Changes: Stories to Grow On

Published	1991
Publisher	Funk & Wagnalls
Series	Jim Henson's Muppet Stories
ISBN	077731350308

Revision as of 19:18, 25 March 2009

Stories to Grow On is volume 3 in the Jim Henson's Muppet Stories series. The series collects the various Jim Henson's Bedtime Stories short stories in hardback form. Included in the volume are Fraggle Rock, Muppet Babies, Muppet Show, and Kermit's Tales stories. Many feature the theme of patience, finding ways to pass the time while waiting, and taking your time while working.

Kermit and the Best Present of All

Written by by Marianne Meyer and illustrated by Richard Walz.

Kermit is cleaning his house on a Saturday night in preparation for a surprise party for Fozzie. Once the guests arrive, Kermit realizes he's forgotten to get a Birthday present for Fozzie, but realizes at the end that friendship is the best gift of all.

Characters featured in the story include Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Gonzo, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, Janice, Robin

The Great Dress Disaster

Written by Andrew Gutelle, Illustrated by Richard Walz.

Miss Piggy is getting ready to go the ball with Kermit, but discovers a spot on the dress she had planned to wear. After a disasterous turn in the washing machine and then the dryer, the dress is ruined, and Kermit has arrived to take Piggy to the costume ball. Covered in dirt from being in the attic searching for a new dress, Piggy realizes it is a Costume Ball, and Kermit is pleased at her Cinderella costume.

The Contest

"The Contest" written by Harry Ross, illustrated by Larry DiFiori

Cantus the Minstrel is holding a "Midsummer Festival Music Contest" which is open to all the residents of Fraggle Rock. All the Fraggles go off to compose a song for the contest, but it is each of their songs put together which captures the spirit of the Midsummer Festival and wins the contest.

Characters featured in the story are Cantus, Red, Gobo, Boober, Wembley, and Mokey.

Unlike his puppet or animated forms, this Cantus is depicted as purple with green hair.

Fraggle Rock, Fraggle Roll

"Fraggle Rock, Fraggle Roll" illustrated by Larry DiFiori

Activity story in which Mokey has written a poem for the Midsummer Festival, but has not finished it. The reader is asked to finish the rhymes in the poem from pictures provided.

Cantus is depicted in this poem as a purple Fraggle with yellow hair.

Baby Fozzie's Green Thumb

"Baby Fozzie's Green Thumb" written by Harry Ross, illustrated by Tom Cooke

Helping Harriet Home

"Helping Harriet Home" written by Richard Chevat, illustrated by John Gurney

Carmen the groundhog is sad that her friend Harriet the goose is flying south for the winter. Carmen worries that Harriet will be unable to find the meadow on her return, so she devises a sign to welcome Harriet home. Mother Nature wrecks havoc on the signs, making Carmen very sad, but she is overjoyed to awaken one morning to Harriet's honking. Harriet explains to Carmen that birds don't need a sign to find their homes, but the sign Carmen unknowningly created was a wonderful welcome home present.

Baby Kermit's Safari

"Baby Kermit's Safari" written by Deborah Kovacs, illustrated by Tom Cooke

Baby Kermit is in the Nursery in his little blue jeep, when he decides he wants to go on an African safari. He imagines himself in Africa, and hears the cry of a young elephant named Annabelle. She has lost her Mother and is searching for her with the help of her Parrot friend. Climbing into Kermit's jeep, they encounter many animals before they reach Annabelle's mother, Eloise. Kermit then returns to the Nursery, where Baby Fozzie informs him that he's just in time for a snack of Animal Crackers, of which he's saved him an Elephant.

Safari Search

"Safari Search" illustrated by Tom Cooke

The Floppy Hopper Dropper Stopper

"The Floppy Hopper Dropper Stopper" written by Richard Chevat, illustrated by Richard Walz

Clothes Make the Gonzo

"Clothes Make the Gonzo" written by Randy Hacker, illustrated by Richard Walz

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ===Baby Kermit's Safari===
 * "Baby Kermit's Safari" written by [[Deborah Kovacs]], illustrated by [[Tom Cooke]]
+[[Baby Kermit]] is in the Nursery in his little blue jeep, when he decides he wants to go on an [[Africa|African]] safari.  He imagines himself in Africa, and hears the cry of a young elephant named [[Annabelle]].  She has lost her Mother and is searching for her with the help of her Parrot friend.  Climbing into Kermit's jeep, they encounter many animals before they reach Annabelle's mother, [[Eloise]].  Kermit then returns to the Nursery, where [[Baby Fozzie]] informs him that he's just in time for a snack of Animal Crackers, of which he's saved him an Elephant.
 <gallery>
-Image:Kermit_safari.JPG
+Image:Kermit_safari.JPG|Kermit on safari in Africa
 </gallery>

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