My Life as a Furry Red Monster by Kevin Clash

My Life as a Furry Red Monster is the lighthearted autobiography of Kevin Clash, the voice and muppeteer talent behind Sesame Street’s most beloved character, Elmo.  In the book, Clash describes in some detail his youth and early love of puppets and acting, performing in neighborhood shows and making his own puppets out of scrap materials.  He mentions how his early forays into television shaped the characters he would play on Sesame Street, and describes the global impact that Sesame Street has had with localized versions in foreign countries. Clash then ties it all in by explaining what Elmo has become: a friend that three-year-olds feel they can relate to and an expression of unconditional love and curiosity.  Elmo is the optimist and the best in all of us.  Highly recommended.