As Sesame Street turns 50, Big Bird is still making new friends everywhere he goes.

The author reflects on the connection of Big Bird, the 8-foot-tall canary-like character on "Sesame Street," with children over the years as the television show celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019. She describes evidence of the popularity of the character. She discusses an interview with the Muppet, wherein he describes similarities between the children he has met today and those in the past. She also traces some changes on "Sesame Street" in response to data about early-childhood learning.