Sesame Street Gifts for Sunny Days

Sunny days may sweep the clouds away, but these Sesame Street gifts can help the day feel a little brighter. If you're a parent with young children or you know someone with a passion for everything Muppets, you might want to check out these Sesame Street gift ideas! Sesame Street clothing is perfect for lounging or everyday wear and fun items to keep around the house. We'll show you that finding the perfect Sesame Street gift is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Sesame Street Shirts

Sesame Street has been around for over 50 years and was likely an early childhood influence in many households. So many of us still hold our favorite childhood Sesame Street characters close. Being so iconic, Sesame Street clothing for adults is nothing to Snuffleupagus at. Cool character-printed button-ups and hoodies are great for any Muppet fan's wardrobe, and how fun is this set of Bert and Ernie character sweaters? Whether or not you have kids, don't overlook these fun Sesame Street styles.

Sesame Street Accessories

Find smaller ways to include your love of the show in your wardrobe with these fun Sesame Street accessories. These character socks are a cute yet discreet way to show love to your favorite characters, and we love the patterns on these Sesame Street ties. Even if you don't plan on leaving the house, give your feet some furry friends with these Sesame Street slippers. Be glad to be the way you are!

Other Sesame Street Gifts

Do you need a little more Sesame Street in your life? These Sesame Street-themed goodies add a dose of sunshine to any home. Get help in the kitchen with Bert and Ernie salt and pepper shakers, or appeal to your picky eaters with adorable Sesame Street plates. Kids (and adults) will love cute character plushes, and the entire family can get together and play a fun board game. These fun Sesame Street gifts are great for all ages!

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Sesame Street Characters

Has it been a while since you last watched Sesame Street? The show has been around for over 50 years, so they have added new characters to the main cast that you might not be familiar with. If you find yourself shopping for a new Sesame Street fan or even an older one, refresh your character knowledge with this basic introduction to some of the main Sesame Street characters.

All images courtesy of IMDb.

Elmo

Elmo has been on Sesame Street for a long time, but not quite to the show's beginning. He debuted in 1980, while the show itself aired in 1969. Still, that's quite an impressive run! The character is (according to Elmo) three and a half years old. Elmo also generally talks about Elmo in the third person. After Elmo's rise to popularity, he was granted his own Sesame Street segment, "Elmo's World".

Big Bird

One of the characters included in the show for its entire run, Big Bird, is a giant yellow bird character. He is also one of the few characters on the show that requires the actor to wear a suit instead of more traditional methods of puppeteering. Big Bird is described as being six years old and often has a world view of wide-eyed wonder and excitement. He's a pretty talented character on the show and does a lot to help teach kids about letters and numbers. However, he's also great at encouraging learning while admitting you'll never know everything. "Asking questions is a good way of finding things out!"

Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster is another original character from 1969 who is still part of the Sesame Street show today! He is known for his incredibly insatiable appetite, especially regarding cookies. However, he will also consume other foods, including fruits and vegetables and non-food items. Cookie Monster usually speaks simply and will often demand, "Me want cookies!" However, his alter-ego, Alistair Cookie, hosts the Monserpiece Theater segment and has much better diction.

Mr. Snuffleupagus

Similar to Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus (or Snuffy) is what's known as a full-bodied Muppet, or a Muppet who is both a costume and a puppet. The character debuted in 1971 and was initially thought to be an imaginary friend by the adult human characters in the cast. There were plenty of near-misses and coincidences that kept Mr. Snuffleupagus out of the view of humans, although other Muppet characters and children did meet him. It wasn't until season 17 that Mr. Snuffleupagus officially met the adult cast! He is best friends with Big Bird and a huge opera music fan.

Oscar the Grouch

Our favorite grump, Oscar the Grouch, is another Muppet who debuted on Sesame Street in 1969. He lives in a trash can and is rarely seen outside of it. Oscar the Grouch loves to tell others to "Scram!" in order to share his passion for grouchiness. While Oscar is indeed a grouch, he has had several pets that he cares for, his favorite being Slimey the worm. He even had a few girlfriends in his run on Sesame Street and nearly got married, but they mutually broke the engagement when they realized they might become too happy.

Grover

Another popular character who appeared on the show for a long time is Grover. The blue Muppet first appeared on the scene in 1970, just missing the start of the show. He's fun and imaginative, often spending time in his superhero alter-ego, Super Grover. Grover likes to try to help people but is usually bad at being helpful. (It's the thought that counts!) He was such a popular character that he has been in several of the show's segments, including Monsterpiece Theater and the Spanish Word of the Day. Grover also commonly appeared in skits with Kermit, so people assumed they were good friends.

Kermit the Frog

Arguably the most famous Jim Henson character, Kermit the Frog, was a familiar character on both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, along with other individual movies and projects. Kermit retained his general demeanor from appearances outside Sesame Street and would generally have a fun song or lesson to teach kids. His most famous segment was when Kermit appeared as a news reporter and gave characters interviews. His relationship as a Sesame Street character was complicated because Sesame Workshop didn't own the rights to the character, so there is limited Kermit the Frog merchandise from Sesame Street.

Bert and Ernie

The most iconic roommates of all time, Bert and Ernie, have been permanent fixtures on Sesame Street since the very beginning. This silly duo seems incredibly opposite, but we guess you could say that opposites attract. Ernie is very silly and outgoing and a practical jokester. In sharp contrast, Bert is serious and studious and often tries not to laugh at Ernie's antics. Quite often, Ernie interrupts Bert while he's doing a hobby he enjoys and manages to tear him away to do something else with him. Unfortunately, when Bert starts enjoying himself, Ernie gets bored and decides to stop whatever they're doing to move on to something else. We guess you could say that Ernie is lovingly annoying.

Zoe

One of the newer Muppets, Zoe, first appeared in 1993. The showrunners realized that their cast of monsters was predominantly male, so they added a girl character. Because Elmo was quite popular, Zoe was made to complement Elmo. Zoe loves dance, especially ballet, and can be seen wearing a tutu. To Elmo's annoyance, Zoe has a pet rock named Rocco, who she includes in activities as if it's a living thing. Let's just say there has been some silly drama there, but if you know, you know.

Baby Bear

Baby Bear is the same character from the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, adapted for use on Sesame Street. He was introduced in 1991, but instead of being a one-off character, he continues to contribute to the show. To help show that the character is very young, Baby Bear mispronounces his "r"s as "w"s, giving him a cuter-sounding speech pattern. Baby Bear is fond of porridge, much like the bears in the original story, but he has also added creating art as a favorite pastime. He also developed a friendship with Telly Monster on the show.

Rosita

Believe it or not, Rosita was the second bilingual puppet on Sesame Street. (The first was Osvaldo the Grouch, who had limited appearances.) She first appeared on Sesame Street in 1991, often leading the Spanish Word of the Day segment. Like many young bilingual children, she navigates the difficulties of learning English and Spanish. Her pastimes include playing the guitar, and she has a good handle on history and geography.

Abby Cadabby

Unlike many of the monster puppets on Sesame Street, Abby Cadabby is a fairy in training. She has a wand and magical abilities, including flying, disappearing, and reappearing. She debuted in 2006 with a look that was distinctly unlike the other Muppets. This was intentional, as they wanted to introduce a foreign character to the world so kids could learn about being inclusive of new cultures. Abby Cadabby was featured in a few segments of her own and also developed a love of gardening. She has since become another popular character on Sesame Street.

Telly Monster

Telly Monster came onto the scene in 1979. Early in the show, he was often paired with Oscar the Grouch, who he tried to befriend against all odds. He tends to be anxious and has less self-confidence, which is relatable for many young children. By the early 90s, Telly became best friends with Baby Bear, who was much better company. Telly has a unique love of triangles, and he's a skilled musician who can play the tuba, bassoon, and, of course, the triangle.

Herry Monster

Herry Monster was nearly around for Sesame Street's entire run, debuting in the second season. He has fewer appearances in newer seasons, but he still shows up occasionally. Herry doesn't know his own strength, and he has a fairly rough-looking exterior, but ultimately he's a big softie. (As are most of the monsters on the show.) Herry was frequently in segments with children called Muppet & Kid Moments.

Two-Headed Monster

One of the few characters who doesn't speak in an ordinary sense, the Two-Headed Monster speaks in a baby-like gibberish. He came onto the scene in 1978 and continues to be part of the show! Because the monster has two heads with different personalities, the Two-Headed Monster is often used in skits about cooperation. The babble-speak also comes in handy when sounding out words, which is much of what this monster does. The puppet takes two performers, each taking an arm and a head to act as one-half of the monster.

Count von Count

Count von Count, also the Count, is a friendly neighborhood vampire styled after the classic Bela Lugosi. He speaks with a similar accent and sometimes uses his cape to hide his face like the horror film star. However, unlike typical vampires, the Count is constantly out in the daytime. Still, he shares one attribute that some older tales of vampires have—arithmomania, or a compulsive need to count things. While the Count may not be counting the number of grains, seeds, or salt thrown over the shoulder as one does to escape a vampire, he frequently counts everything, helping young children with their math skills.

Prairie Dawn

Prairie Dawn was originally a nameless Anything Muppet introduced in 1971, but she has since become a permanent fixture on Sesame Street. (Anything Muppets were made to have their facial features and clothes swapped out for use as temporary characters.) Prairie Dawn is best known for writing and directing plays acted by her friends. She often gets mistaken for Betty Lou, a pink puppet with blond hair in pigtails or braids. While she regularly appeared on Sesame Street in the 90s and 2000s, her role has been primarily reduced in new seasons.

Julia

One of the newest main Muppets on the roster, Julia, was created for an autism awareness campaign in 2015 and officially joined Sesame Street as a puppet character in 2017. She helps bring awareness to mental health overall and aids children in navigating more complex relationships with other kids who have mental health issues. The puppet has even occasionally worn noise-canceling headphones to show how children with autism may navigate a world filled with overstimulation. We can only wait and see how Julia's role on Sesame Street continues to grow!

Human Sesame Street Characters

While the Muppets are the main stars on Sesame Street, there has always been a supporting human cast of characters for the Muppets to interact with. Initially, there were four—Gordon Robinson, Susan Robinson, Mr. Harold Hooper, and Bob Johnson. Then there were others, such as Linda Bove, who became the longest-running deaf character in history, repairman Luis Rodriguez, Mr. Noodle, and plenty of related characters. Sesame Street prided itself on having a diverse cast so all children could look at various role models. There were also many celebrity guests, a tradition that has continued into the show's modern run.

Well, wasn't that a blast from the past? Are you a big fan of Sesame Street, or are you shopping for one? How many Sesame Street characters are you familiar with? Do you have any favorites? Don't be afraid to speak out and let us know! We only hope that Sesame Street keeps going because it's a beautiful program for early learners. Won't you tell us how to get to Sesame Street?