An inspiring message for all ages: Find your inner bird. If you're looking for wisdom and joy in your life, go straight to "Sesame Street "and heed the words of its most beloved and profound resident, Caroll Spinney, who has spent the past thirty-four years in a bird costume (and a trash can) as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Three decades inside a giant puppet have taught Spinney a valuable and surprising lesson: Being a bird can make you a better person. In The Wisdom of Big Bird, the living legend of Sesame Street describes how we can all find our inner bird (or grouch). Each chapter illustrates a piece of useful wisdom Spinney has gleaned from a career in feathers. The lessons Big Bird teaches children every day on Sesame Street are the same ones that have brought Spinney success and satisfaction in his own life. Warm, witty, and affirming, Caroll Spinney's memoir proves that being a bird can make you a better and happier person. "Every day on Sesame Street, we strive to give our innocent young audience the basis of a lifelong education. It is no accident that spending the past thirty-four years in the Bird suit teaching these lessons to others has taught me a few things, too."--from The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch)

Author Biography

Caroll Spinney has performed as Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the show's inception in 1969. Prior to that, he performed as many characters on Bozo's Big Top in Boston for ten years, had a career in art and animation, and served in the Air Force. He has traveled the world as Big Bird, won Grammys and Emmys, and been named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. He lives in New En-gland with his wife, Debra. They have three children and three grandchildren. J Milligan was the creative director and head writer at Sesame Workshop's interactive department for five years. In addition to writing for the Sesame Street characters and designing games, Milligan has had work published in The New Yorker and XXL magazine and on word.com. He has completed his first novel, Jack Fish, and consults for Sesame Workshop on projects in various media. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, the artist Amy Yang. They have three cats and a dog. For more information on Caroll Spinney, please visit www.carollspinney.com.