Imagination Illustrated

Did you know that the original Kermit the Frog was made from ping pong balls, a pair of blue jeans, and an old coat that belonged to Jim Henson’s mother?

Now Kermit lives at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, along with over 30 other Muppets including Miss Piggy, Rowlf the Dog, and Cookie Monster. This colorful and entertaining book, based on Jim Henson’s journals, reveals the origins of many beloved characters he created and the widely varied projects he produced. Handwritten notes and sketches illuminate Henson’s creative process, and photos provide additional background on his personal and professional accomplishments. The book follows Henson’s journey: from his start on a local Washington, DC television station in 1954, to a 1968 meeting that led to Sesame Street, to the rocky road to getting The Muppet Show on the air in 1976. This look inside the mind of an imaginative genius deepens appreciation for his visionary work in entertainment and gives researchers insight into his educational programming.