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The Bookaneers, and Four Other Sesame Street Episodes About Reading

A.J. O'Connell

Staff Writer

A.J. O’Connell is the author of two published novellas: Beware the Hawk and The Eagle & The Arrow. All she’s ever wanted to do in life is read and write books, and so, is constantly writing at least one novel. She holds an MFA in creative fiction, but despite the best efforts of her teachers at Fairfield University's low-residency program, remains a huge dork for sci-fi, fantasy and comic books. She is a journalist and has taught journalism to college students. She blogs about feminism, the writing life, and whatever else comes into her head at www.ajoconnell.com. Blog: A.J. O'Connell Twitter: @ann_oconnell

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I have a two-year-old, so I watch a lot of Sesame Street. Like, A LOT. (Like, I wake up in the middle of the night humming Elmo’s letter of the day song.)

So imagine my delight last month when I was setting the table for dinner and heard the voice of my queen, Tina Fey. And Tina Fey wasn’t doing just any voice. She was doing a pirate voice.

And she wasn’t just any pirate. She was the captain of the Bookaneers, and after inducting Elmo into her crew, she raided the local library. (Later, Pharrell came by to sing about reading.)

This episode made me so happy that I went looking for other bookish episodes of Sesame Street. Here are some of my favorite reading segments.

In Bert’s Book

Ernie wants to go outside and play ball, but Bert is reading a really good book and needs to finish it.

Lauren Graham and Grover are Authors

“I’ve always wanted to write a book about a pickle.”

The Library Song

Gordon, Susan and Linda sing about the library in this clip that I might just be including because it aired when I was watching Sesame Street as a kid.

The Martians Discover a Book

You never see them on Sesame Street anymore, but I love the Martians. In this segment, they find a book. Yep, they do. Yep. Yepyepyepyepyep uh-huh, uh-huh.

Want more litarary Sesame Street goodness? Check out Sesame Street’s hilarious bookish parodies.