Well, not exactly. But the man behind Elmo, Kevin Clash, has an upcoming book, My Life as a Furry Red Monster, in which he describes his life as the animating spirit behind one of Sesame Street’s most beloved characters. Clash, who is six feet tall and African American, is physically a far cry from his short, red alter ego, but the subtitle of his book, What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud indicates there may be more similarities between the two than first meets the eye. The New York Times has an interview with Clash that reveals more of his background and outlook.
I have to admit, I was an Elmo skeptic. I was one of the first generation to grow up with Sesame Street, so Elmo appeared long after my time. He was new-fangled, mass marketed, and, well, slightly too high pitched for my tastes. Elmo immediately mesmerized my now-three-year-old son, however. Who was I to argue?
Clash’s book is aimed at adults, not children, and looks to add further dimension to our understanding of Clash, Elmo, and the power of imagination to entertain, educate, and comfort. It will be released on September 5, and Amazon is taking pre-orders already. I’m looking forward to it.
