Sunny Days

The Children's Television Revolution That Changed America

By: David Kamp

Narrated by: David Sadzin

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.”

Critic reviews

"David Kamp's meticulous research provides a history of the Children's Television Workshop, and narrator David Sadzin is a fine guide through the neighborhoods of Make Believe and Sesame Street. Sadzin's friendly, open narration captures the feel of the '60s and '70s—that sense of wanting to make change for the greater good. Devoted to improving the quality of children's television, CTW figures Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett and actor/writer/producers Rita Moreno and Marlo Thomas explain the political obstacles they faced in order to air such groundbreaking programs as 'Free to be You and Me,' 'The Electric Company,' and 'Sesame Street.' In a matter-of-fact tone, Sadzin delivers the behind-the-scenes struggles as well as the sunny days."

Great book

If your an adult who grew up in the 70s on these shows this book is an amazing breakdown of the creation of the CTW , Mr Roger’s and other network children shows of the 60s/70s - bug recommend.

Very interesting

There was a lot of interesting information that took me back to my childhood. Loved that time, it connected us children.

Sunny Days, Indeed

As a child of the 1970s who fondly remembers watching “Sesame Street”, “The Electric Company”, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, and “New Zoo Revue” while growing-up, I found this book to be a fascinating history of these and the other excellent children’s TV programs of that era. The book conveys the spirit of the soulful, optimistic, and socially-minded children’s educational television of the 70s. “Sunny Days” is quite engaging and uplifting, and I highly recommend it!

It does bring up some memories but...

I believe the book is too long and wordy, too long winded and slow paced to be a fun listen. But It does mention many shows, some I have never seen but are on youtube. It shows the connections behind the people behind children’s programming and how they were specifically a product of their time.

I would rather hear the original sound bytes and jingles rather than Sadzin performing them but over all his reading was bearable if somewhat muddled.

Not What You Expect.

If you were looking for a detailed, structured narrative on how the show became what it was and is within an art form, look elsewhere. This book deals heavily on social issues during its formation. Such reading is absolutely interesting for a couple chapters and highly enlightening, but not for an entire book about a show that embodies so much more.