The Sesame Street Dictionary

Last updated
Sesame Street Dictionary
Sesame Street Dictionary 1st ed.jpg
First edition, 1980
Author Linda Hayward
Illustrator Joe Mathieu
LanguageEnglish
GenreReference
Publisher Random House/Children's Television Workshop
Publication date
1980
Publication placeUnited States
Media typeHardcover
Pages253
ISBN 0-394-84007-0

The Sesame Street Dictionary is an illustrated children's dictionary featuring Muppet characters from the popular television show Sesame Street . First published in 1980, it contains short definitions and sample sentences for around 1300 words, each accompanied by an illustration featuring a character from Sesame Street. In 1986, the dictionary was also issued as an 8-volume set under the title Big Bird's Sesame Street Dictionary. Kermit the Frog's nephew, Robin the Frog makes a cameo in this book on the page "frogs", also Miss Piggy makes a cameo in the book on the page "magazines" on a book called "Stars".

Contents

Overview

The Sesame Street Dictionary contains definitions for around 1300 words, with each definition being accompanied by a sample sentence and relevant illustration depicting a character from Sesame Street. [1] The text was written by Linda Hayward and the illustrations were drawn by Joe Mathieu. [2] The illustrations and example sentences are often intended to be humorous, featuring jokes and amusing situations. [3] For example, the definition for "above" is accompanied by an image of Grover flying an aeroplane above some trees, which leads into an illustration for the next word, "accident", which depicts Grover parachuting to the ground, his plane having crashed into the tree. [4] Homonyms are highlighted by The Amazing Mumford, the Muppet magician, who draws them out of a hat. [2] No pronunciations are included with the definitions. [5]

The book is designed for children between the ages of 3 and 8, [3] [6] both those who are able to read and those without reading ability. [7] The words were selected by professional educators for their likelihood of being encountered by a child either through books or everyday experiences. [3] [8] Depending on the age and educational level of the reader, the book can expand a child's vocabulary, help with "reading readiness" and function as a first dictionary. [3] [6]

Publishing history

The dictionary was first published in 1980 by Random House, in conjunction with Sesame Street producers Children's Television Workshop, in both a hardback edition and a special library binding. [7] In 1981, it was republished by the Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation under the title Big Bird's Sesame Street Dictionary. This edition featured an additional 100 pages of illustrations, and was packaged as an 8-volume set, with 45 pages per volume. [9] The original one-volume dictionary was reissued in 2004, again by Random House, as part of the Sesame Street franchise's 35th anniversary. [10] This version was accompanied by an audio CD containing songs from the television program, including "The Cookie Rhyming Song", "Elmo's Rap Alphabet" and "Off To School". [5]

Reception

When it was first published, the dictionary received praise from reviewers, and became a standard work in school libraries. [6] [7] Writing in the School Library Journal , Daisy Kouzel described it as "exploding with good fun", adding that "youngsters will find unending entertainment in its big, colorful pages and will enrich their vocabulary in the process." [11] Barbara Safford's Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers listed it as "highly recommended". [6] Kenneth Kister, in his reference source guide Kister's Best Dictionaries for Adults and Young People, was also positive about the work, although he was critical of the fact that the 8-volume edition published in 1986 retailed at a significantly higher price without adding much worthwhile new material. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Henson</span> American puppeteer (1936–1990)

James Maury Henson was an American puppeteer, animator, actor, and filmmaker who achieved worldwide notability as the creator of the Muppets. Henson was also well known for creating Fraggle Rock (1983–1987) and as the director of The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Muppets</span> Puppet characters created by Jim Henson

The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, slapstick, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety-sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, their media franchise encompasses films, television, music, and other media associated with the characters. Owned by the Jim Henson Company for nearly five decades, the Muppets and their franchise were acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2004.

<i>Sesame Street</i> American childrens television show

Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop and was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. It is known for its images communicated through the use of Jim Henson's Muppets, and includes short films, with humor and cultural references. It premiered on November 10, 1969, to positive reviews, some controversy, and high viewership. It has aired on the United States national public television provider PBS since its debut, with its first run moving to premium channel HBO on January 16, 2016, then its sister streaming service (HBO) Max in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sesame Workshop</span> American childrens media producer

Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-known, Sesame Street—that have been televised internationally. Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett developed the idea to form an organization to produce the Sesame Street television series. They spent two years, from 1966 to 1968, researching, developing, and raising money for the new series. Cooney was named as the Workshop's first executive director, which was termed "one of the most important television developments of the decade."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grover</span> Sesame Street Muppet character

Grover is a blue Muppet character on the PBS/HBO children's television show Sesame Street. Self-described as lovable, cute, and furry, he is a blue monster who rarely uses contractions when he speaks or sings. Grover was originally performed by Frank Oz from his earliest appearances. Eric Jacobson has performed the character regularly from the year 1998 onwards.

History of <i>Sesame Street</i>

The preschool educational television program Sesame Street was first aired on public television stations on November 10, 1969, and has reached its 55th season in 2025. The history of Sesame Street has reflected changing attitudes to developmental psychology, early childhood education, and cultural diversity. Featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, animation, live shorts, humor and celebrity appearances, it was the first television program of its kind to base its content and production values on laboratory and formative research, and the first to include a curriculum "detailed or stated in terms of measurable outcomes". Initial responses to the show included adulatory reviews, some controversy and high ratings. By its 40th anniversary in 2009, Sesame Street was broadcast in over 120 countries, and 20 independent international versions had been produced. It has won eleven Grammys and over 150 Emmys in its history—more than any other children's show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jim Henson Company</span> American entertainment company

The Jim Henson Company, Inc., formerly known as Muppets, Inc., Henson Associates, Inc., and Jim Henson Productions, Inc., is an American entertainment company located in Los Angeles, California. The company is known for its innovations in the field of puppetry, particularly through the creation of Kermit the Frog and the Muppets characters.

<i>The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover</i> Childrens book by Jon Stone

The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover is a children's picture book based on the television series Sesame Street and starring Grover. It was written by series writer and producer Jon Stone and illustrated by Michael Smollin, and originally published by Little Golden Books in 1971. It has since become the all-time bestselling Sesame Street book title and has been cited as a modern classic of children's literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Stone</span> American writer, television producer and director

Jon Arthur Stone was an American writer, director, and producer who was best known as an original crewmember on the children's television show Sesame Street and is credited with helping to develop characters such as Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. Stone won 18 television Emmy Awards. Many regard him as among the best children's television writers.

Sesame Street: Old School is the title of a series of DVD releases produced by Sesame Workshop, featuring episodes from the early years of the PBS series, Sesame Street, plus highlights from that era. The first volume, 1969–1974, was released by Sony Wonder in Region 1 on October 24, 2006. The second volume, 1974–1979, was released by Genius Entertainment on November 6, 2007. The third volume, 1979–1984, was released by Warner Home Video on November 6, 2012. Each set featured three discs in a box set, with the exception of the third set, which instead features two discs.

Sesame Street international co-productions are adaptations of the American educational children's television series Sesame Street but tailored to the countries in which they are produced. Shortly after the debut of Sesame Street in the United States in 1969, television producers, teachers, and officials of several countries approached the show's producers and the executives of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), renamed Sesame Workshop (SW) in 2000, about the possibility of airing international versions of Sesame Street. Creator Joan Ganz Cooney hired former CBS executive Michael Dann to field offers to produce versions of the show in other countries.

Michael Kingsbury Frith is a British artist and television producer. He is the former executive vice-president and creative director of The Jim Henson Company. His contributions to Muppet projects have been extensive and varied.

A wide variety of characters have appeared on the American children's television series Sesame Street. Many of the characters are Muppets, which are puppets made in Jim Henson's distinctive puppet-creation style. Most of the non-Muppet characters are human characters, but there are many characters that are animated.

The American children's television series Sesame Street is known for its extensive merchandising. Licensees include a variety of companies which manufacture books, magazines, video/audio media, and toys using the characters and themes of Sesame Street.

<i>Sesame Street Magazine</i> American magazine

Sesame Street Magazine is an American monthly magazine based on the children's television series Sesame Street. The magazine features characters from the television series, and emphasizes Sesame Street's educational goals. The intended audience includes children under the age of five and their parents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Étienne Delessert (illustrator)</span> Swiss illustrator (1941–2024)

Étienne Delessert was a Swiss self-taught graphic artist and illustrator. He is largely known for his animated series Yok-Yok and his collaboration with Eugène Ionesco, Stories 1,2,3,4, as well as his work with child psychologist Jean Piaget.

Rechov Sumsum is the Israeli adaptation of the U.S. children's show Sesame Street.

Rruga Sesam and Ulica Sezam are the Albanian and Serbian-language names for the Kosovan co-production of Sesame Street, which began airing in December 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Rupp, Rebecca (1998). The Complete Home Learning Source Book. Crown Publishing Group. p.  132. ISBN   9780609801093.
  2. 1 2 Simpson, Mary Jett (1986). Reading Resource Book: Parents and Beginning Reading. Humanics Publishing Group. p. 64. ISBN   9780893340957.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lang, Jovian (1992). Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries. American Library Association. p. 317. ISBN   9780838934067.
  4. ↑ Hayward, Linda (1980). The Sesame Street Dictionary. Random House/Children's Television Workshop. p.  8. ISBN   0-394-84007-0.
  5. 1 2 Courtot, Marilyn. "The Sesame Street Dictionary". Children's Literature. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Safford, Barbara (1998). Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers . Libraries Unlimited. p.  220. ISBN   9781563085451.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kister, Kenneth F. (1992). Kister's Best Dictionaries for Adults and Young People: A Comparative Guide. Oryx Press. p. 321.
  8. ↑ Chujo, Kiyomi; Nishigaki, Chicako. "Creating E-Learning Material to Teach Essential Vocabulary for Young EFL Learners" (PDF). Proceedings of IWLeL 2004 : an interactive workshop on language e-learning, December 10th, 2004, Waseda University, Tokyo. p. 2.
  9. ↑ Kister, Kister's Best Dictionaries, p. 312.
  10. ↑ Kipnis, Jill (3 April 2004). "'Sesame Street' Turns 35 With Vids, Merch". Billboard . p. 52.
  11. ↑ Kouzel, Daisy (December 1980). "The Sesame Street Dictionary". School Library Journal. 27 (4): 44.

The Sesame Street Dictionary on Muppet Wiki

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.