NYT Bestselling Author on Writing 200+ Children's Books — Tish Rabe
Write your endings first. The Sesame Street writers used this technique: they'd envision the final scene (like Abbott and Costello pushing a piano across a bridge with a gorilla approaching) and then work backwards. This applies to children's books and any creative work. Your last page—the final thi
1h 25mKey Takeaway
Write your endings first. The Sesame Street writers used this technique: they'd envision the final scene (like Abbott and Costello pushing a piano across a bridge with a gorilla approaching) and then work backwards. This applies to children's books and any creative work. Your last page—the final thing people hear before closing the book—is the most important. It's the message that stays with them.
Episode Overview
Tish Rabe shares her remarkable journey from aspiring opera singer to prolific children's book author (200+ books, 11+ million copies sold). Starting as a production assistant on Sesame Street Season 2, she learned songwriting and storytelling in one of television's most creative environments. Her career took an unexpected turn when Random House rejected her rhyming dinosaur book because they were "the rhyming home of Dr. Seuss"—but then asked her to write a new Dr. Seuss series. She discusses the craft of writing for children, the importance of curriculum-driven creativity, and the groundbreaking educational research behind Sesame Street.
Key Insights
Write Endings First
Sesame Street writers taught Tish to always write the last page first. They would analyze classic comedy scenes and ask "how did they get there?" This technique ensures your story has a clear destination and makes the final message—the last thing audiences hear before moving on—as impactful as possible.
Never Turn Down Opportunities
Tish's career philosophy was simple: never turn down a freelance job or book offer. Whether it was a butterfly book in a week or counting Big Bird into songs, saying yes opened doors. Her willingness to pitch her teapot story and accept the Sesame Street typing job led to a multi-decade career she never initially planned.
Curriculum as Creative Constraint
Sesame Street made "curriculum king"—every song and story had to teach specific concepts (numbers, letters, cooperation, seasons). Rather than limiting creativity, these constraints focused it. The challenge became: how do you make learning memorable through humor, rhyme, and entertainment? Educational goals drove innovation, not hindered it.
Double-Level Humor Engages Everyone
Sesame Street pioneered writing content that worked on two levels—entertaining kids while including sophisticated humor for adults. Research showed children learned more when parents watched with them. Making content adults enjoyed meant families engaged together, multiplying the educational impact.
Embrace Creative Freedom with Structure
Joan Ganz Cooney gave the Sesame Street team extraordinary creative freedom—"just do it, just go." But this freedom existed within clear educational frameworks. The combination of trust, structure (curriculum goals), and testing (focus groups with kids) created an environment where people "made stuff up all day" while staying focused on impact.
Notable Quotes
"They wrote the endings first. So they used to tell me, 'Okay, Abbott and Costello are pushing a piano across a bridge in the jungle with a gorilla coming across the bridge at them. How did they get there?'"
"I always write my last page first. Always. It's a very important page in children's books because it is the last page they hear before the book is shut."
"We cannot publish Morris Aurora's brachiosaurus because we are the rhyming home of Dr. Seuss. However, how would you like to write a new series for Dr. Seuss?"
"Being green, there's not one rhyme. It's not easy being green, having to spend each day the color of the leaves when it would be nicer to be red or yellow or gold or something much more colorful like that. It's totally talking. There's not a rhyme in it."
"I'm not mad or anything. I love you more than any teapot."
Action Items
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1
Start With The End
Before writing anything—a story, presentation, email, or project plan—write your ending first. What's the final impression you want to leave? What's the core message people should remember? Then work backwards to create the journey that gets there.
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2
Say Yes to Unexpected Opportunities
Don't dismiss opportunities just because they're not your "main path." Tish went from aspiring opera singer to music production assistant to children's book author—none of which was planned. Each "yes" (even to typing) opened unexpected doors. Practice saying yes to interesting opportunities even when you can't see where they lead.
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3
Create Within Constraints
When facing a creative challenge, set clear constraints (like Sesame Street's curriculum requirements). Constraints focus creativity rather than limiting it. Define what you must accomplish (teach numbers, explain a concept, solve a problem) and use that as your creative framework.
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4
Test With Your Actual Audience
Sesame Street pioneered focus groups with children to see what actually worked, not what adults assumed would work. Regularly test your work with real users/readers/customers. Don't guess what resonates—observe actual reactions and adjust accordingly.