In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I am joined by Miss Anne Goresht, former host of the children's television show Romper Room and author of “I Am a Big Brother with a Superpower”.
Miss Anne shares her journey from hosting Romper Room, a pioneering educational children's show, to becoming an author and a passionate advocate for children's reading and learning. She details her surprising path to becoming the host of Romper Room, emphasizes the importance of storytelling and education in her life, and discusses her new book aimed at helping children adjust to new siblings. Miss Anne also talks about the process of writing her book and collaborating with illustrator Karen Argue, as well as her plans to write a memoir and another children's book focused on empathy.
Before becoming an author, Miss Anne was the beloved host of the children's television show, Romper Room, which aired from 1953 to 1994. The popular show was best known for its interactive format, with Miss Anne leading children through various educational activities and games. Romper Room was ground-breaking in its approach to children's media, emphasizing education and socialization in a fun, engaging way.
Like an all-time favourite school teacher forever ingrained in a child's memory, Miss Anne has had an enormous impact on many children. She paved the way for several popular TV shows—Sesame Street, Mister Rogers' Neighbourhood, and The Friendly Giant. Combining her unique experiences and gift for teaching children, Miss Anne entertains and captures her young audience with compassion and humour with her book I am a Big Brother with a Superpower. Once again, children's imaginations are stimulated through relatable characters and colourful illustrations. After all, she has forever believed that children's books should be entertaining and educational, providing young readers with valuable life lessons.
In addition to writing books, Miss Anne regularly visited the YMCA to share her love of reading and storytelling with children. She believes that every child has the potential to become a lifelong reader and hopes to inspire a new generation of book lovers.
Listen in as we talk about:
03:00 Becoming the host of Romper Room
08:35 A most memorable moment on Romper Room
10:43 Becoming an author - at 91 years young!
12:30 Collaborating with Illustrator Karen Argue
14:46 The journey of writing a book
18:36 Choosing joy and fun
19:58 The magic of storytelling
25:01 Advice for aspiring authors and educators
31:14 Miss Anne’s words of wisdom
Learn more about Miss Anne:
Website: https://miss-anne.getresponsesite.com/
YouTube: About the Book: I Am A Big Brother With A Superpower
Book: I Am A Big Brother With A Superpower
Connect with Tiana:
Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course
BECOMING THE HOST OF ROMPER ROOM
During a playdate with a friend and her children, Miss Anne heard on the radio that Romper Room was looking for a new host. Initially skeptical, but encouraged by her friend and husband, she decided to pursue the opportunity. After getting her hair done in a beehive hairstyle, she attended the interview and audition. Ultimately, she was offered the job, marking the start of a magical journey. Embracing unexpected opportunities can lead to exciting new chapters in life!
A MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON ROMPER ROOM
Miss Anne fondly recalls a memorable Easter episode of Romper Room when she took the initiative to bring in two rabbits from the zoo, thinking her director might forget. As she introduced the bunnies while singing a cheerful song, one rabbit quickly hopped on top of the other, leading to an unexpected but hilarious moment on camera. Viewers were delighted, and the switchboard lit up with calls from fathers eager to get a bunny from the show. Instead of flustering,