I am Jim Henson

Book title: I am Jim Henson
Author: Brad Meltzer
Illustrated by: Christopher Eliopoulos
Theme: Ordinary People Change the World books
Publication date: 1/10/2017
Children’s biographies non-fiction book
Dial Books for Young Readers
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online

I am Jim Henson is a story about creator of Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. I got to read how Jim Henson was influenced to work with puppets. It also showed some of his Mentors like Edgar Bergen. Even though Edgar Bergen did the voices, he never thought of the puppet Charley McCarthy or any other of his characters as puppets. They were human to the young Jim Henson. Something happened when Edgar spoke through Charlie. The puppeteer wasn’t just sharing jokes. He was sharing the best of himself. And people were listening. Jim Henson’s grandmother also influenced him to tell stories. Jim Henson was also influenced by television shows. Kukla, Fran and Ollie, which was a show where puppets told jokes and sang with a human costar. The way the puppets talked to each other – it was like those puppets were alive. Jim Henson knew at young age that he wanted to work in television field.

Jim Henson tried at age sixteen to get job at local TV stations. He had difficult time getting job. He got his break when a local station announced it was looking for a puppeteer. He had never used a puppet before. Jim Henson went to school library, took out books on puppetry, built a few puppets and went back to the station. They gave Jim Henson a chance. That was his break into television. The show hired for was cancelled. He and partner Jane continued creating. They came up with a name for characters and called them Muppets, playing around with the word puppets. It was just a fun word. Jane and Jim later got married in real life. The book shows how Jim Henson came up with idea for Kermit the Frog. I got to see how made Muppets seem more real with just slightest idea of crossing eyes slightly. The Muppets seemed to come alive. I got to see how actors would practice in front of mirror, over and over, until got Muppets to look very real. I also learned Frank Oz did the voice and was performer for Grover.... And even Yoda in Star Wars movies.

The book I am Jim Henson also talked about how studio executives decided to make show with Muppets. On November 10, 1969 the show Sesame Street had first episode on television. The Muppets interacted with kids. The location of show was 123 Sesame Street. I recall them from my child hood. Big Bird, Burt and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch were only few of many characters on Sesame Street show. I even loved The Cookie Monster. Learning was made fun with Sesame Street show.

I learned with song writers like Joe Raposo, Sesame Street made us watching show think what kind of people we wanted to be.

The book also talked about creation of The Muppet Show.

I liked how talked about Jim Henson loved to create. But the secret behind his creations wasn’t a strong hand, or a catchy song. It was a simple idea that there is good in all of us.

Jim Henson even created the Jim Henson Foundation to develop the art of puppetry. The Jim Henson group also worked on theater movies like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and Fraggles.

The book finished with biography of Jim Henson. He was born on September 24, 1936. Sesame Street appeared in 1969. 1974. The Muppets of Sesame Street win first Emmy Award. 1976. The Muppet Show premieres. 1977 Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas premieres. 1983 Fraggle Rock Premieres. May 16th, 1990 Jim Henson dies in New York City.

I thought interesting to do this review since 50 years since premiere of Sesame Street.

There are plenty of other books in Ordinary People Change the world stories wrote by Brad Meltzer. I have also read I am George Washington, I am Harriet Tubman, and I am Billie Jean King.





The books are educational. I saw them on Amazon and other places for sale on internet. I though just got copies from my local library.

Allen Klingelhoets