Product Description
The ultimate gift for Muppet lovers everywhere, this extraordinary tribute celebrates 40 years of Henson's creative genius--from his best-known inventions to his lesser known but equally fascinating notions for everything from designs for futuristic nightclubs and homes to experimental films. 500 color illus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Amazing!
Amazing book, it takes you deep into the mind and the heart of Jim Henson and his creativity. It shows you that nothing is impossible and that great friendships can develope in unforgettable characters.

Awesome book
This book is really great.It has all kinds of information about Jim Henson andhow he got started in puppeteering.If you are a fan of Jim and his work you will love this book.

JIM HENSON'THE WORKS'
Wow!!
This is a book for everyone and anyone that loves the muppets and its good for all ages, coffee table or for propsmakers.
Top choice as a present for muppets lovers

One word.
Fabulous. So many other reviewers have expressed the feelings this book gives you so much more eloquently, so I will leave mine with just that one word. Fabulous.

The Works
This book is fabulous. I ordered it from America to come to England as the current exchange rate made it cheaper to buy this book new than to buy it second hand in England, and the wait for shipping was worth it. There are some brilliant anecdotes from people working with Henson, and beautful pictures illustrating everything that ever went on in Jim Henson's studios, right up to unpublished notes that Henson wrote for a book.

This book is beautiful, and really interesting in looking at the work of Jim Henson. ... Read more

Product Description
Jim Henson broke into television with a five-minute puppetry segment when he was only a freshman in college. He created puppets like none ever seen before, with expressive fabric faces and rod-controlled arms. His Muppets became world-renowned celebrities and formed the backbone of a media empire. With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this easy-to-read biography will be published twenty years after Henson’s untimely death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This is an excellent introductory biography of the great Jim Henson and the fabulous, fantastic crew of Muppets!
Jim Henson was a shy boy who came from a very loving family, just like the type he would one day create with his future wife, Jane Nebel.When he was young, his creativity was appreciated and encouraged by his grandmother."Dear," as she was known loved to look at his drawings of "imaginary creatures," creatures who would eventually evolve into the beloved Muppets known around the world.His first break actually happened in highschool when "WTOP needed puppeteers for a Saturday children's program called `The Junior Morning Show.'"

Realistically, a job that lasted only a few weeks wasn't going to provide anyone money enough to live on so he went to college in hope of becoming a commercial artist, but amazingly enough yet another television station gave "him his own puppet show."Kermit was born from his mother's green cast off coat and the Muppets, a cross between a "marionette" and a "puppet," started coming to life.In this book you will learn about Jim's family, his creative partnerships, the increasing fame of the Muppets, the famous call from "Sesame Street," you'll learn about the creation of the movies, and much more!Do you know how long it takes to be good enough to work a Muppet?Do you know what Whatnots are?If not, you'll just have to read this book!

This is an excellent introductory biography of the great Jim Henson and the fabulous, fantastic crew of Muppets.Most families have cherished memories of them and, when prompted, can tell you a "Muppet story" that occurred in their family or can easily name their child's favorite character.The biography has just the right amount of information and has additional relative pages that include information on the likes of Charlie McCarthy, Walt Disney, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, and other great influences in Henson's life.The numerous pen and ink drawings add a nice spark to the book. The reading level of this book is 3.2, the age at which biographical information is of high interest.If your youngster was a Muppet lover, this is one sharp biography you'll need to add to your list!

I Love Joan Holub's Book
EXCELLENT!

I'm a Sesame St and Jim Henson MEGA-fan. My favorite book is The Works, an adult coffee table type of book about Jim Henson. My daughter is 12 and Joan Holub's book was a little young for her, but we both read it together in about an hour. I own 8 books about Henson and am happy to add this to my collection. It's well-researched and full of good detail. It focuses on the Sesame St / Muppet years, but also includes plenty on his childhood and about Fraggle Rock and his movies. For ages 7-11 IMO. Recommended!

Nothing new.
The bibliography for this book is a number of other books very similar to this one, plus The Works and No Strings Attached. Like the source material, this book is full of errors. The only redeeming feature of the new book is the nice line drawings by Nancy Harrison. ... Read more

Product Description

• A fascinating look inside the mind of a creative genius and beloved figure, this sure-to-inspire title is filled with Henson's drawings coupled with quotes inspired by his personal sense of optimism.

• The perfect gift for graduates or for the holidays, this title encourages readers to express their own unique creativity and sense of humor.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Henson's Drawings, But Not His Words.
JIM HENSON'S DOODLE DREAMS is a small book that collects together a variety of doodles Henson drew throughout his life.Jim Lewis has taken these drawings and in the spirit of Henson, written short inspiring messages about living a full and happy life.The book opens with a quote from Henson, "I know that I personally have felt quite happy because I've done what I wanted to do. I pursued my interests and have thus managed to combine my business with lots of fun. I guess my only advice is to do what you enjoy, and try to do your best with it." This quote is followed by an introduction by Jim Lewis and a short biography about Henson.JIM HENSON'S DOODLE DREAMS is a great gift for any fan of Jim Henson as well as people who have an interest in art.Just be aware that the words in the book (except the opening quote) are not Henson quotes. If you're looking for a small book like that check out, IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN. ... Read more

Product Description
In the tradition of The World According to Mister Rogers, a timeless collection of wisdom on life, friendship, individuality, creativity, collaboration, and more -- from Jim Henson and Friends

There are few things that evoke such a universal feeling of warmth and humor as the work of Jim Henson. In his own words, as well as those of some of his best-known characters like Kermit the Frog and Ernie, we’ll get a glimpse of the philosophy and humor that was so essential to Jim’s creations. We’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the collaborative spirit of this gentle artistic genius from the people Jim knew, loved, and inspired.

This uplifting collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, songs, and insights gives new life to Jim’s magical world. With chapters titled Dynamite Determination; Listen to Your Heart; Together We Can Do It; It Starts When We’re Kids; and A Part of Everything and Everyone, It’s Not Easy Being Green is by turns entertaining, inspiring, and laugh-out-loud funny, reminding us that every day counts. Readers young and old will cherish this collection.

Culled from The Jim Henson Company archives, program transcripts, personal letters, and interviews, along with some of Jim’s never-before-published writings, It’s Not Easy Being Green is a testament to the legacy of a man who changed the way we see the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Reads Like a Eulogy
I have always been a huge fan of the Muppets show, and was hoping to learn more about Jim Henson, the creator of and driving force behind the Muppets when I discovered this little book. Instead, it is essentially a collection of quotes by Jim Henson, his co-workers, his family, and his Muppet characters, and as such, it reads more like a eulogy than anything else.

Although bracketed by a loving tribute by his daughter Cheryl, and a brief (4 page) biography at the end, I would have liked to see more narrative of Jim Henson's life and philosophy connecting the quotes. I think I'll go check out a Jim Henson biography instead, or best yet, watch some old Muppet show re-runs!

Kirmit
I bought this book for my wife. She has enjoyed it and even finished reading it.

Short but good
I thought the book was too short (as has been mentioned).And, I thought it was a little random on what they chose to include.

However... it's Jim Henson!Yeah!You can't really go wrong with Henson!So, ok... yeah... it's an awesome book!

Uplifting
This is one of the most uplifting books I have read in a while, te beauty of it is that you find the greatest philosophy in the most simple things. Jim Henson was not just a creative genious, he was a great man, with a mighty heart. His legacy lives on in his muppets and in his great love for the simple things that make this world worth living.

Good, But I'm Sure There's Better Henson Memorabilia
As I saw one reviewer mention, a quick glance through the pages instantly reveals that this isn't a full Henson bio, and I agree with the reviewer that such a bio would no doubt be superior to this little collection of quotes (no offense to the Henson family member that put this together).

But you know, I was in the store, not really knowing what to buy, and when I saw this inexpensive item, I figured somebody like me with great respect for Kermit the Frog couldn't go wrong.I wasn't disappointed.I did see how Henson got his start in the business, and that was good.I don't recall seeing how Kermit came about, but some neat bits and pieces of Sesame Street appeared along the way.Too bad I never watched Fraggle Rock. ... Read more

Product Description
Bert and Ernie were once just scribbles on notebook paper, and the original Oscar the Grouch was purple, not green. Before there were Muppets, there were Jim Henson’s designs and doodles.
This delightful collection of Henson’s early drawings, virtually none of which have been published before, serves as a map to the boundless imagination of the artist whose characters have educated and enraptured children—and adults—for generations. Filled with creatures of all sorts, from rarely seen Muppets like the single-toothed witch Taminella Grinderfall to bizarre beasts like the Frackles and the Koozebanians to lovable monsters like Sweetums and Splurge, Designs and Doodles forms a paper trail leading back to Henson’s roots as a graphic artist. These early posters, storyboards, and set and puppet designs celebrate the Muppet creator’s unique genius and wild sense of humor.Amazon.com Review
Jim Henson needs no introduction. For those of us who grew up with The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles reveals how his art came alive over a period of almost 20 years before those shows even began. For those who saw his advertisements and appearances on late-night shows, it is a reminder that he changed television. His creations required the genius of both the visual and the performing arts, mixed with a rolling sense of humor, and all are present here: the early silk-screens show the sensibility of a great artist, the drawings show the thinking process of a powerful designer, and the stories are those of one of the greatest performance artists of our time. The book ends in 1976, when The Muppet Show began its first season, leaving the reader hungry for more, but this archaeological journey goes a long way toward uncovering Jim Henson's world. --Juliette Cezzar ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Kermit, the early years
The title of this book is somewhat misleading. "Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles" is as much a biography of Henson as a gallery of his artwork. Admittedly, the biographical details focus on Henson's career, rather than his personal life, but the fact still remains that the text still takes up about as much space as the pictures themselves. I think that this is something that people should be aware of if they are thinking of purchasing this book. I, for one, was hoping to see more of Henson's artwork, and was somewhat disappointed at the sparseness of it.Nevertheless, this is still a worthwhile book.
This is the first (and only, as far as I am aware) book to contain Henson's early sketches and artwork, and any fan of the Muppets is likely to find this fascinating. It is possible, through these pictures, to see how many of the Muppets have evolved. For example, in Henson's original sketches, Oscar the Grouch was purple with a long, skinny neck, a far cry from the green monster who now appears on "Sesame Street". Furthermore, in spite of the fact that I wish there was less text and more pictures, I did find the text to be of interest when I finally sat down and read it.

Hopefully, there will one day be a second book, featuring more of Henson's artwork. However, until then, this is all that is available and provided that you are aware of the limitations of this book, you shouldn't be too disappointed.

Love Jim Henson
I ordered this book for my daughter who loves Jim Henson & the Muppets as a birthday present, and is a professional puppeteer inspired by Jim Henson. She absolutely loves this book and I highly recommend anything Jim Henson related as he was a pioneer in this area and one of the most creative people on the planet.

Facinating collection of work from Jim Henson
I have always been a Jim Henson fan.After all, I grew up with Sesame Street and the Muppet Show.I was always fascinated with the strange and creative creatures that he came up with.This book is a gold mine of his ideas and sketches - some that you will recognize and some that you have probably never seen.

This is sort of an odd book for me to have.I don't collect books based on movies or TV shows.But this one doesn't really fall into that category at all.It's more of an artist's diary and sketchbook.I enjoy just paging through it to look at all of the wonderous things Jim Henson imagined.His work seems to have something "odd" to it that I can somehow connect with and be fascinated by it.

I think anyone who has enjoyed Jim Henson's productions will probably enjoy looking through this book.It's an adventure to page through time after time.

Spot on Mr Henson..... Spot on!!
Jim Henson was a man who managed to sum up the whole intire feeling of what it was to be young, and full of energy in his fantastic creations. His work, from Mupets to films such as 'Labyrinth' and 'The Dark Crystal', showed us that he could tap that part of our minds that wanted to let go, and be free to live in our fantasies. This book, unlocks the back door to the mind that created our most cherished characters from the Henson world. It shows us where these characters came from, and also gives us an insight to the man who made it all happen. I found this book to be a real Gem, and an adventure. Just seeing the doodles Jim did as a child, or a teen, and some of his non character based art work, was fascinating. Buy this book If you are a fan of Mr hensons work. It is not the most complete book, as far as his other projects go, and some people may wish that some of his film work had got into the book. But for those that like to get closer to their idols, and want to feel like a close friend looking through his old scrapbooks, get this book. You won't be dissapointed.

Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles is the #1 Henson book!
This is a must for all you muppet fans!

The wonderful new long awaited book, Jim Henson's Desings and Doodles is almost a museum on paper. It shows Jim's best artwork, from storyboards, to puppet desingns, even a very early Kermit sketch. The book also features a never before seen look at the never produced special, "Johnny Carson and The Muppet Machine" which was to be a physcedelic trip into the 1960's. The artwork is very detailed, and even has a stone carving of Ed Macmahon! The book also shows some of his early work, including silkscreen images of meloncholy (which was inspired by the death of his brother , Paul) and concert posters and crazy characters who were soon to be Frackles!

One of the best parts of the book is Henson 's early commercial storyboards, which feature the two popular commercial Muppets ,Wilkins and Wontkins, Hansel and Gretel Muppets, and Kermit, The Snerfs and Rowlf (the IDEAL doll ad where Kermit sings the unfamilliar jingle"Oh buy us, oh buy us, oh buy us we beg! If you do not buy us, we'll bite you in the leg!!!) . Early drawings of the La Choy Dragon, and Nutty Bird(Royal Crown soda ads, precursor to Big Bird) are also featured.

The bookbrings us for the first time many illustrations of show ideas that never made it to the small screen. The Zoocus (The Zoo Circus), The Entertainers, and Martian Landing are all examples shown by illustrations from Jim's fertile imagination. The Zoocus was to be a show full of new Muppets such as Mr. Ripple and Carbourator Jones and had a guest star on each show (Sound like TMS to you?). The show would be a variety but would mostly ,as shown in Henson's drawings,be a talk show with the guest, where the Muppets would lounge behind large alters and other sets. The Entertainer was to be a show about a travelling vaudevillian show where Muppet men (and a can can girl) would sing popular songs at the time. This was also to be a Variety type show. Martian Landing would feature Muppet Koosebaine like creatures that would swap jokes and do skits on another planet. It was to be a Live variety show. It ashame these didn't get aired.

This book has so much I haven't mentioned yet, (I don't want to spoil it!) and it is definetly worth every penny. By far, one of my favs. among a long line of Muppet Books. Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
15 favorite tunes including: Mah-Na-Mah-Na * The Muppet Show Theme * The Rainbow Connection * Rubber Duckie. Includes 7 pages of color photos. 64 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Piano Music
Great book!I remember all the songs from when I was little.Fun to play.

Pick the Red book, Pick the Green book
I had to reorder this after loosing my original copy. There are two versions available.The red is Easy Play, and has all the pages zoomed in a little. The green has slightly more complex cords and a few are in different keys (as to be expected)

SWEET!
Songs I know and songs I don't know. This sheet music is really handy. I can now sing Muppet songs for auditions and voice performances at my command! It's great!

Muppet Songs
I only knew a few songs in this book and thought that there would bbe more that were sung on the "Muppet Show" eg Mahna Mahna etc

Great fun for kids and parents.
All the favorites that you will remember and want to share with your kids. Loaded with feel good memories and lots of fun. ... Read more

Product Description
Jim Henson's "Creature Shop" is one of the hottest animatronics companies in the film industry. This is the story of the "Creature Shop", the people who imagine, design, construct and operate the models and of the characters they create such as Babe, the Muppets and the 101 Dalmatian puppies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A VERY GREAT BOOK TO HAVE! A++++++++++++++++
One of the greatest effects masters still has to be Jim Henson. Without his incredible ingenuity and indispensable team of artisans and craftsman, we would not have the amazing puppets we have today.

I encountered Jim's work as a young boy, through shows like The Muppets, Labyrinth and even one of my secret favorites, The Dark Crystal. I was amazed by the work and the level of detail that they strove to achieve. While my later interests were more towards Tom Savini and the late Stan Winston's work, I still have a place for Jim Henson.

The man made characters, not creatures, that seemed to live and breathe long after the celluloid stopped running. Memorable characters like Kermit the Frog and Missy Piggy, I can't forget Fonzy, Bunsen and Beaker as well. Even the crazy-talking Swedish chef, which still gets a giggle from me.

The most memorable were his live-action Ninja Turtles, which till this day still amaze me years later how lifelike they are. Jim Henson was a man of innovation and seeing his work laid out in rare-never-before-seen images of his Creature Shop and the wonderful folks who made these characters come to life.

I think ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be like Jim Henson, a masterful puppeteer with incredible ideas and even more wonderful ideas on how to make them come alive. Anyone aspiring to be in animatronics of any type, for film, for fun, or otherwise just curious should own a copy of this book.

I was sad to hear in CineFX magazine (it was covering the live action Charolette's Web on the cover) that the original London Creature Shop had to close it's doors for good, as there are more Tax incentives pushing for CG work. But for now, the images of the great shop reside in the pages of this book and in the hearts of those Jim has touched over the years with his wonderful characters.

Truth in advertising?
The cover of the book I received was totally different than the photo and the condition of the book was way worse than the description. Otherwise the book was a fun read. At times it was hard to get past the British English spelling and grammar.

What can I say? It was great!
If you're a fan of Henson's work you'll absolutely die for this book! It's got great coverage over his past movies to 91. Some include The Dark Crystal, The great muppet Caper, and my personal favorite: THe Labyrinth!

awsome!!!!!!!
This book is great if you want to learn more about the movies that the creature workshop did instead of Jim Henson. Although it does talk alot about him it's more about the workshop he created and left behind. It's agrest book if you love Jim Henson's work and I do !Get it it's great!

Jim Henson {Fraggle} Rocks!
Since skipping school to go and watch 'Labyrinth'. I've been fascinated with animatronics. The creatures produced both during and after Jim Henson have been both imaginative and captivating.'No Strings Attached' is a wonderful book of mechanical invention, artistry and imagination.Being someone who loves to watch 'The making of..' specials on TV whenever a new special-effects blockbuster comes out, I found this book catered to my 'Wow! How did they do that?' curiosity. I am a great fan of puppetry but I am a biased fan of Jim Henson...if you buy this book, turn to page 112, the girl kneeling on one knee on the bottom right corner is yours truly! ... Read more

Product Description
Recounts how Jim Henson brought to life the Muppets and how he made other advances in the world of puppetry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent summary for anyone loving Muppets and/or puppets.
The photographs in this book are very engaging.Seeing the Muppeteers' at work drives home how amazing their accomplishments were and continue to be.

This book discusses the Muppets as an artistic medium and how many life skills and habits meshed to produce the success and sustainability of Muppetry. A person can be inspired to relish life experience and to develop great work attitudes after reading this book.Everyone will come away with an appreciation for the world of Muppetry. ... Read more

Product Description
From the incomparable imagination and lucid visions of Sandman creator Neil Gaiman and acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean -- and the innovative minds at The Jim Henson Company -- comes MirrorMask, a breathtaking journey through a strange and magical looking-glass world where anything can happen ... and frequently does.

Here is the complete film book of the new high-water mark in family fantasy entertainment. The story of young Helena, daughter of the circus, comes vividly alive as we accompany her on her remarkable mission to a place far beyond wonder; a phantasmagorical quest to rescue a realm from the devouring forces of chaos and shadow in order to win back her stolen "real" life from a runaway interloper from the other side.

Containing the full screenplay and more than 1,700 illustrated storyboards of the major motion picture -- as well as movie stills, comments, appreciations, and memories from the authors and filmmakers -- this one-of-a-kind volume is destined to become a classic, a keepsake to be cherished by fans of all ages.

For all who believe in the glorious reality of dreams, for everyone who longs to ride their imagination to miraculous places, the door is now open wide. See the world anew through the MirrorMask ... and nothing will ever look the same again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Fantastic Art Work
Purchased for myself but my 10 year old daughter has taken it from me. This is one of both of our favorite movies and having the script and the art work is an great additon to our book collection.

Amazing!!!
It was delightful to read and look at. Since I also enjoy reading movie scripts- it's even better to SEE what's going on in the movie at that time. Plus, there's a load of deleted scenes, and fantastic movie pictures as well. This is a MUST for all MirrorMask fans.

One day you'll see a strange little girl...
...in black...

If I had to sum up MirrorMask in one sentence, I would describe it as 'an allegory about Individuation'. This was Jung's term for the process by which we integrate or align the personal with the universal consciousness and ultimately become whole.

If Neil's script seems lacking in emotional fluidity at times, it is probably a deliberate mechanism to convey the varying degrees of emotional shutdown that people experience when transitioning between developmental states.

Just as with Alice In Wonderland, Snow White, Peter Pan and The Wizard Of Oz, the story involves a young female's transition to womanhood and all of the pantheon of archetypal combatants that invokes.

While Dorothy needed the mechanism of the ruby slippers (the moonblood of the Sacred Feminine) to get back 'Home' and restore order - the sacrificed Feminine - it is the magic of the MirrorMask itself that enables the healing of spiritual wounds (identity/alienation) in Neil and Dave's visually striking masterpiece.

The bottom line? Oz is Kansas.

Lord knows when I'll get to see the film, but having read this stunning 'guide', I can't wait, damn it. Ten stars.

There's a light, over at the Gaiman place...

Helena in wonderland
Writer Neil Gaiman has crafted dozens of dark fantasy books and graphic novels over the years; the only thing to expect from him is stuff that is a bit twisted and bizarre. In a good way, that is.

But in 2001, he embarked on a different kind of creative journey: Penning "Mirrormask," a Carroll-ian fantasy movie, directed by book illustrator (and Gaiman collaborator) Dave McKean. While the movie isn't yet out, the screenplay is a lavish affair with concept art, photos and background information.

Helena is a bored young girl in the circus, wanting a taste of real life. But then real life strikes: During a performance, her mother falls seriously ill and is hospitalized. Unhappy and directionless, Helena falls into another world -- a bizarre place full of masked people, griffins, orbiting giants and malevolent shadows.

She is soon told by the Prime Minister that an evil princess (who resembles her) has stolen a magical charm, sending the Queen of that city into a coma -- and her city into chaos. With the comically mercenary Valentine at her side, Helena finds herself sent on a dangerous quest to find the charm -- the mysterious Mirrormask.

Half of "Mirrormask"'s appeal is the eerie presentation, along with an archetypical heroine and opposing light/dark kingdoms. And it's a credit to both McKean and Gaiman that their screenplay is a good read on its own, letting eager fans know what to expect when the film finally sees the light of day.

What sets "Mirrormask: The Illustrated Film Script" apart from most screenplays? The fact that Gaiman and McKean included storyboard pictures with the dialogue. It's not easy to visualize what's happening in a movie just by reading the script, and so the storyboard images let the readers follow the dialogue more easily.

And of course: the photographs -- weird ones, usually patched together with surreal CGI, computer animation and wild makeup. Valentine's masklike face in particular is odd, but strangely convincing. There are even some behind-the-scenes photographs, including bluescreen shots and faux-aged pictures of anti-Helena.

To add to the wealth of information, the correspondence between McKean and Gaiman about this film, abbreviations and grammatical errors intact. "Fantasy stories rely on cliche too much, fairy stories about fairies I think are pointless, fairy stories about the people who need to believe in fairies I think are fascinating," McKean writes in one letter.

"Mirrormask" seems to be what one would expect from a Gaiman creation: Weird, strange, and surreal, yet also funny and touching. And for anyone anticipating the film, "Mirrormask: the Illustrated Script" is a must-have.

excellent book idea! Whole script and storyboards.
This is a great book, not similar to illustrated graphic novel of McKean or a text book from Gaiman but this book has entire script and storyboards of the film. What a great share what a great book idea thanks. Very useful source for both cinema and design students or professionals beyond to get taste for makin of this magic film. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Jim Henson
Although it isn't a very detailed book, I still found it very interesting and more appreciative of the work of Jim Henson.

Jim Henson Biography
This seller was prompt on delivery and the item was in perfect condition. I was very satisfied. Thank you ... Read more

Product Description
Jim Henson's The Storyteller is a book to enchant readers of all ages--inspired by the beloved guiding genius of Muppetdom and a whole world of creatures we have taken into our hearts. These nine delightfully illustrated stories, based on Henson's Emmy Award-winning television series, are fairy tales and folk tales beautifully told by Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella.

They deal with the universal themes of folk literature: fear and need; folly, greed, and enchantment; courage and generosity. They are about princesses and giants, about a soldier and a brave young boy (half-hedgehog and half-human), and about a storyteller terrified that he will run out of tales. Infused with the spellbinding Henson magic, these tales, treasured by generation after generation in the Old World, come to us now with a new radiance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

So *that's* what the Griffin was saying!
Just so you know, all 9 episodes of The Storyteller are now out on a single DVD - something many of us have been waiting for for years. This book is, I think, the original screenplay of Jim Henson's Storyteller series because it follows *very* closely to the stories and dialogue seen on TV.The illustrations are also taken from the show and are very nice.The written word is different from television, however, and these stories take on a different light often in one versus the other, and there are some expansions here that didn't make the final editing cuts.

My kid and I love "The Storyteller" series, and this book is a pleasant addition for bedtime reading.

Fabulous!
This book is fabulous.I grew up watching these stories come to like on the Jim Henson Hour, and I love having these stories at my finger tips.The stories are very intersting and original.The art work in the book is also fabulous!!They match the television portrail of story exactly.I am so glad that I am able to read and share these stories with my friends and family!

The language of storytelling
The television series was one of the best things ever to be shown on TV, but it's more than worthwhile to pick up this book just to be able to focus on Anthony Minghella's (yep, he of "The English Patient") waywith words. Minghella doesn't just write good narration, he writes good,old-fashioned *story-telling* Like, say, Kipling's "Just-SoStories," Minghella's "The Storyteller" captures thelanguage of the very best tale tellers.

One of the best pieces of magic ever written
Many years ago my family sat around the television, wide eyed and filled with magic; we were watching the Jim Henson Storyteller series.We waited and waited for it to reappear one day- to no avail.But FINALLY, a book! To be able to relive the "hugs and snoodles" of Hans My Hedghog,the stone soup tale of a "Story Short"- all of it beautifully,and creatively written, with illustrations to match- will take you back toyour childhood.I find it hard to believe this has yet to be discovered. Don't miss the videos that are now out, at long last!

Almost Perfection
Perfection is the TV series that preceded this book.Of course, I must gloat and say that I knew all those many years ago that Anthony Minghella was the most exquisite writer I had ever heard/read.His words coupledwith the genius of Jim Henson and company made for the best (noexaggeration) thing ever to be broadcast on television.To be able to readthe words from these shows and have them readily available on yourbookshelf is heaven. I've been recommending the TV series and this book foryears. I still recommend it today. ... Read more

Product Description
Labelled panoramas introduce the busy Twiddlebugs who work hard to make Ernie's window box a nice place to live. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very nice customer service...quick feedback
I needed the book for a gift, but it was not in the condition I expected it to be in.I received a quick response to my email and the customer service was great.Unfortunately, they did not have a copy of the book I wanted in good enough condition, but they refunded my money and still let me keep the original copy they sent. ... Read more

Product Description
Big Bird paints the clubhouse, creating paint fumes which the other members try to eliminate with lemons, roses, and even sardines. ... Read more

Product Description
Recounts the life story of the puppeteer whose remarkable creations, the Muppets, have found success in television and other media. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

BEST BOOK EVER!
I have read many books in my time, and this not one of them.I have checked this book out of the library countless times and have never read it.Despite this, I feel that this book should be counted among the greatest books of our time.While I personally deplore Mr.Henson and his mop people, this book is so wonderful that I can overlook my feelings and say "Whozaa!" and "Hallelujah". Anyone who looks at the pictures in this book and is not brought to tears is truly without feeling. My only issue with this marvelous piece of literature is that it is not longer.I could look at pictures forever.

Skips Along the Muppet Road
This was a good book but clearly an Elementary School's Biography. It didn't go into too much detail as far as the process and inspiration that Jim breathed into the creation of the Muppets. It was like someone had a very detailed book and just cut it appart. It didn't seem to tell the entire story, only the "appropriate for children" story. I was reading this book for a book project at school and had to use more than this source to really comprehend all dimensions of his life. It seemed like one of those Childhood of Young Americans or whatever...one of those biographies written "Dick and Jane" style. I didn't think it held too much important information and it was so thin that it should have been like an trifolds that you pick up at the people's museums. ... Read more

Product Description
When Grover takes care of his uncle's farm for the summer, he discovers being a farmer isn't as easy as he thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great book
I am now 25 years old, my parents would read this series to me everynight before bed when I was 3 or so. This was my favorite out of all of them. I just had to get it out of nostalgia and also to have something sentimental to read to my kids. ... Read more

Product Description
Bert and Ernie think of new games to play inside on a rainy day. ... Read more

Product Description
Grover reads a library book that introduces the characteristics of a variety of baby animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

awesome
I grew up on this book. Love it, love it.. I recieved my book very quickly. Packaged very well. Thanks very much.

great animal book
This book is a great book to teach kids what baby animals are which and what they are called. My mom used to read it to me and i loved it beacuse of the great pictures of the animals and how it discrbed every one. ... Read more

Product Description
Though he is afraid, Bean Bunny devises a plan to scare off the farmer's dog. ... Read more