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A Sesame Street Growing-Up Book
A Bird's Best Friend
Big Bird learns that taking care of a puppy, a surprise gift from Granny Bird to Big Bird, is a big responsibility.
The puppy eventually becomes Big Bird's best friend!
The puppy eventually becomes Big Bird's best friend!
25 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 6, 2026
With characters from the American Educational Children's television series 'Sesame Street' 'A Bird's Best Friend' tells the story of Barkley, a puppy who barked when Granny Bird gave him as a present to Big Bird, thus his name, goes to the park to have some fun with his new owner.
On the way to the park, the duo walked past Oscar's trash can when the latter asks Big Bird, 'Who's the walking dust mop?' Told that it is his new puppy, Big Bird hears Oscar say, A dog, eh? That's not as great as having a pet worm like Slimey here, but not bad.'
They meet other Sesame Street friends in the park and the first of them, Grover, asks, 'Who is your adorable furry new friend?' And Barkley is introduced. Bert thinks it is 'Neato', adding. 'I'm partial to pigeons, of course, but dogs are good pets, too.' Prairie Down introduces her own dog Rustler while the Muppet Telly asks if they can play with Barkley.
They all play lots of games and have a good time until it is time to go home and when they arrive Barkley is quite tired with all the exercise so Big Bird settles him down in his cozy nest. Big Bird settles down beside him and is soon fast asleep.
The next morning Sherlock Hemlock knocks on the door accompanied by his dog named, well I guess you will know his name, and suggests they go for a walk. It rains so they visit friends Ernie and Bert but Barkley having his paws wet from the rain makes muddy marks all over their house. They clean up the mess and Big Bird and Barkley go home.
At home Big Bird gives Barkley a good wash and then settles him down to have a nap while he goes off to visit Grover. But Barkley thinks that he will go out, too, so off he trots and causes a little havoc at Herry Monster's home and then in the garden next to Hooper's Store before he returned home.
Unfortunately he is mischievous and when Big Bird returns he is annoyed and Maria (Sonia Manzano - a human fictional character in the Sesame Street series) hears the noise and investigates. The conclusion is that as Maria explains, 'Barkley is only a puppy' and Big Bird calms down, realising that this is so.
Thereafter everyone played happily together every day and Big Bird is obliged to say, 'Barkley is the best present I ever got.' And it is all great fun!
On the way to the park, the duo walked past Oscar's trash can when the latter asks Big Bird, 'Who's the walking dust mop?' Told that it is his new puppy, Big Bird hears Oscar say, A dog, eh? That's not as great as having a pet worm like Slimey here, but not bad.'
They meet other Sesame Street friends in the park and the first of them, Grover, asks, 'Who is your adorable furry new friend?' And Barkley is introduced. Bert thinks it is 'Neato', adding. 'I'm partial to pigeons, of course, but dogs are good pets, too.' Prairie Down introduces her own dog Rustler while the Muppet Telly asks if they can play with Barkley.
They all play lots of games and have a good time until it is time to go home and when they arrive Barkley is quite tired with all the exercise so Big Bird settles him down in his cozy nest. Big Bird settles down beside him and is soon fast asleep.
The next morning Sherlock Hemlock knocks on the door accompanied by his dog named, well I guess you will know his name, and suggests they go for a walk. It rains so they visit friends Ernie and Bert but Barkley having his paws wet from the rain makes muddy marks all over their house. They clean up the mess and Big Bird and Barkley go home.
At home Big Bird gives Barkley a good wash and then settles him down to have a nap while he goes off to visit Grover. But Barkley thinks that he will go out, too, so off he trots and causes a little havoc at Herry Monster's home and then in the garden next to Hooper's Store before he returned home.
Unfortunately he is mischievous and when Big Bird returns he is annoyed and Maria (Sonia Manzano - a human fictional character in the Sesame Street series) hears the noise and investigates. The conclusion is that as Maria explains, 'Barkley is only a puppy' and Big Bird calms down, realising that this is so.
Thereafter everyone played happily together every day and Big Bird is obliged to say, 'Barkley is the best present I ever got.' And it is all great fun!
June 18, 2019
Big Bird loves his new puppy, but has not taken into account how much work a new puppy is. Fortunately, he has a supportive community. More Sesame Street residents have dogs than I thought.
Good for families on the verge of getting pets and talking about responsibility.
Good for families on the verge of getting pets and talking about responsibility.
August 27, 2021
Classic Sesame Street. Just ok.
January 13, 2015
This is a very good book to get your child when you get or are thinking of getting them their first pet. Especially a dog or a cat. Big Bird receives his first pet dog, Barkley there is so much more to taking care of him than he realized but with the help of his Sesame Street friends he realizes all the work is worth having his best friend.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews