The Sesame Street Dictionary

The Sesame Street Dictionary, published in 1980, is an illustrated children's reference book featuring characters from the television show Sesame Street. The book contains over 1300 words with definitions and sample sentences written by Linda Hayward, paired with illustrations by Joe Mathieu. The dictionary combines education with entertainment through its use of familiar Muppet characters and humorous situations. Each word's entry includes a custom illustration featuring Sesame Street characters, with special appearances by The Amazing Mumford to demonstrate homonyms. Professional educators selected words based on their relevance to children's daily experiences and reading materials. The format serves both early readers and pre-readers ages 3-8, focusing on clear definitions without pronunciation guides. This book represents an innovative approach to early literacy, using beloved characters and visual storytelling to transform a standard reference work into an engaging learning tool.

Readers describe this as a nostalgic favorite from their childhood that they now share with their own children. Parents and educators note its effectiveness in teaching vocabulary through familiar Sesame Street characters and humor. What readers liked: - Clear definitions with example sentences - Colorful illustrations that aid comprehension - Alphabetical organization makes words easy to find - Includes both basic and more advanced vocabulary - Characters demonstrate word meanings in relatable ways What readers disliked: - Some find the 1980s illustrations dated - Paper quality in newer editions not as durable - Price of used copies can be high due to collector demand Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (176 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (369 ratings) Multiple reviewers mentioned keeping their childhood copy to pass down, with one Amazon reviewer noting: "I've had this book for 35 years and my kids love it as much as I did." Several teachers reported successfully using it in ESL and early reading programs.

Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry Detailed illustrations accompany labeled objects and activities to build vocabulary through scenes of daily life and community settings.

First Children's Dictionary by DK Publishing Each word features photographs and simple definitions designed for beginning readers to understand basic language concepts.

My First Oxford Dictionary by Clare Kirtley Words progress from basic to more complex through themed sections with color illustrations that connect vocabulary to real-world contexts.

The Everything Kids' Learning Activities Book by Amanda Morin Word games, puzzles, and activities teach vocabulary through hands-on learning experiences that mirror the Sesame Street approach.

The Usborne First Thousand Words by Heather Amery Picture scenes group related words together with clear illustrations to help children recognize and learn vocabulary in context.

🎨 The original 1980 edition required over 1,100 new illustrations to be created specifically for the dictionary 📺 While most Muppet characters appear throughout, Jim Henson himself selected which characters would be featured most prominently 📚 The dictionary was so successful it spawned several spin-off versions, including a Spanish-English edition and mini-dictionaries ✏️ Illustrator Joe Mathieu spent nearly two years completing all the artwork, working closely with Sesame Workshop to maintain character consistency 🌟 The book notably includes many "feeling words" like happy, sad, and scared - reflecting Sesame Street's commitment to emotional education alongside traditional learning