the autism spectrum.

Debuting Thursday, Nov. 14, the show is the brainchild of New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Zachariah OHora (My Cousin Momo). It follows Carl’s adventures in Fuzzytown with his pals: Sheldon the beaver, who’s sensitive and empathetic; Lotta the fox, who’s also autistic; and Forrest the squirrel, who’s hyperactive and has a tree nut allergy. OHora says his children’s experience at school helped him round out the characters and their world.