What do you think of Lily?

[Cinderella]

She is the new Muppet on Sesame Street with a message about being from an impoverished family in America and the growing childhood hunger.

Lily, a 7-year-old girl muppet, comes from a family that struggles to have enough food. In the one-hour special, Lily talks to other characters about growing up in a home where there was not always enough food, and then helps Elmo and friends plan a food drive for the food bank that helped feed her family.

“You know it helps when we all come together,” Lily told ABC News’ David Muir when they spoke in Central Park.

Lily has a habit of looking down at the ground when nervously talking about her experiences, mimicking how many children hesitate when talking about heartfelt subjects, Betancourt said.

But this muppet has a message she wants the one in four children who are living in food insecure homes to know:

”You’re just not alone,” she said.

Link to full story

[TigerLily]

I know that I love Sesame Street. It has such a great way of addressing serious issues. It's great for kids who probably have no idea of these problems, and it's also great for kids who might be struggling to show them that they aren't alone. Go Lily!

[diggitydot]

I agree. SS has a great way of handling subjects for kids. And it's a subject that is entirely apropos.

[corn poffi]

Love it. Love love love Sesame Street (in case you couldn't tell)

[GrayMatterWife]

I guess it depends. If the point is to teach children that some other children are suffering in this way, and gives them tools for helping to relate, or to teach children in this situation that they are not alone and that people care--then it sounds like a good thing. Puppets are an effect, nonthreatening way to relate to kids and the puppetiers that handle the Muppets do such a good job of creating real-life expressions and responses.

Of course, it's PBS, so I seriously doubt that they would work into the plot line something like the fact that many churches have missions to the homeless and hungry and believe that God calls us to share our bounty to help the less fortunate. Let's just hope that Big Bird is not in the background, sneering, "Your poverty is all George W's fault!!"

Generally, I don't watch or trust PBS. I think they always have a leftie agenda, regardless of the particular show. Hopefully, though, this will be constructive and create a "safe place" for discussing the issue with kids.

[corn poffi]

Sesame Street was actually created as a show for lower income kids who didn't have access to early childhood education. I mean the show takes place in the hood. I seriously doubt there are political motives. The show is written by childhood experts, and it's constantly evolving to the current situation.

The show has addressed a million different issues, all with the purpose of creating a "safe place". Not everything has hidden motives.

[GrayMatterWife]

I know the background of "Sesame Street" and its setting. The question was, "What do you think?" That's what I think--it has the potential of doing good. However, that thought is against the backdrop of the fact that I don't trust PBS's motives in any context.

[corn poffi]

PBS doesn't produce SS. Would you feel the same if it suddenly moved to Nick Jr.?

Honestly wondering, not trying to argue.

[GrayMatterWife]

PBS doesn't produce SS. Would you feel the same if it suddenly moved to Nick Jr.? Honestly wondering, not trying to argue.

It's broadcast on PBS. I just generally find the stuff on PBS to have a liberal political agenda and it tends to seep into everything they run.

Look, I fully realize that it might be a great outreach to children from across the social spectrum. I am not suggesting that there is not a need to educate children about the issue. As I commented, the use of puppets seems like a good choice for doing that.

I assumed the OP was looking for a variety of responses to her question. Who could object to it, as a general concept? I was just noting that because PBS tends to have a certain political agenda, it taints how I approach anything they are broadcasting--Sesame Street or otherwise. I realize not everyone feels this way and some may think that I am off-base.

I have no idea how I would feel if it ran on Nick Jr. I don't have that channel and have never watched it. But, if it is developed by the Children's Television Workshop and runs on PBS, I would probably, in the back of mind, wonder whether Oscar the Grouch is about to pop up and blame Evil Republicans for his lack of suitable housing.

[corn poffi]

You're obviously entitled to your own opinion. I was honestly just curious.

[Meenah]

Are we really stooping to using Sesame Street to promote individual political agendas? I choose to think not, just a quirk of the full moon. I don't want to get into a debate, just couldn't let this pass without a comment.

[DCJenn]

I think it's a valuable lesson that kids should hear. My son's school is one of the inner city school that provide free breakfast to all kids and reduced price lunches to at least half the student body. My kid has never known (that he can remember anyway) hunger and I think it's a good way to explain complicated issues to little kids. They did a fantastic video about deployment that we watched a million times while my husband was in Iraq. (which was distributed by Wal-Mart- not exactly known for their tree-hugging Liberalism)

Jenn

[v-girl]

I don't know that it's an issue that would typically be addressed to the 1-4 year old crowd. Why? Because they likely wouldn't get it. And before anyone dogpiles me, half our groceries and all our holiday meals were from the church food pantry or other charity until I was in middle school.

[PrincessFiona]

I don't know that it's an issue that would typically be addressed to the 1-4 year old crowd. Why? Because they likely wouldn't get it. And before anyone dogpiles me, half our groceries and all our holiday meals were from the church food pantry or other charity until I was in middle school.

Agree. I think it's a little too much for the young crowd. I know my 5 year old for sure wouldn't get it. I'm in the let kids have a childhood camp. That has nothing at all to do with politics ... just a good understanding of what it takes to raise kids.

Kris

[Pollyanna]

I don't know that it's an issue that would typically be addressed to the 1-4 year old crowd. Why? Because they likely wouldn't get it. And before anyone dogpiles me, half our groceries and all our holiday meals were from the church food pantry or other charity until I was in middle school.

I agree with this as well, it's far to abstract for children that age to understand. If you want to teach your children about hunger have them help you pack food for families at your church, etc. Our children were always amazed to read the boxes that said stuff like, 5 adults, 8 children 1 infant. And we would pack over 200 boxes for different families. It was a sober awakening to them that many many families are hungry. Watching it on Sesame Street would mean nothing to them.

Interesting note: Sesame Street did a parody of Fox news calling it POX news a few years back that even PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler said it was wrong to mock FOX News in the skit.