Figure:Elmo

Since its premiere in 1969, the television series "Sesame Street" has remained on the cutting edge of children's educational entertainment, combining engaging puppet characters, catchy tunes, and effective instructional methods. "Sesame Street" creators teamed up with Jim Henson, puppet master, to produce Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo, and other favorite characters of the series. The children of more than one generation have grown up on tunes such as "Rubber Ducky," "C is for Cookie," and "I Love Trash." For more than 40 years, the series has taught preschoolers their alphabets, numbers, good manners, tolerance, and other values. Now broadcast in about 140 countries around the world, "Sesame Street" has earned eight Grammy awards and more than 100 Emmys for its excellent programming and its phenomenal success in educating children. The series has generated consumer goods of all kinds, especially toys.