Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Jim Henson's books

Jim Henson’s Followers (385)

Jim Henson

Born

in Greenville, Mississippi, The United States

September 24, 1936

Died

May 16, 1990

Website

http://www.jimhensonlegacy.org/

Genre

Children's Books, Literature & Fiction

edit data

Jim 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, Jim 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 ...more

Combine Editions
Jim Henson’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 6,988 ratings · 1,013 reviews · 177 distinct works • Similar authors

	Jim Henson's Tale of Sand by Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl, Ramón Pérez (Illustrator) 3.71 avg rating — 3,481 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	It's Not Easy Being Green and Other Things to Consider 4.25 avg rating — 1,864 ratings — published 2005 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Muppet Show Book by Jim Henson, Tudor Banus (Illustrator) 4.34 avg rating — 192 ratings — published 1978 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jim Henson's The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow by Jim Henson (Creator), Jerry Juhl, Roger Langridge (Goodreads Author) (Adapted by) 3.71 avg rating — 169 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Novelization 4.40 avg rating — 113 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring by Jim Henson, Jake Myler (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 3.83 avg rating — 101 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jim Henson's Labyrinth Original Motion Picture Adaptation by Jim Henson (Creator), John Buscema (illustrator), Romeo Tanghal (illustrator) 3.91 avg rating — 53 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Doodling with Jim Henson: More than 50 fun & fanciful artistic exercises to inspire the doodler in you! by Jim Henson, Jim Lewis 4.59 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fraggle Rock Classics Vol. 2 by Jim Henson, Jake Myler (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator), Marie Severin 3.76 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: A Discovery Adventure by Jim Henson (Creator), Jim Henson (Creator) 3.74 avg rating — 35 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jim Henson…

Quotes by Jim Henson (?)

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.”
― Jim Henson

26438 likes

“[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
― Jim Henson, It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider

tags: childhood, education, learning, teaching

2021 likes

“There's not a word yet, for old friends who've just met.”
― Jim Henson, Favorite Songs From Jim Henson's Muppets

tags: friends, friendship

1610 likes

See all Jim Henson's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Read 150+ Books a...: Deb's List	62	338	Dec 17, 2009 06:54PM
One Million Pages...: Brenda's Pages ~ A Book at a Time	7	7	Jan 15, 2016 06:38PM
Short & Sweet Treats: Today's Special	1036	292	Feb 02, 2016 06:55PM
21st Century Lite...: Holidays	604	387	Jan 10, 2017 10:30PM
Around the Year i...: Brandy's plan for 2017 (The Plandy)	7	47	Apr 13, 2017 01:37PM
Let's Talk About ...: Anything Goes	1510	287	Apr 27, 2017 04:26PM
The Reading For P...: * A Bookish Diary for 2017 - the Pepys Project	1732	383	Jan 08, 2018 08:42AM
The History Book ...: CONDUCTORS	30	263	Jan 23, 2019 05:35PM

More…

Jim Henson’s Followers (385)

Jim Henson

Combine EditionsJim Henson’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Jim Henson’s books