Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sesame Street - Louise A. Gikow - Review AND Giveaway


Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 years of Life on the Street

Today marks the last day of the 26th annual Miami Book Fair International - an event I would dearly love to attend. If you're thinking about it - next year's dates are November 7 - 14, 2010.

Author Louise A Gikow was there talking about her just released book from Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.

I use Google as my main search engine. All last week they featured characters from Sesame Street on the homepage. The first day it wasn't even a whole character - just some banded orange legs. I bet there are very few people who didn't identify them as Big Bird's appendages!

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 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!

As Gordon said on the very first show Nov 10, 1969:

" You've never seen a street like Sesame Street. Everything happens here. You're gonna love it."

And millions of children and adults have and do love it. This would be a fantastic gift for anyone of any age. And thanks to the sponsorship of The Miami Book Fair International, I have one copy to give away.

What do you have to do to enter? Let me know who your favourite character is. Muppet or human. Myself, I am very partial to Grover. An extra entry for followers or subscribers Open to both Canada and the US. Closes Sunday December 13th at 6 pm EST.

134 comments:

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Oh, man. I'd love this book, but no need to enter me. That TBR problem and all...

I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted over at Win a Book for you.

Julie P. said...

Too funny! I am a huge Grover fan. I was actually a true child of Sesame Street -- we both celebrated our 40th birthdays this year!

bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

Cassie said...

Ernie, without a doubt. My mom still likes to tell how I got so excited at Sesame Street Live when Ernie came out, that I wet myself! Don't know why I'm telling on myself.

Although I did always love Grover and There's a Monster at the End of This Book was a childhood fave of mine.

Sunny(nospace)Lea@gmail.com(dot)com

I'm following, as well.

Mary said...

I love Elmo and Chloe, too cute. I also have a great appreciation for the Muppet aliens. Yep yep yep yep...

mamie316(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

pamelarm said...

Definitely Cookie Monster; I mean, what's not to love about cookies?

pamr@mts.net

mrsshukra said...

I love Fozzie Bear!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cheryl said...

Snuffleupagus is definitely my favorite. He is laid back, slow talking, eye lash batting loveable pachyderm.

Michelle AKA blabla3269 said...

I love grover from sesame street and animal from the muppets

Cody said...

I am very fond of Ernie, Cookie Monster, & Grover (particularly as a waiter). However, my favorite would have to be Oscar the Grouch.
cody_endres(at)hotmail(dot)com

Brian D. said...

Anything Jim Henson had his hand in; Sesame Street, Muppets, Fraggles, etc. was pretty amazing. Generations have grown up learning a great deal from a handful of fur and felt. Ernie was my favorite "person" and Grover was my favorite monster.

Nikki in Niagara said...

Mr. Hooper!!! He was the best! Man, this sounds like a fabulous book! nicolama at cogeco dot ca

Mysharona said...

I also love Grover

Patti V. said...

What great memories of watching this show with my children and now my grandchildren! My all time favorite character is definitely Grover. One of our favorite books was "The Monster at the End of this Book".
Please enter me in the giveaway!!

Toni W said...

Looks like a great book and great giveaway! My kids are into Abby Cadabby and Elmo. I still love my Miss Piggy beach towel, circa 1984!

Linda said...

My two youngest sons grew up w/ Sesame Street. When it started, they were 1 and 2 years old, and their grandmother happened onto the show. What a great find! My favorite is Big Bird, esp. in the scenes w/ Snuffleupagus.

lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda said...

Although I read your blog on a daily basis, I had never become a follower, but NOW I am. I'd love to win this book.

lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Janice Golden said...

Elmo has been mine and my kids favorite
Jaleigh78 at aol dot com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I loved Sesame Street as a child and watching it with my first child. I still sing songs from Elmo's Potty Time dvd. That one gets a laugh from everyone in the family.

My favorite character is Beaker - I don't know why - he just was.

Sunnyvale said...

I like Big Bird

mogrill said...

My daughter LOVES Snuffy!! And he was my favorite too. Thanks so much for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

Kelly said...

My favorite characters are the Yip Yips! I just adore them, and they always make me smile. I even dressed up as one for Halloween last year! :)

krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com

carol said...

I love Big Bird!!

carol said...

I'm a follower.

Sue E said...

It's a toss up between Ernie and Elmo, they are sooo cute. Thanks for the chance!

sueellison@hcecwildblue.com

Anonymous said...

my favorite character has always been Oscar the Groch

Pam said...

I love Kermit the Frog - I know his role on Sesame Street is minimal but I love him anyways...

melacan at hotmail dot com

Mrs Suvi said...

I can't enter since I'm not from the US or Canada but I loved Sesame Street as a kid!! My fave was Cookie Monster, hahah :)

Karen said...

that would be a great addition to my sons library

josiefiorda said...

I love the Cookie Monster! C is for cookie, cookie is for me!

josiefiorda@yahoo.ca

mscoffee77 said...

I have always loved Grover:)

mscoffee77(AT)juno(DOT)com

Linda Henderson said...

The count has always been my favorite. My grandkids would love this book.

I am a follower.

seriousreader at live dot com

Anonymous said...

I NEED this. Please enter me. My favorite has to be the Count, although my favorite muppet of all time is Kermit, but he only shows up on Sesame St occasionally.

I susbscribe through google reader.

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Ladytink_534 said...

I've always adored Big Bird. I was a HUGE Sesame Street fan as a kid. I had so much Big Bird memorbilia it was scary.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

Follower
Google Reader subscriber

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Deborah Wellenstein said...

The Count! Thanks!

Jonnie (JB) said...

The cookie monster is my favorite
dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

catss99 said...

I like cookie monster!
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

extra entry for following!
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

Nicole C. said...

I always loved Grover, too!!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Nickolay said...

I am a fan of Oscar The Grouch

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

a real librarian said...

I gotta say, I Love Oscar the Grouch!!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

a real librarian said...

I follow!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

sweetsue said...

I have always loved Ernie-he is such an innocent and quite the singer!
smchester at gmail dot com

sweetsue said...

I'm a follower!
smchester at gmail dot com

Beth (BBRB) said...

Actually, I like that tiny little worm with the trash cans! SO adorable!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

r0berts said...

Hey, the duck Ernie bathes with never gets any props. So here's a shout out to Rubber Duckie!

Tammy G. said...

I love Animal...he's so...cute

MA said...

I think my favorite is grover...especially super grover. He is so funny and adorable.

Dave said...

Only one character? Sesame Street debuted shortly after I was born. I grew up with the show and hold all the characters dear, but I'm going to say The Count. "Vun... vun vunderful give-avay... ah ah ah!" Thank you for the chance to win.

mail4rosey said...

I've loved Sesame Street forever and a day, and I'm glad it's still up and running.

Elmo is my favorite character.
msurosey@yahoo.com

Renee G said...

Oh I love Elmo.

rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

Susan said...

My favorite is Cookie Monster. I remeber seeing him before he was called Cookie when he was on the Ed Sullivan show recreating the introduction that Jim Henson created for IBM (?) in the middle 1960's.

Now days my grandkids think it's crazy when I know all those songs on Sesame Street.

Did you catch the latest Muppet video?

Myspiral said...

Cookie Monster is a favorite in our house! My son requests "cookie" on youtube!
myspiral@aol.com

Kaydee said...

I'd love the book. My favorite character was animal when he played the drums. He cracked me up every time.

Pat said...

I'd love this book! I especially love Super Grover, but Kermit is also a big favourite.

tooluckyducky AT hotmail DOT com

Pat said...

I follow on twitter @bcgirll

tooluckyducky AT hotmail DOT com

Andria said...

I like Oscar the Grouch. He reminds me of my grouchy uncle Oscar.

Tammy Pereira said...

I love Grover best! Happy Holidays!

LayDeeBugLove@aol.com

Unknown said...

l love oscar.all time favorite.thanks
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

Terri L said...

Kermie of course

droopydog63@hotmail.com

iggysaysno said...

I love Snuffie :)

Melissa said...

My favorite character is Prarie Dawn.

melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com

Ken said...

My favorite character was Grover, especially Super Grover. Please accept my entry. Thank you.

zachsgran said...

mine is oscar the grouch
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com

zachsgran said...

subscriber
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com

Victoria said...

I'd love to see this! My favorite is Ernie (and his rubber ducky)! utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

tmc480 said...

I always liked big bird
tmc480 at yahoo dot com

tmc480 said...

I subscribe via google
tmc480 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I like the cookie monster
rjs682 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

email subscriber
rjs682 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

follower
rjs682 at yahoo dot com

Terri Dell said...

I love Grover, his voice is adorable

Terri Dell said...

google follower

mindy said...

big bird thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

LittleEagle said...

Bid Bird was my favorite. sharonaquilino at hotmail dot com

minishoes1 said...

The count is my fave. great giveaway! thanks! jacquecurl1@gmail.com

minishoes1 said...

I subscribe/follow. jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

janetfaye said...

I love Elmo!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Andrea I said...

I would love to win this.
I remember having to hunt a Cookie Monster one year for my oldest daughter's Christmas present.

Candie L said...

I loved Oscar the Grouch. Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(Dot)com

yellowlabs said...

Cookie Monster!

wgbc1446 said...

I would have to say Big Bird is my favorite. He is always so optimistic. wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com

Laura Lee said...

Bert is the ultimate straight man. lauralee at speechwriting dot com

JAEMPRESS said...

big Bird was a favorite in our household.

Lala77 said...

When I was very young I liked Big Bird but when I got a bit older I preferred Oscar the Grouch.

bookloon@gmail.com

Sharon Schoepe said...

I've always loved Grover. His Monster at the end of the book has always been a huge favorite of my kiddos

ky2here said...

Coo - kie

Coo - kie!!!!

Kim (Randominities) said...

I love Super Grover! There is something about him I can relate to. My daughter loves Ernie's Rubber duck and Bert the best.

Anonymous said...

I love both Bert and Ernie.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

My Wee View said...

as a child it was grover,, now it has changed to Elmo!

info@myweeview.com

My Wee View said...

follower

Heather B said...

Elmo and Zoe

nostrilb said...

Kermit, of course.... He had it hard, being green, and having a pushy girlfriend. But he was always nice to everyone. iwontru yahoo

Unknown said...

I've always liked Burt and Ernie.

hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Jessica said...

I've became an elmo fan, mainly b/c my two year old has elmo all over the house!

girlygirljess52207@yahoo.com

Jessica said...

I'm a follower!

girlygirljess52207@yahoo.com

Jessica said...

I'm a subscriber!

girlygirljess52207@yahoo.com

Jlefkovenj said...

I am a huge Grover fan!

Jinxy and Me said...

I love Grover too! Ernie is 2nd.

Winning Readings said...

Cookie Monster... Though my daughter loves Elmo

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

I'm a follower!

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/12/sesame-street.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Melanie said...

As a kid I loved Grover. so blue and adorable!

melanieinaz2003 at yahoo

Anonymous said...

Cookie Monster!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Egare1 said...

I really love cookie monster, Hubby is a big fan of Ernie and he can do the voices for both of them really well. He always cracks me up when he starts commenting on things like Ernie!

CanAmBlond said...

My favorite character will always be Elmo. Thanks for the cool giveaway.

sasquatch1bmf[at]gmail[dot]com

Janette said...

I love the Count and Cookie Monster!

chromiumman said...

big bird

liliesrnice said...

I have always loved Snuffy!

dreamcleavers said...

dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
i like oscar the grouch, reminds me of myself

dreamcleavers said...

dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
i follow you
dreamcleavers

dreamcleavers said...

dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
i subscribe on google reader

07violet said...

I loved the show as a kid, I liked pretty much all of them but Cookie Monster was definitely a favorite

alterna7 at hotmail dot com

07violet said...

following

alterna7 at hotmail dot com

john Ferris said...

Elmo is tops.
John Ferris
guapo1317@live.com

Unknown said...

Kermit the Frog is my favorite. garrettsambo@asol.com

ReggieMann said...

Abby Cadabby - she is so cute!!

ReggieM1961 (at) gmail (dot) com

Mrs. Hemphill's Online Classroom said...

My boys are huge Elmo fans! "Elmo's world" was the highlight of many mornings for us!

Sarah said...

It's very hard to pick a favorite, but The Count is for sure one of my tops! This book sounds awesome.

ignoramoose (at) gmail (d0t) com

Kathy P said...

i like big bird myself :)

Angela C said...

My favorite would be Cookie Monster, he is just too cute when he tries not to eat cookies! LOL!
THANKS!

mycreativecontainers@yahoo.com

Meet the Browns said...

It's so hard to pick! But I think it has to be Super Grover.

Katie
showbizkp[at]gmail[dot]com

packerfantimmy said...

I love Super Grover!
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

packerfantimmy said...

Google friend follower-packerfantimmy
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

packerfantimmy said...

twitter follower-packerfantimmy
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

packerfantimmy said...

Subscriber in google reader-packerfantimmy(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

lisaray said...

Gotta love Big Bird!

cman said...

Cookie Monster :)

Sand said...

Ernie was always my favorite!

lilyk said...

My favorite character is Big Bird.

dvice12 said...

My favorite is Elmo

Hotsnotty2 said...

I love Cookie Monster the best, thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

cherdon said...

My favorite is Elmo

Please enter me. Thanks

cherdon@sympatico.ca

cherdon said...

I am a follower and subscriber

cherdon@sympatico.ca

Court said...

I love Elmo