Sesame Street, the longest running kids’ show on US television is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with a celebratory event being held in Washington where First Lady Michelle Obama attends as a special guest.

This educational program, which paved the way to stardom for several puppets including Ernie, Bert and Cookie Monster, was first seen on television in November 1969.

The show taught many generations of youngsters the  basics of counting, reading and writing, having been aimed for children between the ages of two and six. It has won a total of 122 Emmy awards and is viewed by audiences in over 140 countries. Other notable characters in this series are Elmo, Grover, Big Bird and Count von Count.

Joan Ganz Cooney, the show’s co-founder, said in a statement on the Public Broadcasting Service, “Our original goal was simple: to create a successful television program that would make a difference in the lives of children, in particular, poor inner-city children, and help prepare them for school.”

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