The Tim Ferriss Show #854: Tish Rabe — 200+ Children's Books, Getting Picked for Dr. Seuss, Lessons from Early Sesame Street, How to Write 300+ Songs, and More
Tish Rabe, New York Times bestselling children’s author and songwriter with 200+ books and hundreds of songs. She recalls her opera training and wild early days at Sesame Street. She explains writing in Dr. Seuss’s style, crafting singable science songs, and launching her own press at 71 to publish projects and get books to kids.
01:27:22
From Opera Major To Sesame Street Singer
- Tish Rabe started as an opera major and landed at Sesame Street by saying she could sing and type.
- She sang with the Muppets, recorded on the show and albums, and transitioned into writing children's books from that environment.
Write The Last Page First
- Sesame Street writers wrote endings first to shape the story and curriculum fit.
- Tish writes the last page first because it’s the final message children hear before the book closes.
Jim Henson’s Gentle Creativity
- Tish worked closely with Jim Henson and admired his creativity and kindness.
- Sesame Street used double-level humor so adults enjoyed it too, increasing parental engagement.
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Intro
00:00 • 24sec
From Opera Major to Sesame Street
00:24 • 40sec
Early Days on Sesame Street
01:05 • 3min
Vibe and Research Behind Sesame Street
03:37 • 6min
Working with Jim Henson and Double-Level Humor
09:46 • 3min
Musical Skills Applied to Puppetry
12:28 • 3min
Ad break
15:13 • 2min
Pitching Books at Sesame Street
17:13 • 2min
Sesame Street's Educational Impact
19:34 • 3min
Transition to Publishing and Songwriting
22:53 • 3min
Songwriting Process for Kids' Science
25:47 • 2min
Breaking Rhyme Rules: Being Green
28:12 • 2min
Drafting, Focus Groups, and Curriculum Constraints
30:00 • 2min
Being Chosen to Write in Dr. Seuss's Style
32:24 • 4min
Writing Seussian Science Books
35:56 • 5min
Oh Baby, The Places You'll Go
40:38 • 7min
Rhyme Skills, Mnemonics, and Pluto Story
47:48 • 2min
Starting a Company at 71
49:52 • 4min
Songs in Every Book and Singing Advice
53:54 • 2min
Sweet Dreams Lullaby and Pajama Program
55:32 • 2min
Why Start a Press and Dialogic Reading
57:25 • 4min
Military Families Book: Sometimes a Part
01:01:22 • 4min
Alaska the Dog and Companion Plush
01:05:37 • 3min
Where to Find Books and E-commerce
01:08:09 • 2min
Mystic and Central Park Projects
01:09:45 • 6min
Getting Unstuck and Turning Boring Ideas Funny
01:15:58 • 4min
Big Bird in China: A Wild Production
01:19:37 • 4min
Billboard Message and Final Thoughts
01:23:43 • 4min
Outro
01:27:22 • 0sec
#4778
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Cat in the Hat
Dr.Suess
The story follows the Cat in the Hat, a tall anthropomorphic cat in a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie, who visits two children, Sally and her brother, on a rainy day when their mother is away.
Despite the objections of their pet fish, the Cat shows the children various tricks and introduces his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, causing chaos in the house.
However, just before the mother returns, the Cat cleans up the mess using a machine.
The book is known for its simple vocabulary, basic rhyme, and colorful illustrations, making it a favorite among children and parents alike.
#2557
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
The book narrates the journey of an unnamed protagonist, representing the reader, as he leaves town and travels through various landscapes and places.
The story includes encounters with successes, setbacks, and places like 'The Waiting Place,' where everyone is waiting for something to happen.
The narrative emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability, concluding on a positive note with the protagonist confidently moving forward.
#12184
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Central Park West
James Comey
In 'Central Park West', James Comey crafts a fast-paced legal thriller that delves into the world of lawyers and investigators navigating modern politics and organized crime.
The story revolves around a murder investigation that uncovers connections between high-ranking politicians and the mafia, drawing heavily from Comey's real-life experiences in law enforcement.
The novel features a complex plot with authentic courtroom scenes and intriguing characters.
#22090
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Sweet dreams
philosophical obstacles to a science of consciousness
Daniel C. Dennett
#72869
Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money
Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money
Steve Brown
Tish Rabe
Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money is a delightful story starring the Bunny family—Brad, Brooke, and their triplets: Honey Fern (who loves to earn), Sunny Dave (who loves to save), and Funny Ben (who loves to spend).
Designed for children ages 5 and up, the book illustrates different approaches to managing money and is inspired by The Bucket Plan®, a proven process for achieving financial goals.
Through engaging illustrations and relatable characters, the book teaches children important financial life lessons in an accessible and entertaining way.
#43750
Mystic by the Sea Is the Best Place to Be
Jowll Woodman
Andrea Boatta
Tish Rabe
Mystic by the Sea is the Best Place to Be is a children's book by Tish Rabe that showcases the town of Mystic, Connecticut.
The story features a family of seagulls named Mason, Marina, and their children Marco and Misty as they explore and experience life in their coastal community.
Designed for children and their families, the book celebrates the unique character and attractions of Mystic.
#75559
There's No Place Like Space! All about Our Solar System
All About Our Solar System (Revised Edition)
Aristides Ruiz
Tish Rabe
In this Cat in the Hat's Learning Library book, Tish Rabe uses Dr. Seuss's beloved rhyming style to teach young readers about outer space.
The Cat in the Hat, along with Thing One and Thing Two, takes Dick and Sally on an adventure visiting the planets, learning facts like how a million Earths fit inside the sun, moon exploration with lunar rovers, and unique traits of each planet.
It includes an index, glossary, and further reading suggestions for ages 4-8.
#25241
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Sometimes a Part Always in My Heart
Tish Rabe
#23160
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Bert and the Broken Teapot
Tish Rabe
Bert and the Broken Teapot is a children's book written by Tish Rabe for Sesame Street.
The book was created early in Rabe's career as she began her work in children's media during the 1980s.
#33124
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing
A Book for Children Worldwide
Tish Rabe
This beautifully illustrated story for children ages 4-7 follows Amani, a little zebra on the African plains, as she learns the values of kindness, empathy, and friendship.
Created in partnership with Rotary, it incorporates the Four-Way Test, includes an original sing-along song, and introduces Rotary's mission to young families while promoting literacy and community service.
The book aims to inspire young readers to make the world a kinder, gentler place.
#30838
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Oh, the Pets You Can Get!
All About Our Animal Friends (Cat in the Hat's Lrning Libry)
Tish Rabe
In this charming book from the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library, the Cat in the Hat takes readers to Gerpletz to meet various pets like cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, canaries, and parakeets, teaching how to care for them properly.
Featuring engaging Seussian rhymes, zany illustrations, an index, glossary, and suggestions for further learning, it's perfect for story time and young readers aged 4-8.
Tish Rabe (@tishrabebooks) is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 children's books with more than 11 million copies sold. She has written for Sesame Street, Disney, PBS Kids, Curious George, Clifford, and many more. She now heads her own children's book publishing company, Tish Rabe Books.
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Timestamps
- [00:00:00] Who is Tish Rabe?
- [00:00:24] How an opera major became a bestselling children’s author and songwriter.
- [00:03:12] Tish’s trashy debut on television treasure Sesame Street.
- [00:03:36] Pitching a childhood memory to dead silence — and landing book number one.
- [00:07:27] The value of writing a story’s ending first.
- [00:09:42] Jim Henson: The kind, gentle giant with a mind of steel.
- [00:10:58] Keeping kids and their parents entertained with double-level humor.
- [00:11:38] How Tish put her music training to work with Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
- [00:18:56] From nine-note auditions to signing on with Sesame Street‘s mission to level the kindergarten playing field.
- [00:22:48] Churning out children’s books and writing bangers about animal gestation periods and lumber measurement for 3-2-1 Contact.
- [00:26:56] The zero-rhyming genius of Joe Raposo’s “Bein’ Green” and why it works.
- [00:29:59] Curriculum is king: Focus groups, orange Oscar, and making sure the kids aren’t lost.
- [00:32:16] Random House rejected her book, but the late Dr. Seuss took a second look.
- [00:37:17] Accepting the Widow Seuss’s challenge to write a book for babies in utero and ending up with a bestseller.
- [00:40:39] The secret to perfect rhyme in Dr. Seuss’s paradigm.
- [00:44:14] Is rhyming a part of Tish’s DNA, or did she learn it along the way?
- [00:48:12] The time Tish transformed a planet from pizza into nickels to make her deadline.
- [00:49:45] Has music as a mission preserved Tish’s cognition?
- [00:55:10] What does Tish aim to do with the company she started in her 70s?
- [01:01:18] Sometimes Apart, Always in My Heart: A military kid’s book born from a POW father’s legacy and a high-five traced on paper.
- [01:05:30] Alaska the stuffed dog, financial literacy bunnies, hallucinated seagulls, and 843 acres of Central Park in 24 pages.
- [01:12:54] Tish’s campaign to get free books to kids in underserved neighborhoods.
- [01:14:02] Advice for aspiring children’s book authors.
- [01:15:42] Tish doesn’t get derailed by writer’s block — she prepares for it.
- [01:17:24] When Michelle Obama added 16 pages to a book Tish thought would be boring.
- [01:19:37] Big Bird in China, 1982: One hand-painted costume, 13 days of rain, zero coffee, and a five-year-old who memorized the wrong script.
- [01:23:41] Tish’s billboard.
- [01:24:38] Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing and other parting thoughts.
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