C is for cake with Sesame Street Brooklyn birthday celebration

For many Columbians, the names Big Bird, Grover, and Elmo will be forever linked to fond childhood memories.

These characters and the rest of the Sesame Street gang have been around since many students’ parents were children. Brooklyn Public Library is celebrating the tremendous achievements of this show through an exhibit at its main branch titled “Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years on the Street,” which runs through Feb. 21.

The exhibit features two Sesame Street displays in the foyer, a collection of the show’s artwork in the lobby, and a few more displays in the youth wing. The exhibit is accompanied by a free Sesame Street Family Day at Kings Highway Library, which takes place Sunday, Jan. 31.

The event is filled with Sesame Street-themed activities, including a walk with everyone’s favorite sugar-loving blue puppet, Cookie Monster.

To further celebrate the program’s dedication to literacy, Brooklyn Public Library currently offers special edition library cards featuring many of the street’s most beloved residents, sure to get many youngsters dying for their very own. After visiting the Central Library and seeing the exhibit, the library card is possibly the most appealing part of the celebration.

The displays in the foyer are filled with memorabilia, such as cast photos and some of the most famous puppets. One display case houses a group of Sesame Street puppets with a profile card for each character. (Fun fact: the character of Oscar the Grouch was inspired by a New York City cab driver.)

The other display case has many interesting behind-the-scenes paraphernalia, such as old scripts and even a Daytime Emmy Award (Sesame Street has won an astounding 122 of them). The book art in the lobby was not as striking as other areas of the exhibit, especially for visitors lacking the nostalgia of a childhood filled with Sesame Street.

The displays are interesting to look at and they provide a good distraction for people waiting in the check-out line in the lobby. Even those who barely remember Sesame Street will find the exhibit intriguing, yet not quite as fun for children who currently watch or have recently watched the show. Even in the children’s wing, every part of the exhibit was behind glass—the exhibit could have benefited from an interactive portion.

The celebration succeeds in putting a smile on any Sesame Street fan’s face, but only warrants a quick look-through. Although Sesame Street is a show geared toward children, the exhibit is more enjoyable for adults than for kids as it is more informative than entertaining.