Drawn into Jim Henson’s World

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Muppets. There’s something about their blend of silliness, warmth, and wisdom that feels timeless. So, when I picked up Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones, I expected to learn more about the man behind Kermit and Miss Piggy. What I didn’t expect was to be so deeply moved by the story of a dreamer and an innovator that never stopped chasing creativity. 

From the beginning, I found myself drawn into Henson’s world. He didn’t start out thinking about himself as a ‘puppeteer’, he stumbled into it accidentally as he searched for a way to break into television. Even when he had an extremely successful puppet sketch show that refused to be cancelled because of how much fans adored it, he still just looked at puppeteering as a steppingstone to the next big thing in his career. After a brief trip to Europe, however, he was able to see the true potential of puppeteering as a legitimate art form, and upon his arrival home, he began to treat it like an art form without any limits. I loved reading about how he refused to box himself in, always blending humor, music, technology, and a little bit (or a lot!) of chaos. Any time someone tried to tell him that puppets were just for kids, he knew they were wrong and would move onto the next project until he found someone else who got the vision.  

What struck me the most though was Henson’s energy. He was always in motion, juggling a dozen projects that had absolutely nothing to do with each other, other than the fact they were Jim’s was of expressing his creativity.  He would be working on coffee commercials with his Muppets, while also shooting a short film, and working to open a night club all at the same time. It felt like he had somehow found more hours in a 24-hour day than everyone else had. The drive he had was inspiring, but it was also bittersweet. Jones doesn’t shy away from showing how exhausting it could all be, for both Jim and the people around him. It reminds me that even our heroes have limits, and that chasing big dreams often comes with sacrifice.  

Still, the overwhelming impression I took away is one of joy. Henson truly believed in the good of people and in the power of imagination to connect us. Reading about the creation of Sesame Street and the Muppet Show gave me such a nostalgic thrill, I grew up on those characters, and realizing how intentional Henson was about making the world a kinder place through them made me appreciate them even more.  

By the end, I’ll admit I had tears I my eyes. Henson’s passing in 1990 was far too soon, but his legacy feels larger than life. As I watch old Sesame Street episodes with my daughter, I find myself watching from a slightly different perspective, now knowing the story behind the man that made sure specifically lower income children still had the same learning opportunities as everyone else. It’s hard to imagine what new innovations Jim may have been able to come up with if he had been around for just a little while longer, but his legacy is carried on by the Jim Henson Company, who still innovate and create in his honor today, even as recently as the upcoming Five Night’s a Freddies movie coming out later this year. September 17th 2025, Disney also announced that the Muppets show will be returning next year to celebrate the 50th anniversary.   

~ Caleigh

Library Services Assistant, Long Sault