Piggy will do almost anything to make friends with the coolest girls at school, but will she visit scary Mrs. Pritchett's house on a dare--even though she knows it's wrong?
"David Kamp takes readers behind the scenes to show how ... programs [such as Mister Rogers' Neighboorhood, Sesame Street, and Schoolhouse Rock] made it on air, ... [explaining] how ... like-minded individuals found their way into television, not as fame- or money-hungry would-be auteurs and stars, but as people who wanted to use TV to help children ... [The book] captures a period in children's television where enlightened progressivism prevailed, and shows how this period changed the lives of millions"--
By the end of its five-year run on television, The Muppet Show had transformed its motley cast from fistfuls of felt to multi-media celebrities. Sophisticated and highly individuated, each of the Muppets embodied a conventional character type from classic television comedy. Kermit functioned as straight man to the majority of the show's jokes. Miss Piggy, the resident diva, evolved from first season chorus girl to full-fledged megastar. A Costello to Kermit's Abbot, Fozzie peddled his vaudevillian shtick to a tough audience, but his genuine sweetness made him lovable even when his jokes were lame. These essays represent the work and ideas of a global community of scholars and Muppet enthusiasts, providing a unique perspective on just how Kermit and the rest of the frogs, dogs, bears, and chickens became cultural icons with influences reaching far beyond the world of 1970s television comedy.
Leroux's classic tale of love, intrigue, and jealousy at the Paris Opera House is reimagined with the cast of the Muppets. Readers can join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Uncle Deadly, and the other Muppets as they bring this gripping tale to life in their own hilarious way.
Celebrate Christmas with the inspiration for the beloved Jim Henson film — in print after over 40 years. In 1977, when Jim Henson debuted the now-classic film Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, few knew it was based on a story written and illustrated by Russell and Lillian Hoban, creators of Bread and Jam for Frances and other treasured children's books. With an enduring score by the great Paul Williams, the movie remains a holiday tradition in homes across America. Now the book that started it all is back in print, in a beautiful gift edition that will thrill Muppets fans young and old. Inspired by the classic tale "The Gift of the Magi," the story begins in a poor country cottage, as Emmet Otter dreams of buying Ma a piano for Christmas, while Ma dreams of buying Emmet a guitar. When a village talent contest is announced, both imagine their dreams coming true. But what they don't imagine finding is their real reward — the power of love, family, and hope in hard times. It is a story that reaches into a reader's heart and reminds us all that fortune favors the brave. A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year "[A] welcome reissue of the Hobans' 1971 story . . . Colorful illustrations of the close-knit animal community contain plenty of warmth." —The Horn Book
101 timeless TV shows for kids to discover and for families to watch together, all in one book. Can you watch them all? Television shows are made to entertain! They can make you laugh, teach you lessons, or allow you to escape into another world for an episode or two. 101 TV Shows to See Before You Grow Up is an interactive and comprehensive list of 101 TV shows for families to enjoy together. From popular picks of today to classic shows of decades past, kids will discover a wide selection of "must see" TV shows, appropriate for all ages. Each page focuses on a single TV series with basic information about each show, including the actors, years of production, and rating. There is also a section at the bottom of each page that allows young television buffs to write in their own opinions and observations about the show. From toddler to tween and every age in between, 101 TV Shows to See Before You Grow Up is a fun handbook for TV lovers of all ages.