HUMANITY: How old are you?
ELMO: Elmo is 3½ years old. Elmo’s Mommy helped Elmo type all these answers.
HUMANITY: What are your favorite foods?
E: Strawberries. They’re so sweet and delicious … and red … like Elmo.
HUMANITY: Favorite games to play?
E: Elmo loves to play games with Elmo’s friends. Just this morning Elmo was playing hide-and-seek with Abby Cadabby. Elmo never found her. Elmo hopes Abby’s still not hiding!
HUMANITY: What are some of your favorite things about living on Sesame Street?
E: It’s wonderful living on Sesame Street. There are so many different people, and monsters, and animals all living together. We learn a lot and we all have a great time.
HUMANITY: What are some of the best lessons your mommy and daddy have taught you?
E: Elmo’s Mommy and Daddy always tell Elmo that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like, everyone wants to play and learn and be loved. That’s a great lesson!
HUMANITY: What are the qualities you look for in a friend? What do you like most about your friends?
E: Elmo just wants Elmo’s friends to be kind and happy.
HUMANITY: What does it mean to be a good friend?
E: Elmo thinks a good friend is someone you can trust. Elmo’s best friend is Elmo’s pet goldfish Dorothy. Elmo tells Dorothy everything and she never tells anyone.
HUMANITY: So many interesting and talented people have come to visit Sesame Street. Who stands out—and why?
E: Elmo loves when people visit Sesame Street. Elmo loved planting a garden with Big Bird and Mrs. Michelle Obama. She was really cool.
HUMANITY: Is there anyone you haven’t met that you’d like to? How come?
E: Are you kidding? Umm HELLO! It’s no secret—Elmo would love to meet Ms. Adele.
HUMANITY: What’s your best advice for staying positive?
E: Lots of sleep. Elmo always makes sure to take a nap every day.
HUMANITY: If someone is mean to you, what do you do? How do you deal with bullies?
E: If Elmo felt like someone was being mean to Elmo or any of his friends, Elmo would make sure to tell a grown-up. It’s very important to tell a grown-up, like a parent or a teacher, if someone isn’t treating you nicely.
HUMANITY: Why is it so important to treat others kindly and with respect?
E: Elmo thinks you should treat people the way that you want to be treated.
HUMANITY: One of the things about Sesame Street I think is so cool is that everyone is so different but all good friends—it must be fun to learn from each other. What are some of the things you’ve learned from your friends on Sesame Street?
E: That’s the best part about living on Sesame Street. People are always stopping by, and Elmo and his friends are always learning new things. Just the other day Ms. Lupita Nyong’o visited and taught Elmo all about how beautiful different skin colors are. She’s right … they’re all beautiful.
HUMANITY: Can you tell me a little about Julia? What have you learned from her? How is she different than you?
E: Julia is Elmo’s friend with autism. She doesn’t like loud noises, but she loves playing. Elmo speaks a little quieter when Elmo is with Julia—we have such fun together.
HUMANITY: Is it important to be understanding of people’s differences?
E: Yes. Even though we’re all a little different, we’re all the same in many ways too.
HUMANITY: What do you love most about … Abby?
E: She’s great at rhyming. She’s a poet … and she doesn’t even know it. Ha ha ha.
HUMANITY: Big Bird?
E: He’s 8 feet taller than Elmo.
HUMANITY: Oscar?
E: You should see the inside of his can. It’s amazing, but pinch your nose—it’s stinky in there.
HUMANITY: Grover?
E: No matter how many times he makes a mistake, he always tries his hardest.
HUMANITY: Cookie Monster?
E: He would share his last cookie with a friend.
HUMANITY: Bert and Ernie?
E: Ernie puts bananas in his ears and Bert has a bottle cap collection … isn’t that so cool?
HUMANITY: Snuffy?
E: His snuffle is like a fun slide. Wahoooo!
HUMANITY: Raya?
E: She has the coolest sandals ever.
HUMANITY: What’s something about you people should know?
E: When Elmo grows up, Elmo wants to be a teacher. Teachers are the best.
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