View our feature on Michael Davis’s Street Gang.
"Davis tracks down every Sesame anecdote and every Sesame personality in his book...Finally, we get to touch Big Bird's feathers." --The New York Times Book Review
Sesame Street is the longest-running-and arguably most beloved- children's television program ever created. Today, it reaches some six million preschoolers weekly in the United States and countless others in 140 countries around the world.
Street Gang is the compelling, comical, and inspiring story of a media masterpiece and pop-culture landmark. Television reporter and columnist Michael Davis-with the complete participation of Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the show's founders-unveils the idealistic personalities, decades of social and cultural change, stories of compassion and personal sacrifice, and miraculous efforts of writers, producers, directors, and puppeteers that together transformed an empty soundstage into the most recognizable block of real estate in television history.
“Davis spins an evocative, insidery tale out of the wildly creative personalities and political ups and downs of the cozily delivered show.”—Washington Post
“Davis tracks down every Sesame anecdote and every Sesame personality in his book…Finally, we get to touch Big Bird’s feathers.”—James Panero, New York Times Book Review
“Davis culls insights from the show’s creators and cast to serve up this painstakingly detailed history of television’s most famous address.”—Time.com
“The author’s swift narrative—the product of hundreds of interviews—is essentially a Dumpster dive into Oscar’s trash can of cast stories…a sensitive, honest account that could jog fond memories even from the amnesiac Street denizen Forgetful Jones.”—Drew Toal, Time Out New York
“Well-researched details and an unflinching eye make Davis’s book continuously fascinating.”—Publishers Weekly
“Anyone who has ever seen Sesame Street as parent or child – or both – will love the detail and exuberance of this book.”—Booklist
“[Michael] Davis’s chronicle is as joyfully compelling as Sesame Street itself.”—People Magazine, Caroline Leavitt
“Davis is a sensitive and subtly brilliant writer who conveys the soul of the program that has earned more Emmys than any other in history while managing to stay true to its founders' idealistic vision: ‘All children deserve a chance to learn and grow. To be prepared for school. To better understand the world and each other. To think, dream and discover. To reach their highest potential.’”—The Philadelphia Inquirer, Judith Fitzgerald
