pwbalto's review
5.0
I picked up this big heavy glossy thing just to leaf through it. I have, after all, read Street Gang, the prose history of SS that came out last year, and it was fascinating. I didn't realize I needed more history, more pictures, more anecdotes, more accounts of the research, execution, and outreach involved in putting James Earl Jones expressively reading the alphabet on TV.
But I could not put it down. When Mr. Hooper died, when Jim Henson died, and in the sections detailing the Sesame Street international efforts and materials for military families, I sniffled. When I read about the jokey on-set atmosphere, I chuckled. And I was amazed that for every celebrity that I know about who has appeared on Sesame Street, there's another twenty I'd somehow managed to miss.
Colorful and engaging to the eye, too.
But I could not put it down. When Mr. Hooper died, when Jim Henson died, and in the sections detailing the Sesame Street international efforts and materials for military families, I sniffled. When I read about the jokey on-set atmosphere, I chuckled. And I was amazed that for every celebrity that I know about who has appeared on Sesame Street, there's another twenty I'd somehow managed to miss.
Colorful and engaging to the eye, too.
samstillreading's review
5.0
What a lovely book. Not for children, but a lavish tale with gorgeous pictures of the history of Sesame Street and where it is today. I didn't realise half the things they did!
A great trip down memory lane- Teeny Little Super Guy, Muppets and all my favourite characters.
A great trip down memory lane- Teeny Little Super Guy, Muppets and all my favourite characters.
uberbutter's review
5.0
Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street by Louise A. Gikow
303 pages
★★★★★ + ♥
In 1969, a couple people had the idea to make an education television show in a time when there weren’t many education shows or many televisions stations out there. They expected a good 2 year run, maybe a bit more if they could find the funding. Never in their wildest dreams did they think their idea, Sesame Street, turn into a beloved show that is now in its 45th season (it was in its 40th when this book was written)!
This is a tabletop type book. It is big, heavy, and clunky – so it’s not exactly a book you want to tote all over town with you. But regardless of this, I really loved this book. The book goes into the history of the show, and I mean every little bit. It talks about its creation, its funding, its outreach programs, its muppets and muppeteers, it talks about the creators of the muppets (of course there is plenty on Jim Henson and Frank Oz!), its research, and much, much more. And on top of that, each page is filled with pictures a lot of them. This book took me longer to get through than I expect, only because I spent so much time going through all the wonderful pictures and facts. This is the first 5 star book for me in 2014, and it deserves it all the way. A very enjoyable book, if a little out of date (some of the muppeteers have passed away or left since this writing). And an added bonus? The book comes with a DVD with the very first aired episode of Sesame Street from 1969!
303 pages
★★★★★ + ♥
In 1969, a couple people had the idea to make an education television show in a time when there weren’t many education shows or many televisions stations out there. They expected a good 2 year run, maybe a bit more if they could find the funding. Never in their wildest dreams did they think their idea, Sesame Street, turn into a beloved show that is now in its 45th season (it was in its 40th when this book was written)!
This is a tabletop type book. It is big, heavy, and clunky – so it’s not exactly a book you want to tote all over town with you. But regardless of this, I really loved this book. The book goes into the history of the show, and I mean every little bit. It talks about its creation, its funding, its outreach programs, its muppets and muppeteers, it talks about the creators of the muppets (of course there is plenty on Jim Henson and Frank Oz!), its research, and much, much more. And on top of that, each page is filled with pictures a lot of them. This book took me longer to get through than I expect, only because I spent so much time going through all the wonderful pictures and facts. This is the first 5 star book for me in 2014, and it deserves it all the way. A very enjoyable book, if a little out of date (some of the muppeteers have passed away or left since this writing). And an added bonus? The book comes with a DVD with the very first aired episode of Sesame Street from 1969!
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