{"product_id":"sunny-days-the-childrens-television-revolution-that-changed-america-9781501137815","title":"Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution That Changed America","description":"\u003cb\u003eOne of the \"Best Books\" of the year from \u003ci\u003eThe Smithsonian, The Washington Independent Review, \u003c\/i\u003eand more \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom bestselling writer David Kamp, the \"fun, fascinating, and surprisingly touching,\" (\u003ci\u003ePeople\u003c\/i\u003e) behind-the-scenes story of the cultural heroes who created the beloved children's TV programs \u003ci\u003eSesame Street\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Electric Company\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMister Rogers' Neighborhood\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFree to Be...You\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eand Me\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSchoolhouse Rock \u003c\/i\u003e--which transformed American childhood for the better, teaching kids about diversity, the ABCs, and feminism through a fun, funky 1970s lens.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eWith a foreword by Questlove.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1970, on a soundstage on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a group of men, women, and Muppets of various ages and colors worked doggedly to finish the first season of a children's TV program that was not yet assured a second season: \u003ci\u003e Sesame Street\u003c\/i\u003e. They were conducting an experiment to see if television could be used to better prepare disadvantaged preschoolers for kindergarten. What they didn't know then was that they were starting a cultural revolution that would affect all American kids. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn\u003ci\u003e Sunny Days\u003c\/i\u003e, bestselling author David Kamp captures the unique political and social moment that gave us not only \u003ci\u003eSesame Street\u003c\/i\u003e, but also Fred Rogers's gentle yet brave \u003ci\u003eMister Rogers' Neighborhood\u003c\/i\u003e; Marlo Thomas's unabashed gender politics primer \u003ci\u003eFree to Be...You and Me\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eSchoolhouse Rock \u003c\/i\u003e, an infectious series of educational shorts dreamed up by Madison Ave admen; and more, including \u003ci\u003eThe Electric Company\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eZOOM.\u003c\/i\u003e It was a unique time when an uncommon number of media professionals and thought leaders leveraged their influence to help children learn--and, just as notably, a time of unprecedented buy-in from American parents. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eSunny Days \u003c\/i\u003eis full of such nostalgic jolts...it makes the era a pleasure to revisit\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e) and captures a wondrous period in the US when a determined few proved that, with persistence and effort, they could change the lives of millions. It is \"a lively and bewitching recounting of a particularly ripe period in television and cultural history\" (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e) and, as the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e notes, \"a sublime book about a variety of creative people coming together not in the pursuit of fame or money, but to enrich the lives of children.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKamp, David:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - David Kamp is an author, journalist, humorist, lyricist, and a charter member of the \u003ci\u003eSesame Street\u003c\/i\u003e--viewing audience. A longtime contributor to \u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e, he has profiled such cultural icons as Johnny Cash, Sly Stone, Lucian Freud, Bruce Springsteen, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Among his books are the national bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe United States of Arugula\u003c\/i\u003e, a chronicle of America's foodways. His first musical as a lyricist, \u003ci\u003eKiss My Aztec!\u003c\/i\u003e, a collaboration with John Leguizamo, had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2019. He began his career at \u003ci\u003eSpy\u003c\/i\u003e, the legendary satirical monthly. He lives with his family in New York City and rural Connecticut.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50511043068178,"sku":"9781501137815","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_fd43d2ca-98da-4455-ac6b-2e6e12e0383b.jpg?v=1730941490","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/sunny-days-the-childrens-television-revolution-that-changed-america-9781501137815","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}