Overview of #854: Tish Rabe — 200+ Children's Books, Getting Picked for Dr. Seuss, Lessons from Early Sesame Street, How to Write 300+ Songs, and More
Tim Ferriss interviews Tish Rabe — veteran children's author, songwriter, and former Sesame Street staffer. Rabe recounts her career arc (trained as an opera singer → Sesame Street music production assistant and singer → prolific author/songwriter → Random House video director → writer chosen to continue Ted Geisel/Dr. Seuss–style beginner books → founder of her own publishing company at 71). The conversation covers creative practice, songwriting and rhyming craft, early Sesame Street’s research-driven approach, working with Dr. Seuss’s estate, building books for specific audiences (military kids, bedtime routines, financial literacy), and launching direct-to-reader publishing and charitable book campaigns.
Key facts & highlights
- Career snapshot: author of 200+ children’s books, more than 11 million copies sold; composer of 300+ children’s songs.
- Education: four-year degree in opera with a jazz minor; planned to be an opera singer.
- Sesame Street: hired as music production assistant in Season 2, later sang on episodes and albums (including Oscar the Grouch). Learned creative and structural lessons there.
- Dr. Seuss work: Random House asked her to continue the “beginner book” series in Dr. Seuss’s rhythm and rhyme after Ted Geisel’s death. Wrote titles such as Oh Baby, The Places You'll Go (readable in utero).
- Entrepreneurship: started Tish Rabe Books (her own publishing company) around age 71 (during COVID).
- Philanthropy & projects: books for military families (Sometimes a Part Always in My Heart), partnership with Pajama Program (Beyond Bedtime), Central Park children’s book with crowdfunding to donate copies to underserved NYC first-graders, Rotary collaboration: Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing.
Core topics discussed
- Early Sesame Street creative culture and research-based curriculum
- Daily creative freedom balanced by curriculum goals and educational research.
- Use of focus groups with children to test content and measure comprehension.
- Double-level humor: jokes that work for children and adults, boosting co-viewing & learning.
- Songwriting for kids
- Typical structure: clear teaching objective → verse + B section (song goes somewhere and returns).
- Practical theater-proven recording practices (pre-recorded tracks, counting off timing cues for puppeteers).
- Joe Raposo’s Being Green as example of breaking rhyme conventions successfully.
- Rhyme, rhythm, and Dr. Seuss craft
- Dr. Seuss standards: very consistent meter/rhythm + pure end rhymes; invented words when needed.
- Rabe’s process: often write the last page first (ending anchors the book), build rhymes from research, and use library resources to simplify facts before turning them into rhyme.
- Rhyme as mnemonic: use of rhyme and rhythm to embed concepts (e.g., migration → vacation).
- Publishing & producing children’s books
- Transition from writing-for-publishers to self-publishing to get specific formats (dialogic reading, books with parent prompts).
- Importance of pairing text with the right illustrator; match art style to tone/message.
- Practicalities: page count considerations (24 pages typical for concise read-alouds), translations, public-domain melodies for songs.
- Audience-focused books and outreach
- Military-family book: based on interviews with service members, spouses and children; built in actionable tips and companion plush (Alaska the dog).
- Central Park title: community-driven project with plans for donated books to NYC first-graders.
Notable quotes & insights
- On creative training at Sesame Street: “They wrote the endings first.” (Rabe uses this as a core rule for book writing.)
- On Joe Raposo’s Being Green: “There’s not a rhyme in it… He came in and sang it and people were thunderstruck.” (Demonstrates the power of breaking form when the idea is right.)
- On parents & singing: “The only voice your child wants to hear is yours.” (Encouragement for parents to sing/read even if they think they’re not good singers.)
- Billboard message she’d display: “Remember the children are our most precious gift… Read, read, read.”
Practical craft advice (for writers & creators)
Structure & process
- Write the last page first — the ending shapes pacing, tone, and ensures the “bedtime” or takeaway moment lands.
- Start with the educational or emotional objective (what the child should learn/feel).
- For songs: define the teaching point → write a verse + contrasting B section → return to anchor.
- Build in mnemonic devices (rhyme, rhythm) to aid recall.
Research & content selection
- Use the children’s section of the local library to gather simplified source material before converting facts to rhyme.
- Be selective — extract memorable, translatable facts and test for rhyme potential (e.g., migration → vacation).
Rhyme & voice
- Understand Seussian guardrails if emulating that style: strict meter and pure rhymes; create nonsense words if needed.
- Use slant rhymes sparingly; pure rhyme and consistent cadence are stronger for early readers.
- When tasked with “content” books (health, science, finance), embed the lessons in playful characters and avoid preachiness.
Production & publishing
- Choose an illustrator early; artwork must amplify and carry the book’s message.
- Consider book length carefully (shorter is often better for read-aloud/sleep routines).
- Pair books with songs (use public-domain tunes for familiarity) and consider plush/merch tie-ins for engagement and fundraising.
- If self-publishing: build relationships for printing, fulfillment, and direct sales; consider crowdfunding for social campaigns.
Managing blocks & deadlines
- Build buffer into deadlines (submit initial draft early) to allow for productive stalls.
- If stuck, switch projects temporarily; creative incubation often resolves impasses.
Practical advice (for parents & educators)
- Read aloud and sing to children — your voice matters more than “perfect” singing.
- Dialogic reading: ask simple questions during/after reading to build comprehension and language skills.
- Use lullabies and public-domain tunes as calming rituals tied to bedtime routines.
- Donate books to local programs or support efforts that put books into the hands of children who lack them.
Memorable anecdotes
- Tish started at Sesame Street because she could sing and type; was hired as a music production assistant and later sang with the Muppets (notably Oscar the Grouch).
- Working on Big Bird in China (1982): first crew with Big Bird in China; logistical challenges (rain days, costume care), ultimately won an Emmy for best special.
- Random House initially rejected a rhyming manuscript because they were “the rhyming home of Dr. Seuss” — then hired her to write Dr. Seuss–style science beginner books.
- Quick rewrite anecdote: mnemonic referencing Pluto had to be changed when Pluto was demoted (pizza → nickels).
Resources & where to find Tish Rabe
- Official site (books & projects): TishRabeBooks.com (T-I-S-H R-A-B-E Books)
- Tim Ferriss episode notes & links: tim.blog/podcast (search Episode #854)
- Notable organizations mentioned: Pajama Program / Beyond Bedtime, United Through Reading, Rotary clubs (for Kindness book campaigns)
Final takeaways
- Rabe’s career shows how combining musical training, disciplined craft (write the ending first), research, and openness to opportunity can create a prolific, impact-driven body of work.
- Rhyme and music are powerful educational tools — they help kids remember and engage.
- Purpose-driven publishing (books for military families, bedtime routines, civic/park guides) can be paired with direct community giving to expand reach and impact.
If you want a quick checklist to apply Rabe’s approach:
- Define the single lesson or emotion for the book/song.
- Write the last page first.
- Gather simplified facts from children’s library sources.
- Pair the text with a matching illustrator and a short, memorable melody.
- Use rhyme as a mnemonic device; don’t be afraid to invent words when stuck.
- Test concepts with the audience (children) when possible.