About This Book
Reach for this book when your toddler is beginning to notice the feelings of others or when you want to encourage the simple, selfless joy of gift giving. It is an ideal choice for modeling prosocial behavior and the excitement of planning a kind gesture for a friend. This interactive Sesame Street story follows Elmo as he prepares a surprise for someone special, focusing on the anticipation and the happy 'payoff' of making a loved one smile. While the text is simple, the emotional themes of empathy and friendship are foundational for the 1 to 4 age range. Parents will appreciate how Elmo's signature third-person speech pattern (illeism) mirrors the way many toddlers speak, creating an instant, relatable connection. It is a gentle, upbeat tool for teaching that being a good friend involves thinking about what makes other people happy.
