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Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution That Changed America Paperback – May 18, 2021

by David Kamp (Author)

4.6 200 ratings

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One of the “Best Books” of the year from The Smithsonian, The Washington Independent Review, and more!

From bestselling writer David Kamp, the “fun, fascinating, and surprisingly touching,” (People) behind-the-scenes story of the cultural heroes who created the beloved children’s TV programs Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Free to Be…You and Me, and Schoolhouse Rock!—which transformed American childhood for the better, teaching kids about diversity, the ABCs, and feminism through a fun, funky 1970s lens.

With a foreword by Questlove.

In 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: Sesame Street. 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.

In Sunny Days, bestselling author David Kamp captures the unique political and social moment that gave us not only Sesame Street, but also Fred Rogers’s gentle yet brave Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; Marlo Thomas’s unabashed gender politics primer Free to Be…You and Me; Schoolhouse Rock!, an infectious series of educational shorts dreamed up by Madison Ave admen; and more, including The Electric Company and ZOOM. 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.

“Sunny Days is full of such nostalgic jolts…it makes the era a pleasure to revisit” (The Wall Street Journal) 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” (The New York Times Book Review) and, as the Los Angeles Times 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.”

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sunny Days” is full of such nostalgic jolts for readers who grew up in those years....it makes the era a pleasure to revisit."

― WALL STREET JOURNAL

"Fun, fascinating and surprisingly touching." ― PEOPLE MAGAZINE

"[A] lively and bewitching recounting of a particularly ripe period in television and cultural history." ― NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"It is almost impossible not to feel a warm blanket of nostalgia draped over you as you read; Kamp delivers a sense of comfort and familiarity on every page." ― WASHINGTON INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BOOKS

"David Kamp takes readers on a fascinating journey through the development of one of the most beloved shows on television." ― THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“Assiduously researched and frolicsome…both an educational odyssey and a balm for uncertain times.” ― O: THE OPRAH MAGAZINE

"If you’re looking for a healthy dose of nostalgia, this is your book...a deeply researched cultural history of beloved children’s TV programs—including Sesame Street, Schoolhouse Rock, The Muppets, and many more." ― FORTUNE

"This passionate, highly engaging media history will thrill pop culture buffs and those who remember these shows from their childhood." ― PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Researchers and nostalgic Sesame Street fans alike will appreciate this thorough, compelling overview of a pivotal period of TV history." ― LIBRARY JOURNAL

"A cultural history of how children's TV, once criticized for banal programming, changed dramatically in the 1960s...Kamp offers a brisk, lively account." ― KIRKUS

“Enchanting...For readers of a certain generation, Sunny Days will have a thrilling flashback effect, like a fizzy nostalgia drink, and the book's archival photos only enhance the time-tripping experience. For millennial readers, Sunny Days will be both a captivating glimpse at a revolutionary time and a blueprint for what's possible with a little seed money, civic-mindedness, feathers and glue.” ― SHELF AWARENESS

“Sunny Days is a splendid, clever, inspiring, and strangely suspenseful history of the revolution in children’s television that was Sesame Street. For those of us who grew up with the show, it was as natural and essential as oxygen, but Kamp’s detailed reporting reveals that its existence was anything but assured — in fact, it was a miracle. This book, just like its subject, is a tonic and an education, and casts a bright light of hope during these dark times.” -- ELIZABETH GILBERT, #1 New York Times bestseller author

“God, I loved the book…If you’re a Gen-X American who grew up in front of the television set, you gotta read this book…If you enjoyed the sunny days of your childhood, if you’re looking for more sunny days in America, pick up SUNNY DAYS by David Kamp." -- Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of WHEN and DRIVE

“With Sunny Days, David Kamp captures the pivotal moment when children’s television grew up. It could teach numbers! Letters! Emotions! These shows changed generations of children’s lives, myself included. Kamp has told an inspiring story, powered by love and grace.” -- ―MORGAN NEVILLE, Oscar-winning director of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

“A great read. I learned all kinds of things that I didn’t know, even after being at Sesame Street for 50 years.” -- ―BOB MCGRATH, original Sesame Street cast member

“Terrific! In one fell swoop, Sunny Days nails an entire historical era of American children’s TV. It took me back to when I worked with all of those extraordinarily talented people.” -- EMILIO DELGADO, Sesame Street cast member for 45 years

“When I read Sunny Days, I can once again see all the faces, human and Muppet and otherwise. Most important, I can feel all the things I felt back then, and I’m grateful for it.” -- QUESTLOVE, from the foreword of Sunny Days

"David Kamp has long been one of the keenest observers of popular culture. In Sunny Days, he turns that formidable mind to something with real emotional heft, too, and brings back to life a time of hope and optimism amidst a country torn apart at the seams. This is an essential book on an essential moment in the history of American television." ― BRIAN KOPPELMAN, Co-creator of Billions

“Sunny Days is a terrific read. It’s nostalgic, sure, but it’s also revealing, inspiring, and entirely engrossing.” -- RON HOWARD

"I’ve been asked to contribute to several books over the years, but the one that really impressed my Mama is David Kamp’s Sunny Days.” -- APRIL REIGN, founder of the #OscarsSoWhite movement

“Real. Radical. Revered. Remarkable. Relevant. Revealing. Racy. REVOLUTIONARY. Those are all words that start with R and yes, we are talking about Sesame Street and David Kamp’s fascinating origin story of a show that raised us all.” -- PAMELA ADLON, creator of Better Things

“Anybody interested in the history of television will love Sunny Days. Cool read.” ― MICHAEL IAN BLACK

About the Author

David Kamp is an author, journalist, humorist, lyricist, and a charter member of the Sesame Street—viewing audience. A longtime contributor to Vanity Fair, 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 The United States of Arugula, a chronicle of America’s foodways. His first musical as a lyricist, Kiss My Aztec!, a collaboration with John Leguizamo, had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2019. He began his career at Spy, the legendary satirical monthly. He lives with his family in New York City and rural Connecticut.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster (May 18, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501137816
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501137815
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.38 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #748,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #408 in TV History & Criticism
- #454 in TV Shows
- #2,280 in Communication & Media Studies

Customer Reviews:
4.6 200 ratings

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David Kamp

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David Kamp is an author, journalist, lyricist, and humorist. Among his books are the national bestseller The United States of Arugula (Broadway Books, 2006), a chronicle of America’s foodways; the upcoming Sunny Days (Simon & Schuster, May 2020), a history of the Sesame Street-Mister Rogers era of children’s television; and, as co-author, Martin Short’s bestselling memoir, I Must Say (HarperCollins, 2014). A longtime contributor to Vanity Fair, he has profiled such figures as Johnny Cash, Sly Stone, Lucian Freud, Kerry Washington, Bruce Springsteen, John Hughes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and the Brill Building songwriters. His work also appears regularly in the New York Times. His first outing as a lyricist for the stage, for the John Leguizamo musical comedy Kiss My Aztec!, had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in the spring of 2019; the show is now New York-bound. David began his career at Spy, the legendary satirical monthly. He lives in with his family in New York City and rural Connecticut.

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Mia

A smart, well-researched book about a remarkable moment

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

As a child of the late 1970s and early 1980s, I have indelible memories of shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company. With wit, intelligence, and a host of valuable interviews and research, David Kamp gives us the background and history not just of these shows (and others like them), but of the social and political backdrop that brought forth -- and ultimately brought down -- this golden age of children's education television programming. David's passion, enthusiasm and warmth for this material is obvious, but he is also a clear-eyed chronicler of the period.

7 people found this helpful

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Grey Kian

One of my favorite books of 2020!

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

WOW! If you’re a kid who grew up in the 70s watching “Sesame Street,” “Schoolhouse Rock,” “Zoom,” “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and “The Electric Company,” you will LOVE this book, SUNNY DAYS, beautifully written by David Kamp. From the first page I was instantly transported back to my childhood, vividly remembering every word to songs like “Conjunction, junction, what’s your function,” “I’m just a bill, yes, I’m only a bill and I’m sitting here on Capital Hill,” and “We’re gonna zoom-a, zoom-a, zoom-a zoom” (pre-Covid different Zoom 😁). Remember “The Magic Garden?” - it’s in here (and did you know Carole was the original Sandy in “Grease” on Broadway? I didn’t). I was fascinated by the back stories of how “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” were developed. I truly could not put this book down. The NY Times and Wall Street Journal agree. It’s a perfect read during these surreal times that instantly brings you back to the safer days of your childhood. I know you’ll feel the same way. SUNNY DAYS - buy it; you’re gonna love It!

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Tony Vancauwelaert

Brought back many good memories.

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

This was an enjoyable read, given that I am the first year of the Gen X generation and remember watching the majority of these programs. I enjoyed learning the back story on the work and development that led to these programs coming to fruition. Had I not read this book, I would not have had any idea of all the politics and organizations that were involved as well as all the entities against these programs. While I enjoyed learning about all the characters and actors and their background, I would have liked there to have been even more in that regard and less on all the names and individuals in the various organizations and movements. At times, the listing of these individuals and their platforms lacked any depth - this is the only reason I am am rating this as four instead of five stars. Thanks again, for taking me down memory lane!

One person found this helpful

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alym

Chase the clouds away

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

For those of us who grew up in the original Sesame Street audience, this book is like an ice cold Tang on a hot summer day.

For those of us who have followed David Kamp's writing, his ability to illuminate a subject from every angle and cross-reference the critical fact nugget down the cultural undercurrent in the service of expanding our understanding is not novel; but it does induce quite a few smiling head shakes accompanied with a muttered "how does he do that". (see the Bruce Springsteen interview in Vanity Fair)

For those of us who tend to be innately cynical, the title of this book is challenging. Especially those whose oldest Gen Z children grew up watching later day Sesame Street, but whose younger kids eschewed Elmo for the Disney and Nick fare.

These are cloudy times for politics, education, and the unity of our country. Sunny Days gives us insight into the stories and lives of a cast of characters who went against the cultural conventions, overcame their own limitations, and created a relationship betwen kids and adults across the tv spectrum in the service of learning and loving. All done with plenty of grist for the cynic.

I finished the book at about the time the news broke that a political rally was scuttled by some kids who had a better handle on the internet than their parents. I felt a little relieved. The book made me feel that maybe our generation hasn't done as well by our kids as our parents generation did by us. Clearly we passed along something.

This is an important read. It's as much about American history as it is about Children's Television. It holds a place in my mind with Bob Dylan's new elegy of post Camelot America, Cate Blanchett's Mrs. America, and the continuing struggle for racial equality for Black Lives in America.

Well done...

6 people found this helpful

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Natasha Lance Rogoff

Most entertaining book about Children's TV in America

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

After reading many books about children's television in America, I found Kamp's book focusing on the intersection of politics of the times and the making of various children's programs fascinating. He is a beautiful storyteller and does not shy away from revealing controversial choices made by Sesame Street's producers and Fred Rogers which, in some cases, had the potential to add fuel to opponents of public television's "liberal' agenda. If you enjoyed the documentary about Mr. Rogers or the feature film with Tom Hanks about Fred Rogers - you will love this book. Bravo!

5 people found this helpful

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someguy

How can chaos and despair lead to progress?

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

Here's the true story of how some Americans, shaken by the 1960's, responded with passion and grit (along with a load of talent) to improve their country. Offering so much more than nostalgia, the book takes you behind the shows to meet the brave people who took big chances, often risking their careers, all for the sake of progress instead of wealth. An inspiring book, that's also damn fun to read.

2 people found this helpful

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ZenBMF

I laughed, I cried two thumbs up, better than CATS!

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

Seriously, a well-researched and presented look back at the magic and shared cultural vision that brought Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Free to Be...You and Me, and Schoolhouse Rock! to life with that unique 70's vibe.

A fun and informative read for all and trip down Memory Lane for those of us of a certain age (but apparently not grumpy academics).