Caroll Spinney (1933–2019)

A little book of pure joy. Caroll Spinney's account of being the man behind the bird for over thirty years brought a smile to my face. He clearly takes great child-like pleasure from his work, and that comes across in the way he tells his story in this book. He tells his tales, from visiting the White House to being hit by disgruntled children, with a refreshing honesty and absolute lack of pretension. Well worth reading.

I picked this up purely to indulge in the nostalgia of hanging out with a classic Sesame Street character. He's no Cookie Monster, but I can frequently relate to Oscar's grouchiness, especially as I get older.

I wanted something different and this looked cute. I've never been a raving fan of the show, nor or celebrity memoirs, but this scratched my itch. I can definitely say that fans will enjoy it. The art, by Spinney himself, is whimsical, the factoids and anecdotes interesting, and the whole thing short enough for a single day's read (or one sitting if you immerse yourself).

Ever wondered how to be a grouch, like Oscar from Sesame Street? Well, with the help of How to be a Grouch by Caroll Spinney, you can learn from the best--Oscar himself!

How to be a Grouch is a guide to everything the prospective grouch needs to know: what to eat; where to go on vacation; how to start your day so you can be grouchy right from the get-go; and plenty of other useful information, like grouchy modes of transportation and how to recognize different kinds of grouches.

The show more illustrations in How to be a Grouch are hilarious and excellent, and the book is full of funny grouchy things, like the Grouch Trashplane or the suggested foods, like hot beef stew with chocolate gravy in a melon--quite a (disgusting) mouthful!

How to be a Grouch is a wonderful book not just for fans of Sesame Street, but for anyone who'd like a funny and beautifully illustrated children's picture book.

This review also appears on Barba Non DB. show less