Me Love Cookie

- Jonathan Fam

Cookie Monster isn’t just a monster for cookies. He’s also crazy for fruits and vegetables, which he gobbles with the same kind of Om-nom-nom-nom passion he has for cookies. He also works out at the gym — yes, there’s a gym on Sesame Street — lest you assume he’s a baked goods chomping slob with no concern for his health. These were just two of the many things I found out about the furry blue icon when he was in Singapore to promote Sesame Street’s #ShareTheLaughter campaign, which hopes to spread laughter around the world, as well as his own book, The Joy Of Cookies: Cookie Monster’s Guide To Life.

Joining him was fellow Sesame Street character Abby Cadabby, who I have to admit I am completely unfamiliar with. My friends were also clueless about the pink puppet — after all, it’s been eons since Sesame Street was must-see TV for us. Well, except for a pal, who furrows her brows at our ignorance before saying: “Of course, I know who she is! I have three kids, you know.” For the uninitiated, Abby Cadabby is a relatively new resident on Sesame Street. First introduced in 2006, Abby is a fairy-in-training, hence her wings, and is known to have magical powers, which explains why her name is a play on the word ‘abracadabra’.

Abby is also quite the sweetheart. When she found out how nervous I was doing this interview, she gave me a little hug and beamed: “You’ll do great!” And Abby Cadabby, I instantly felt better.