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Jim Henson's Bedtime Stories
Jim Henson's Bedtime Stories was published by Field Publications in 1989. It consists of two three-ring binders full of removable pages containing short stories by various authors and illustrators.
There are four different categories of stories in the collection. Three of these focused on established characters from Muppet television shows: The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies. The fourth category is "Kermit's Tales," which contains stories about a group of young animals, including one named Bean Bunny, who bears little resemblance to the familiar Muppet bunny of the same name.
There are four different categories of stories in the collection. Three of these focused on established characters from Muppet television shows: The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies. The fourth category is "Kermit's Tales," which contains stories about a group of young animals, including one named Bean Bunny, who bears little resemblance to the familiar Muppet bunny of the same name.
238 pages, Spiral-bound
Published January 1, 1989
5 people want to read
About the author
Jim Henson
158 books381 followersJim Henson was an American puppeteer, filmmaker, and creative visionary whose influence on television, film, and puppetry reshaped the world of entertainment. Best known as the creator of the Muppets, Henson blended humor, whimsy, and heart in ways that captivated both children and adults. His work spanned television, feature films, and innovative storytelling formats, and he is remembered as a pioneer whose imagination opened new artistic frontiers.
Born James Maury Henson in 1936 in Mississippi and raised in Maryland, Henson showed an early interest in art, puppetry, and television. While attending the University of Maryland, he created “Sam and Friends,” a five-minute TV show that introduced audiences to a lizard-like puppet named Kermit, a character that would later evolve into the world-famous Kermit the Frog. The show was the beginning of a lifelong partnership between Henson and his future wife, Jane Nebel, who co-performed and co-developed early puppet characters.
In 1958, the couple founded Muppets, Inc., which would grow into The Jim Henson Company. Henson's innovative approach to puppetry transformed the field. He used flexible foam, fabric, and expressive hand movements to create puppets that could convey real emotion—characters that connected with audiences in a way few had seen before. He also redefined the way puppets were filmed, using monitors and unique camera angles to make them more lifelike and engaging.
Henson’s career reached a new height in 1969 when he joined the creative team behind “Sesame Street.” There, he created and performed many of the show’s iconic characters, including Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bert, Grover, and Oscar the Grouch. His work on “Sesame Street” helped the show become a global educational phenomenon, blending entertainment with learning for millions of children worldwide. Henson’s belief that television could be both entertaining and educational guided much of his creative output.
Despite his success with “Sesame Street,” Henson was eager to prove that puppetry could be more than just a children’s medium. After years of rejection, he finally launched “The Muppet Show” in 1976, a comedy-variety series starring a troupe of eccentric puppet performers led by Kermit the Frog. The show became an international hit, attracting celebrity guest stars and earning critical acclaim. It ran for five seasons and led to several successful theatrical films, including “The Muppet Movie” (1979), “The Great Muppet Caper” (1981), and “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984).
Henson’s ambition and imagination were not limited to the Muppets. In the 1980s, he began developing darker, more complex fantasy worlds. He co-directed and co-wrote “The Dark Crystal” (1982), a visually groundbreaking film that created an entirely original mythology. In 1986, he directed “Labyrinth,” starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, a film that combined puppetry, music, and elaborate set design. Though not initially successful at the box office, “Labyrinth” became a cult classic and remains beloved today.
Henson also created “Fraggle Rock,” a musical fantasy series that addressed themes like cooperation, identity, and environmental stewardship. With “The StoryTeller,” he brought European folk tales to life using an artful blend of live action and puppetry. Both shows showcased his continued desire to experiment with format and content, always pushing boundaries and exploring new artistic territory.
Jim Henson died unexpectedly in 1990 from a sudden bacterial infection, just as he was in talks to sell his company to The Walt Disney Company. His death shocked the entertainment world, but his legacy endured. Through The Jim Henson Company and The Jim Henson Foundation, his commitment to puppetry, innovation, and creative storytelling continues to thrive.
More than three decades after his passing, Jim Henson’s characters still inspire wonder and joy. He believed in the power of imagination to chang
Born James Maury Henson in 1936 in Mississippi and raised in Maryland, Henson showed an early interest in art, puppetry, and television. While attending the University of Maryland, he created “Sam and Friends,” a five-minute TV show that introduced audiences to a lizard-like puppet named Kermit, a character that would later evolve into the world-famous Kermit the Frog. The show was the beginning of a lifelong partnership between Henson and his future wife, Jane Nebel, who co-performed and co-developed early puppet characters.
In 1958, the couple founded Muppets, Inc., which would grow into The Jim Henson Company. Henson's innovative approach to puppetry transformed the field. He used flexible foam, fabric, and expressive hand movements to create puppets that could convey real emotion—characters that connected with audiences in a way few had seen before. He also redefined the way puppets were filmed, using monitors and unique camera angles to make them more lifelike and engaging.
Henson’s career reached a new height in 1969 when he joined the creative team behind “Sesame Street.” There, he created and performed many of the show’s iconic characters, including Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bert, Grover, and Oscar the Grouch. His work on “Sesame Street” helped the show become a global educational phenomenon, blending entertainment with learning for millions of children worldwide. Henson’s belief that television could be both entertaining and educational guided much of his creative output.
Despite his success with “Sesame Street,” Henson was eager to prove that puppetry could be more than just a children’s medium. After years of rejection, he finally launched “The Muppet Show” in 1976, a comedy-variety series starring a troupe of eccentric puppet performers led by Kermit the Frog. The show became an international hit, attracting celebrity guest stars and earning critical acclaim. It ran for five seasons and led to several successful theatrical films, including “The Muppet Movie” (1979), “The Great Muppet Caper” (1981), and “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984).
Henson’s ambition and imagination were not limited to the Muppets. In the 1980s, he began developing darker, more complex fantasy worlds. He co-directed and co-wrote “The Dark Crystal” (1982), a visually groundbreaking film that created an entirely original mythology. In 1986, he directed “Labyrinth,” starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, a film that combined puppetry, music, and elaborate set design. Though not initially successful at the box office, “Labyrinth” became a cult classic and remains beloved today.
Henson also created “Fraggle Rock,” a musical fantasy series that addressed themes like cooperation, identity, and environmental stewardship. With “The StoryTeller,” he brought European folk tales to life using an artful blend of live action and puppetry. Both shows showcased his continued desire to experiment with format and content, always pushing boundaries and exploring new artistic territory.
Jim Henson died unexpectedly in 1990 from a sudden bacterial infection, just as he was in talks to sell his company to The Walt Disney Company. His death shocked the entertainment world, but his legacy endured. Through The Jim Henson Company and The Jim Henson Foundation, his commitment to puppetry, innovation, and creative storytelling continues to thrive.
More than three decades after his passing, Jim Henson’s characters still inspire wonder and joy. He believed in the power of imagination to chang
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 1, 2022
This is a book from my childhood and while I remembered some of the pictures, I didn’t remember the stories so it was basically like reading it for the first time. I decided to divide up the four sections and finish one every month, which worked out well. I typically read 1-4 before bedtime depending on how sleepy I was. This is a fun book for Jim Henson fans.
Surprisingly The Fraggle Rock section ended up being my favorite so I may have to revisit that show again soon. The last section, Kermit’s Tales, was my least liked part since the characters don’t really have the same ties to Jim Henson as the Muppets, Babies, and Fraggles do.
Overall, this was a fun book to revisit and while I’m not sure I would reread every story, there are definitely some I could see myself rereading in the future. “The Really Truly Boffo Birthday Cake” actually had me laughing out loud and I read that one to my husband as well. Several authors and illustrators helped put this book together. The artwork for this collection is nice and colorful, though the styles depend on the artist.
Favorite Stories
—From The Muppet Show (4 stars):
Fozzie's Costume, Home is Where Your Friends Are, Robin's Blanket, Animal's Way, Forget It Kermit, Shipwrecked, A Bedtime Punch Line, Up Up And Away, Piggy's New Leaf, Janice What's In That Trunk, and The Really Truly Boffo Birthday Cake.
—From Muppet Babies (3.5 stars):
The Sand Castle, The Disappearing Chicken, You Can Do Magic, Taking Care of Nanny, A Rainy-Day Adventure, I Want a Boo-Boo Too, Baby Bunsen's Sleep-over Surprise, Baby Fozzie's Green Thumb, Baby Gonzo's Marvelous Tent, and Baby Rowlf Takes a Slide.
—From Fraggle Rock (4.5 stars):
Trouble's Troubles, Wembley's Painting, A Time to Rhyme, Traveling Matt's Daring Rescue, Mokey's Rock Takes a Walk, Lost and Found in Fraggle Rock, The Perfect Pajamas, Gardening Tips for Gorgs, Boober's Diary, Boober and the Shrinking Sickness, Red Gets the Blues, and Gobo Moves Out.
—From Kermit’s Tales (3 stars):
Wendell Did It, Colin the Chameleon, The Thank-You Gift, Lucy and the Firefly, Flutterby the Butterfly, and The Night the Moon Disappeared.
Surprisingly The Fraggle Rock section ended up being my favorite so I may have to revisit that show again soon. The last section, Kermit’s Tales, was my least liked part since the characters don’t really have the same ties to Jim Henson as the Muppets, Babies, and Fraggles do.
Overall, this was a fun book to revisit and while I’m not sure I would reread every story, there are definitely some I could see myself rereading in the future. “The Really Truly Boffo Birthday Cake” actually had me laughing out loud and I read that one to my husband as well. Several authors and illustrators helped put this book together. The artwork for this collection is nice and colorful, though the styles depend on the artist.
Favorite Stories
—From The Muppet Show (4 stars):
Fozzie's Costume, Home is Where Your Friends Are, Robin's Blanket, Animal's Way, Forget It Kermit, Shipwrecked, A Bedtime Punch Line, Up Up And Away, Piggy's New Leaf, Janice What's In That Trunk, and The Really Truly Boffo Birthday Cake.
—From Muppet Babies (3.5 stars):
The Sand Castle, The Disappearing Chicken, You Can Do Magic, Taking Care of Nanny, A Rainy-Day Adventure, I Want a Boo-Boo Too, Baby Bunsen's Sleep-over Surprise, Baby Fozzie's Green Thumb, Baby Gonzo's Marvelous Tent, and Baby Rowlf Takes a Slide.
—From Fraggle Rock (4.5 stars):
Trouble's Troubles, Wembley's Painting, A Time to Rhyme, Traveling Matt's Daring Rescue, Mokey's Rock Takes a Walk, Lost and Found in Fraggle Rock, The Perfect Pajamas, Gardening Tips for Gorgs, Boober's Diary, Boober and the Shrinking Sickness, Red Gets the Blues, and Gobo Moves Out.
—From Kermit’s Tales (3 stars):
Wendell Did It, Colin the Chameleon, The Thank-You Gift, Lucy and the Firefly, Flutterby the Butterfly, and The Night the Moon Disappeared.
Displaying 1 of 1 review
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