One, Ah, Ah... One Blog Post...

The Sesame Street 1,2,3 Storybook
written by Emily Perl Kingsley, Jeffrey Moss,
Norman Stiles, and Daniel Wilcox
pictures by Joseph Mathieu, Kelly Oechsli,
Mel Crawford, and Bob Taylor
Random House, Children's Television Workshop, 1973

I love the look of fear in that poor octopus's face. I suppose I might be a bit leery if an overeager vampire was heading my way, counting my arms and laughing, ah, ah, ahhhhh.

This particular Sesame Street book features some of the characters who aren't always center stage in these collections: Sherlock Hemlock, Snuffle-upagus, and Sam the robot. Of course many of our favorites show up too: Grover, Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch. And there's no way we could have a book about numbers without the Count. Unthinkable!

Many of the illustrations in the book are in panels and use thought bubbles, but there is some variety in style from story to story. Several of the tales are parodies of other stories or fairy tales:"Goldie-Snuffle and the Seven Bears," "The Story of the Nine Dragons." Others just have fun with allusions: Sherlock Hemlock in "The Mysterious Stranger" and "King Hungry the Eighth."

"I Hate Christmas" -- Oscar the Grouch

Sesame Street, Children's Television Workshop, 1975

I'm listening to this holiday record as I post. The most memorable bit was the Sesame Street version of O. Henry's short story, "The Gift of the Magi." I love how Bert and Ernie give up their prized possessions, a rubber duckie and a paper clip collection, in order to buy thoughtful gifts for one another. In this version Mr. Hooper saves the day.

Also on the album, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has a new twist and the count sings "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth." One of my favorite bits has to be Oscar the Grouch song; why is it I always love the melancholy characters best? (Eyeore in the Winnie the Pooh stories is my favorite too!)

The inside cover of the record is pictured below, as is the back of the album with the song list and the credits.

Sunny Day, Sweeping the Clouds Away ...

Push Button Sesame Street, Child Guidance, 1974

My old buddy Bert is all I have left of this childhood toy. I distinctly remember playing with this, though. I loved Oscar and his trash can. Five large buttons at the front of the set show pictures of Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch. Pushing the buttons reveals the hiding places of the corresponding finger puppet. The buttons can also be removed to serve as stands for the characters. I also seem to recall there being a plastic Sesame Street sign but I don't see in in the picture.

In searching for info on this toy I ran across the Fisher Price Sesame Street Playhouse a number of times and I remember always WANTING to own that one. I am pretty sure my cousins had that one. They always seemed to have the coveted toys. Then just as this was floating in my mind I ran across the Sesame Street Playhouse for sale at a local antique store. Sadly it didn't have any of the toys that went with it. You can learn more about the Muppets from Sesame Street and other shows here.

A Loaf of Bread, A Container of Milk, and a Stick of Butter.....

Some of these Sesame Street sketches just stick in my brain. Here's one that I think about often. Apparently I'm not the only one!