I read that it teaches kids about self-advocacy, empathy and social awareness. And I thought that it should teach or make kids aware of the thinking process and make them know that they have a brain and they could use it.Īlma has a brother named Junior, just like Sonia Manzano has a brother named Junior. Now, the goal of the show was left up to me what it was going to teach. She just said 'a Latino or Latinx family' and I of course made it a Nuyorican family, a Puerto Rican family, because that's what I am and I placed them in the South Bronx because that's where I grew up! So it was pitched to you and you just brought your own flavor to it, really. I can step up to do this.' And so I made up this animated series. So I was perfectly happy to just write my books but she asked me to do this and I thought 'OK. I mean, how are you going to top that act? That was pretty major. I wouldn't have wanted to create a children's show after being on 'Sesame Street' for so many years. It was Linda Simensky's idea at PBS KIDS to ask me to create a new show with a Latino family based in a Latino family household an animated series. What made you decide to go back to TV after focusing on your writing after “Sesame Street”? Was introducing Alma’s story something you dreamt about for a long time? I was happy to be on the show for 44 years and I was a writer for at least 25 of those years and now I've put all of those talents into 'Alma's Way.' You retired from 'Sesame Street' in 2015. The following conversation was edited for length and clarity. I had the opportunity to talk to her about the inspiration for the show and how her childhood and role as Maria influenced the character of Alma and the show's purpose. Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on 'Sesame Street,' is the creator of the new PBS KIDS show 'Alma's Way,' which follows a little girl named Alma Rivera from the Bronx as she solves problems alongside friends and family.

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