Louise Gikow

While this definitely has the no-nonsense attitude I associate with Miss Piggy, it's a little meaner and more... violent... than I associate with the lovable pig. Miss Piggy's trademark isn't hating other people or trying to take advantage of everyone in sight; it's loving herself (sometimes more than we initially think is justified), and knowing that she's the greatest pig walking. This book has a really negative tone, and Piggy is a very positive pig. It doesn't work.

At forty years, Sesame Street is the longest running children's television show. It's now seen in 120 countries. I was already in school when it first aired, but remember sitting with my little sister and watching it with her when I got home. And then twenty years later, watching it with my children. The theme song is still easily recalled: " Sunny days, sweepin' the clouds away...."

The show is iconic and the book is amazing. It's a wonderfully heavy coffee table book. Glossy stock and over show more 1500 colour photographs. But it's the stories within that make it such a keeper. Founder Joan Ganz Cooney realized that television could be educational as well as entertaining and broke new ground in broadcasting that has both matched the test of time and stayed two steps ahead, always finding new ways to teach and reach children.

I loved the behind the scenes stuff - how and who is behind and in and under those Muppets? The set itself and the changes it's undergone. Scripts are reproduced, songs, anecdotes, art and oh, so much more. The 'real' folks that appeared are featured as well, as are the celebrities who did guest appearances.

I had such fun, enjoying every page - and it's not a book to be rushed through - there is so much to take in and relish.

And if that wasn't enough, there's a bonus DVD included, featuring clips and moments from the show. I remembered so many of them!! I was singing along to "Who are the people in your neighbourhood?", "One of these things is not like the others..." and a few more! show less

A wonderful "coffee table" book released in Fall 2009 to coincide with Sesame Street's 40th birthday. But given the copious amount of fascinating content, it does not simply sit & collect dust!

I was the first generation of SS viewers & remember so many episodes to this day. One great example is the coverage of Mr. Hooper's death when the actor who portrayed him actually died. Reading about it after all these years brought tears to my eyes. This book is a great compilation of "old school" show more vintage Sesame Street. Great background information on cast, puppeteers (Muppeteers?!!), etc. The artifacts presented such as scripts, plans, drawings, etc. enhance the content. Even my sister, who does not typically enjoy pleasure-reading (gasp!), adores this book & displays it proudly in her living room. show less

This is one of my all time favorite books as it paints a picture of the world outside of a children's immediate understanding. It represents rights of children everywhere with illustrations that clearly show happiness and a healthy environment. It immediately following shows how some children in the world are missing out on rights that the children reading often consider obvious. The illustrations are powerful and create a well rounded understanding of the differences in what some children show more are missing and others take for granted. show less