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Feb 08, 2012

Bridgette rated it:

These days it is rather remarkable to read a memoir of an actor/performing artist that is unrelentingly upbeat, positive, and optimistic. Then again, would you expect anything less from the puppeteer who creates Sesame Street’s Elmo?

Kevin Clash’s memoir, My Life as a Furry Red Monster, co-written with Gary Brozek, is a warm autobiography of a man who has made a career out of being three-and-a-half. Like Elmo, Kevin Clash’s enthusiasm jumps off the page. He is sensitive, caring, and po More...

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May 25, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

I don't really like Elmo from Sesame Street, in fact he's kind of taken over, thanks to his overall "I played the cute card one to many times" popularity. Yeah he's cute, but I have other favorites. If you ask me there was NEVER enough Oscar on that show. I loved Oscar, and Bert (WHO DOESN'T LOVE AN ANAL RETENTIVE MUPPET?) and Snuffy **. I grew up with Sesame Street as a kid, and so when I saw this book I was intrigued.

My Life As A Furry Red Monster immediately grabbed my a More...

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Aug 18, 2009

Mallory rated it:

There's something about Kevin Clash that I just like. Elmo is not my favorite Henson character, but he is awesome as Clifford. I have been on a CTW/Henson/Sesame Street kick since I read Street Gang, and, while I liked this book, it didn't do much for me but serve as a time killer.

The anecdotes from Clash's life are very interesting, and follow him from childhood into his puppeteering career. It's always interesting to find out how a boy from Baltimore ended up in such a differen More...

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Jan 13, 2009

Andrea rated it:

This was a cute book I picked up at the library, I couldn't resist knowing more about the 6 ft tall black man that is the ebullient voice behind Elmo, who I came to love when my kids were very young, though he wasn't on the Sesame Street of my youth. A great book for young readers, I think, because it really shows how following your passion can lead to success. He recalls many hours spent creating puppets in his home, and I can tell you right now, if my kid spent all day making puppets, I woul More...

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Nov 17, 2010

Lisa rated it:

As a curious mom, the more my daughter watched Sesame Street and Elmo, I started wondering about the puppeteer who played Elmo. I noticed his name for not only Elmo but as a director or producer of many of the Sesame Street epidsodes. So I got interested and googled him only to find that he is this 6 foot something black man! Not at all what I expected for this little furry red monster. Then I found this book about him and decided to read it.I was blown away and touched by this book. I expected More...

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May 24, 2011

VeganMedusa rated it:

I did like reading this guy's story, how he grew up as a black kid obsessed with making puppets. He had great parents that never forced him to go out and play with other kids, they were happy as long as he was happy doing his thing. I don't think there would have been many parents that understanding back then, or even now.
I didn't enjoy the preaching from Elmo so much. "Elmo has taught me..." Um, you do know that Elmo isn't real, right? Seeing your hand is up his butt, I really h More...

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Oct 08, 2007

Raja99 rated it:

Why I Read This Book: My two-and-a-half-year-old son is a huge fan of Elmo, and I was curious about the man who performs him.

Review: This is an excellent and heartwarming book by and about Kevin Clash, the man who performs Elmo. It includes nice line drawings by Louis Henry Mitchell.

The book opens with a short "Welcome to 'Elmo's World'--and My World Too."
After this, the book is divided into nine sections: "Love", "Joy", "Creativit More...

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May 11, 2009

Janet rated it:

I’m probably going to anger a lot of people, but I have a confession to make. I just don’t get the universal appeal of Elmo. He’s cute, but I find his hyperactive personality to be more than a little annoying. In this book, Kevin insists on treating Elmo as a real coworker who has thoughts and opinions “Elmo says…” or “Elmo’s view on…” got really old really fast. I wonder if Kevin has forgotten that Elmo isn’t a real person. He’s just a lump of foam and red fur.

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Apr 19, 2011

Regina rated it:

Very sweet.
Almost too sweet.

But then, what would you expect from Elmo!?

Kevin Clash tells about his life growing up in Turner's Station, Maryland and his childhood from sharing a room with his siblings, putting on puppet shows for the neighborhood kids and turning down his first two job offers in hopes of landing a Sesame Street gig that didn't come through.
He relates many of his own life experiences to story-lines that Elmo has experienced on the show and they r More...

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Feb 04, 2012

Mary rated it:

Everyone recognizes Elmo, that cute, furry red monster on the ever-popular Sesame Street television program. But few people know about his puppeteer, the talented Kevin Clash. In this light-hearted memoir, Clash shares bits about his past, as well as what life is like for him today as he performs on television, and tours the country with Elmo in tow.

To read my full review, please check it out here: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action...

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Dec 25, 2011

Victoria rated it:

I can't honestly say that I loved Elmo until reading this book. And Kevin Clash is a very special man for understanding what that little red furry monster is supposed to be to a child. I'd recommend this for parents or grandparents of Sesame Street aged children and also for young teens who've outgrown Sesame Street but remember Elmo fondly and are at a stage in their lives for the words of this book to have an impact.

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Nov 30, 2010

Linnae rated it:

Clash tells a good story. Apparently, he was fascinated by puppets from the time he was very young, and he had the support of his parents, even when the community at large was skeptical. My favorite story was when he caught "monkey fever," and just HAD to make a monkey puppet. I'll let you guess what he took a pair of scissors to for the fur.

Quick, feel-good read. Kind of like watching Sesame Street...

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Oct 10, 2009

Janet rated it:

While not a literary masterpiece in any sense, this book sure hit the spot. I wanted an upbeat book to balance out the depressing one I just read, and you can't get any more cheerful than Elmo!

Clash's story is interesting, there are life-affirming lessons-a-la-Elmo in each chapter, and the behind-the-scenes glimpses of "Sesame Street" make this book a perfect choice for someone like me who grew up with the 'Street.

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Apr 15, 2008

Tami rated it:

Elmo. He's cute, he's furry, and for years he's been teaching the world to ask questions, to be creative, and to love with a pure heart. Odd but I never really thought about an actual person "being" Elmo.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster is written by Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind that furry red smile. In hearing his story, you understand that Elmo is merely an extension of the way this man tries to live his life. Kevin grew up in a household full of love where More...

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Aug 17, 2011

Kalah rated it:

What's not to love, ammi right?!
Love muppets, love children's programming, lovelovelove adults dedicating their lives to improving those of children. And, of course, love all things Hensen. This book made me want to ditch all my plans and go work for Seseame Street, because that's a life worth living. What great people, doing such hard work to make such an important difference.

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Jun 21, 2011

Crysta rated it:

Rather than a biography, or a memoir, Kevin Clash's book about his life as the voice and spirit of the Muppet Elmo is a collection of short essays about what Elmo can teach us about life (hence the subtitle). Chapters include "Love," "Joy," "Creativity," "Tolerance," and others. Those looking for a book full of details about Muppeteering, Sesame Street, or other assorted topics will be disappointed. Personally, I was unimpressed. The lessons that Clash has More...

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Mar 11, 2011

Dena rated it:

This book was insightful, and there are portions that come to mind regularly. I especially appreciated the way that Kevin's parents support his love for puppets and sewing at such a young age. I know a lot of people who would try to squash that kind of desire from their child. Overall, it was moderately interesting, and a kind of general "feel-good" book.

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Jan 06, 2012

Rachel rated it:

Even though I'm not a fan of Elmo (I grew up watching "Sesame Street" when it was an ensemble show, not a showcase for the little red menace), I did enjoy reading about his creator, Kevin Clash. Clash seems like a genuinely nice person who is very grateful for and humbled by the enormous success of his character, and his words show he's more than just the man behind the Muppet monster. "My Life..." isn't a traditional biography, but more or less a colorful potpourri of shared More...

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Feb 11, 2009

Stacey rated it:

I enjoyed hearing him on NPR when the book came out a couple of years ago. I finally read the book and was a bit disappointed. It is more about how he had learned more about good qualities such as kindness and honesty through his work as Elmo than it is about Sesame Street and Elmo. It was an okay, light read.

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Mar 19, 2010

jamaicaska rated it:

Who would have thought that the voice (and the hands)of Sesame Street's cute furry red monster is a tall, African-American guy?? Kevin Clash talks about his dream and struggles of being a puppeteer, working with Jim Henson and how being the man behind Elmo has taught him about life. This is the real Elmo's world.

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Dec 01, 2011

Kristen rated it:

My nearly two-year-old niece picked this up after a nap in my room, and tried three times to read it... =) All those words were a bit confusing to her, though! She has a huge crush on Elmo, so when my mom brought this home from the library I had to read it. It was quick and happy.

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Oct 31, 2010

Natalie rated it:

This book was recommended by a friend, and it didn't disappoint. I, too, was expecting a autobiography on the puppeteers life, and how he came to such an amazing role. Instead, the book touched on life's lessons learned through the eyes of a furry red monster. It was touching.

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Oct 29, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

If you have small children or have had small children, you know Elmo... This memoir of the guy behind Elmo is really pretty interesting. I read it a couple years ago and still remember the stories (how he got into puppeteering, behind the scenes at Sesame Street, etc...)

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Jun 20, 2009

Leah rated it:

Aww. That was adorable. I adore Elmo and Henson Studios and everything Muppet, but this book has such a good insight on what we really can learn from living on 123 Sesame Street and watching a bear and a frog being best friends. Just downright amazing.

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Aug 10, 2008

Lisa rated it:

Since my kid's obsessed, I decided to read about the man behind the Muppet. And I must say, I am impressed by what I read! Kevin Clash seems like an awesome, awesome guy. I really admire him and his dedication to entertaining and educating children. I also gained more appreciation for Jim Henson, who I've always loved (Kermit is my man), and for Sesame Street itself, which I didn't know much about. Hooray for Muppets!

The reason I didn't give it higher star rating is simply because it' More...

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Feb 28, 2009

Carol rated it:

Even if you don't watch Sesame Street everyday with your 18 month old grandson, I think everyone would enjoy this book. What a wonderful story about never giving up on your dreams. Quick read. Remember Elmo loves you!!!

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Jul 18, 2007

Sherrie rated it:

Kevin Clash is a Sesame Street puppeteer. He is better known as that red furry ticklish guy named Elmo. Kevin tells his tale of growing up in a loving African American family. The lessons learned from his parents and the support they imparted to their son is a wonder to behold. Mr. Clash tells of his beginnings in local TV and of eventually realizing his dream as a puppeteer on Sesame Street. Clash reflects on the teachings that Elmo has been able to impart over the 20 years of his furry More...

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Jan 13, 2012

Geoff rated it:

Quick easy read. More interesting as a view behind the scenes of Sesame Street then about Elmo or Clash himself. But a great reassurance of the quality of individuals actively engaged in educating/entertaining our children as put in motion by Jim Henson.

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Mar 17, 2009

Anna Francesca rated it:

While not a literary masterpiece, this book is a wonderful tribute to following one's dreams. It nicely intertwines Kevin Clash's life experiences with positive attitudes fostered by the Sesame Street enterprise. I enjoyed reading this book and even came to see a depth behind what at first seemed like an unrelentlessly-sunny presentation.

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Jan 05, 2010

Emily rated it:

Okay, this book was not what I expected. I expected to love it, to read a cute story about a man who plays a red monster. Instead I felt lectured about how I should feel about life. I actually never finished it totally, just skimmed. I felt most of the chapters repeated the same theme. He was loved as a child, creative and can't believe how popular he became. Not the book for me I guess.

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