Muppet Kids

Muppet Kids is a series of books and educational software made in the 1990s, featuring young, pre-teen versions of the principal Muppet franchise characters.
Characters included kid versions of Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Scooter, Skeeter, Janice, Rowlf, Animal, Bunsen, Beaker, and Bean Bunny.
Two series of Muppet Kids books were made by Muppet Press―a paperback series and the hardcover "Values To Grow On" series. A set of two "Muppet Computer Books" were produced with the characters ―Kermit Learns How Computers Work and Kermit Learns Windows.
The initial character designs for the central cast was developed by Michael K. Frith. The designs were often reminiscent of those from Muppet Babies, but aged-up slightly. Illustrators for the book series included Tom Brannon, Manhar Chauhan, Tom Cooke, Joe Ewers, Tom Leigh, David Prebenna, and Joel Schick; each artist brought their own style to the characters. 
Throughout the book series' seven year run, 36 original stories were published. Authors included Richard Chevat, Eleanor Freemont, Louise Gikow, Andrew Gutelle, Debbie Kovacs, Michaela Muntean, Stephanie St. Pierre, Daphne Skinner, Ellen Weiss, and Bonnie Worth.
To tie-in to the series, McDonald's produced a limited series of Muppet Kids Happy Meal toys in 1989 featuring Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo riding tricycles. Books from the Golden Book collection were also included on the Wienerschnitzel menu as "Official Kid's Meal Stuff" in the early 1990s.
The characters also appeared in sets of flash cards in 1993 and 2003.
==The Muppet Kids==
See also: Muppet Kids characters
KidKermit.JPG|Kermit|link=Kermit (Muppet Kids)
Piggy_kid.jpg|Piggy|link=Piggy (Muppet Kids)
MuppetKidsSwinetrek.jpg|Fozzie|link=Fozzie Bear (Muppet Kids)
MuppetKidsGonzo.jpg|Gonzo|link=Gonzo (Muppet Kids)
MuppetKidsScooter.png|Scooter|link=Scooter (Muppet Kids)
SkeeterSoccer.jpg|Skeeter|link=Skeeter
KidJaniceKid.JPG|Janice|link=Janice (Muppet Kids)
KidRowlf.jpg|Rowlf|link=Rowlf (Muppet Kids)
MuppetKidsBeanScared.png|Bean Bunny|link=Bean Bunny (Muppet Kids)
Animal_kid.jpg|Animal|link=Animal (Muppet Kids)
Bunsen-beaker_kids.jpg|Bunsen & Beaker|link=Bunsen (Muppet Kids)
==Books==
See also: Muppet Kids books
===Golden Look-Look Books===
File:Gonzosbigmess.jpg|Gonzo's Big Mess (1989)|link=Gonzo's Big Mess
File:Mkids.momgetsajob.jpg|Mom Gets a Job (1989)|link=Mom Gets a Job
File:NewKidInTheNeighborhood.jpg|New Kid in the Neighborhood (1989)|link=New Kid in the Neighborhood
File:Piggygetsthejitters.jpg|Piggy Gets the Jitters (1989)|link=Piggy Gets the Jitters
File:Mkids.frogsonly.jpg|Frogs Only! (1989)|link=Frogs Only!
File:Mkids.wanttogohome.jpg|I Want to Go Home (1989)|link=I Want to Go Home (Muppet Kids)
File:Mkids.havingbaby.jpg|Mom's Having a Baby (1991)|link=Mom's Having a Baby
File:Toomanypromises.jpg|Too Many Promises (1991)|link=Too Many Promises
File:Mkids.piggydare.jpg|Piggy Takes a Dare (1991)|link=Piggy Takes a Dare
File:Helpwerelost.jpg|Help! We're Lost! (1991)|link=Help! We're Lost!
File:Immadatyou.jpg|I'm Mad at You! (1992)|link=I'm Mad at You!
File:MuppetKids-TV-Or-Not-TV-(Golden-Look-Look-Book).png|TV or Not TV (1991)|link=TV or Not TV
File:8GreatStoriesforKids.jpg|8 Great Stories for Kids (1989)box set collection of 8 books|link=8 Great Stories for Kids
==="Values to Grow On" Books===
File:Mkids.tvornottv.jpg|TV or Not TV (1989)A Book About Moderation|link=TV or Not TV
File:Mkids.scooterread.jpg|Scooter Can't Read (1991)A Book About Asking for Help|link=Scooter Can't Read
File:Mkids.flipflapflop.jpg|Flip Flap Flop (1992)A Book About Self-Esteem|link=Flip Flap Flop
File:Mkids.fozziehelper.jpg|Fozzie Bear, Star Helper (1992)A Book About Responsibility|link=Fozzie Bear, Star Helper
File:Mkids.kermitbike.jpg|Kermit and the New Bicycle (1992)A Book About Honesty|link=Kermit and the New Bicycle
File:Newintown.jpg|New in Town (1992)A Book About Shyness|link=New in Town
File:Mkids.kermitscleanup.jpg|Kermit's Cleanup (1992)A Book About Imagination|link=Kermit's Cleanup
File:Mkids.piggypresident.jpg|Piggy for President (1992)A Book About Friendship|link=Piggy for President
File:Mkids.piggytalking.jpg|Piggy Isn't Talking (1992)A Book About Communication|link=Piggy Isn't Talking
File:Mkids.showyell.jpg|Show-and-Yell (1992)A Book About Manners|link=Show-and-Yell
File:Mkids.somethingspecial.jpg|Something Special (1992)A Book About Love|link=Something Special
File:Mkids.fairisfair.jpg|What's Fair Is Fair (1992)A Book About Sharing|link=What's Fair Is Fair
File:Fozzieslastlap.jpg|Fozzie's Last Lap (1993)A Book About Not Giving Up|link=Fozzie's Last Lap
File:Mkids.imsorry.jpg|I'm Sorry! (1993)A Book About Apologizing|link=I'm Sorry!
File:NobodysPerfect.jpg|Nobody's Perfect (1993)A Book About Making Mistakes|link=Nobody's Perfect (book)
File:Mkids.rowlfsbigtest.jpg|Rowlf's Big Test (1993)A Book About Listening to Your Conscience|link=Rowlf's Big Test
File:Mkids.bestgift.jpg|The Best Gift of All (1993)A Book About Generosity|link=The Best Gift of All
File:Mkids.disasterwheels.jpg|The Disaster on Wheels (1993)A Book About Helping Others|link=The Disaster on Wheels
File:Mkids.troubletwins.jpg|The Trouble with Twins (1993)A Book About Jealousy|link=The Trouble with Twins
File:Mkids.wonderfulwagon.jpg|The Wonderful Wagon (1993)A Book About Cooperation|link=The Wonderful Wagon
File:Mkids.whatamess.jpg|What a Mess! (1993)A Book About Cleaning Up|link=What a Mess!
File:Mkids.winlose.jpg|Win Some, Lose Some (1993)A Book About Sportsmanship|link=Win Some, Lose Some
File:417443664.jpg|Bean Makes the Best of It (1996)A Book About Appreciation|link=Bean Makes the Best of It 
File:FozziesBigWorry.jpg|Fozzie's Big Worry (1996)A Book About Understanding|link=Fozzie's Big Worry
File:Piggycantwait.jpg|Piggy Can't Wait (1996)A Book About Patience|link=Piggy Can't Wait
File:MuppetKids-Too-Many-Promises-A-Book-About-Saying-No.jpg|Too Many Promises (1996)A Book About Saying No|link=Too Many Promises
===Muppet Computer Books===
File:Book-KermitLearnsComputers.jpg|Kermit Learns How Computers Work (1993)|link=Kermit Learns How Computers Work
File:Kermit_Learns_Windows.JPG|Kermit Learns Windows (1993)|link=Kermit Learns Windows
==CD-ROM Games==
The Muppet Kids educational software, produced by Brighter Child, featured several basic mini-games hosted by animated, non-speaking Muppet Kids. 
Each game focused on subjects like reading, math, and sorting. Newer editions of the software also featured static 3D animated versions of adult Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo serving as hosts to the CD-ROMs.
:see also: Muppet Kids Video Games
File:Muppetkidscapitalsmall.jpg|Letters: Capital & Small(Volume 1)|link=Letters: Capital & Small
File:Muppetkidsbeginningphonics.jpg|Beginning Sounds: Phonics(Volume 2)|link=Beginning Sounds: Phonics
File:Muppetkidsphonics.jpg|Sound Patterns: Phonics(Volume 3)|link=Sound Patterns: Phonics
File:Muppetkidsthinkingskills.jpg|Thinking Skills(Volume 4)|link=Thinking Skills
File:Muppetkidssamedifferent.jpg|Same & Different(Volume 5)|link=Same & Different
File:Muppetkidssorting.jpg|Sorting & Ordering(Volume 6)|link=Sorting & Ordering
==Notes==
* In 1989, creative producer and conceptual designer Michael K. Frith drew full character model sheets under the Muppet Babies and Marvel Productions title block showing the Muppet characters in their Muppet Kids designs. featuring the "Kid Kermit" design have surfaced in collections of Muppet Babies production cels from Marvel Productions at auctions and other sales. It is possible the team was exploring the idea of doing a spin-off to follow after the final season of Muppet Babies in 1990 featuring the aged-up characters.
MB_Kermit_Model.JPG|character model sheet
MuppetKids-AnimationCell2.jpg|Animation cel
==See also==
* Characters at alternate ages
* Muppet Babies
* Muppet Kids characters
* Muppet Kids merchandise
* Muppet Kids style guides
==External links==
*Archive.org library collection of books
__NOWYSIWYG__
 
Category:Muppet Book Series