by Sharlene Henry

I always loved Sesame Street as a kid, to the point where my dad used to say I would be fixated on the TV when the show was on. So when I was invited by amotherworld to attend the Let’s Rock! Elmo concert at the Six Degrees Event Centre on September 24, 2011 – I had to see what all the buzz was about as I had no idea what to expect.

Naturally, I brought my four kids with me, and boy, were we surprised! It looked like a typical nightclub on the outside with a bouncer and greeter, but inside it was amazing! It was toy paradise for kids – with tables full of Sesame Street characters, PlayDoh stations, and of course the star of the show, Let’s Rock! Elmo. As we arrived Nikki Yanofsky was just finishing up on stage when Elmo showed up, to the delight of me and my kids. I have to say it was so exciting to see Elmo rock it out to the tunes the DJ was playing.

My kids always are hungry even after they have eaten, so I was glad to see the snack station set up with healthy choices: mini muffins, yogurt with granola, sandwiches, cookies, juice and milk for the kids, and coffee for the grownups. But I didn’t feel like a grownup – I felt like a kid in a candy store – I had no idea that Sesame Street and Hasbro had so many toys! My kids and I didn’t know where to begin.

My baby Rebekah loved the Squeeze-A-Song plush Elmo – she never wanted to leave it alone! My three-year-old son Nathaniel loved the Let’s Rock! Elmo Guitar, Let’s Rock! Cookie Monster Keyboard and the Let’s Rock! Grover Microphone. He also loved playing with the water station that had the Silly Swimmers Elmo and Cookie Monster. My older daughters Japhia (11) and Kefira (10) loved the Count N’ Crunch Cookie Monster because the cookies looked real. When you put cookies in his mouth, it falls into his backpack. They also liked

the Elmo Cellphone because it flips up like a real phone. Most of all, my kids all loved Let’s Rock! Elmo, because Elmo is so cool – he sings six different songs and while playing drums and has a microphone and tambourine. I can see why this is considered one of the hottest toys this holiday season.

They danced, took pictures with Cookie Monster and AbbyCadabby, and as we were leaving we received a loot bag that contained an Elmo T-shirt, a DVD, a book, Bert and Ernie action figures, a mini plush Abby doll and best of all, a Let’s Rock! Elmo doll. Christmas came a little early this year!

Rock Out with LET’S ROCK! ELMO  Hasbro welcomed Sesame Street to the iconic PLAYSKOOL family with a rockin’ kick-off concert at Six Degrees Event Centre in Toronto on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Sharlene Henry is a busy mumof four kids: 11, 10, 3 and 9 months. Follow her on Twitter.