| Category | Details |
| Title | Natalie Portman at Hooper's Store |
| Season & Episode | Season 35, Episode 4060 |
| Lessons & Themes | Dealing with change, adaptability, and the value of new friendships. |
| Key Segments | Natalie Portman’s "Omelet Song," Global Grover in Malaysia, and Trash Gordon vs. The Stinky Cheese. |
| Main Muppets | Big Bird, Alan, Baby Bear, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover |
| Human Guest(s) | Natalie Portman |
| Special Guest(s) | Venus Williams |
| Letter & Number | D and 17 |
| Air Date | April 8, 2004 |
Parent's Guide
Alan goes on vacation to Hawaii. Big Bird's feeling a bit down. He loves his routine at Hooper's Store. Routine provides safety for young children. When a caregiver or teacher changes, it feels like a whole new ball game for them. You've got to be sure these feelings are valid. Don't dismiss the change. Natalie gets that things are changing. She shows that different experiences can be fine. You can help your child prepare for transitions by using a calendar. Count the days until a loved one returns. It's like finding a new babysitter as a new friend. This means that the focus is on what your child gains.
Baby Bear's not so sure about the porridge Natalie made. It's not his usual meal. He tries the version with nuts and honey. He knows the food tastes good. New things don't have to be scary. You should encourage your child to be a food explorer. Make a new dish feel more familiar. This makes the unknown approachable.
Natalie and Hoots the Owl sing about change. Change is part of life. Shopkeepers go on vacation. People move to new houses. You should use music to remind your child that change is constant. Singing makes a new situation seem less threatening. It creates a shared experience.
Cookie Monster uses a sign to stop himself from eating a cookie. Visual cues are tools for toddlers. A simple sign or a hand gesture can help a child practice impulse control. This helps them resist acting on an urge.
A Master Chef Elephant tries to interview for a job. He panics when he forgets how to make an omelet. He jumps around the room. Natalie uses a song to calm him. She's the one who helps him feel confident again. Kids often get a brain freeze when they're trying something new. You can help your child by breaking tasks into small steps. Use a melody to explain the process. Help your child chill out by talking to yourself. This focus helps them get the job done.
Rosita introduces the word "Gracias." She says it after receiving flowers. Gratitude is key to social development. It's interesting how a word in another language can make the idea of thanks more engaging. You should try having a gratitude game at dinner. Everyone says "Gracias" for one thing every day. This helps kids recognize positive actions. It's a good way to show respect.
Summary
Air date: April 8, 2004 Written by: Joey Mazzarino
Intro: My Favorite Sesame Street Moments: Venus Williams. Venus' favorite moment is the song "Ladybugs' Picnic."
SCENES
Three Men in a Tub come in for the ad. They have answered the ad for "Beefsticks, Breadsticks & Candlesticks" but this is the wrong place.
Someone else comes in and Alan thinks that she wants to answer his ad. But she is just a customer and she wants a glass of pineapple juice. An elephant, dressed as a master chef comes in to answer the ad. He tries to demonstrate the way he cooks an omelet. But unfortunately the food is knocking off the shelves because of his constant jumping.
The customer, Natalie, tries to calm down the elephant. She demonstrates to him with a song, how to make an omelet. The elephant decided to go to work for Peanuts (an elephant restaurant).
Alan is very impressed by Natalie and he asks her if she likes to work at Hooper’s for a week. She agrees and Alan goes off to pack. Big Bird doesn’t like changes and he is not happy at all but Natalie thinks it‘s very exciting.
Baby Bear comes in, and he wants to order ‘‘the usual‘‘ but Alan isn’t here. Natalie understands that this is hard for Big Bird. She demonstrates how she make porridge. She adds nuts, peaches, and honey. Baby Bear tries the porridge and he finds that it’s great. He finds that Natalie can make his porridge always.
Natalie likes working at Hooper’s. Big Bird is still sad, and Natalie sings a song about how things change over the seasons. Now Big Bird feels better.
As Alan comes back and he asks Natalie if she
wants to work for him. Natalie asks Big Bird what he thinks. Big Bird will miss
Alan but he likes Natalie too. She offers Big Bird a birdseed milkshake.
Song
The Letter of the Day: D Part 1: Cookie Monster wants to stop himself from eating the Letter D Cookie. So he makes a Don’t sign.
Animation: "There's a big yellow D in that wagon!"
The Letter of the Day: D Part 2: Cookie Monster eats the sign and then the cookie.
Song: An ode to D-A-D.
The Spanish Word of the Day: "Gracias" The Spanish word for Thank you is Gracias and Rosita presents it. She receives flowers and applause.
Muppets: Hoots the Owl sings "Things Are Always Changing" because Jimmy is upset about moving to a new house.
Journey to Ernie: Beach. Big Bird is at the beach and he is searching for Ernie.
Ernie & Bert: Bert tries to guess which part of the family is Ernie pretending to be.
Global Grover: Grover was in Malaysia. They make kites with bamboo sticks, strings, glue, and paper there.
Global Thingy: The pals of the globe want to clean it up because it has wandered into a littered, polluted city.
The Number of the Day: 17. The number of the day is 17 and a singing 17 appears.
Animation: It takes four hands to count to 17.
Animation: Ornate 17s swing by.
Elmo's World: Bugs
The Adventures of Trash Gordon: Chapter 538. Planet Gorgonzola: Stinky Cheese Guys are smelling bad. Trash’s nasal passages are threatened by this smell and he clears his nose with a sneeze. Sesame Street Episode 4060 ends.
Trivia: Natalie Portman was supposed to be in three episodes as Natalie. But she began losing her voice and Gabi took her place. Natalie Portman’s two songs are recorded during a separate session.