Mo Willems

 M o   W ill e m s  ( b . 1 9 6 8  ) is an animator & write r who has worked in both capacities on  SESAME STREET , & designed & directed the open in g for "  Elmo  ’ s World  ". As a write r, Willems contribute d script s fro m Sea s on 2 4  through  Sea s on 3 2. He create d & animate d the many cartoon segment s star ring Suzie Kabloozie , as well as other spot s , & wrote & directed the home video release  The Alpha bet Jungle Game .

In a 2 0 1 0 interview, Willem s remembered getting hire d at  SESAME STREET  :

" When I got there I was making film s f or grow n - up s . I was really happy to get the job because it paid the rent & I was getting to write sketch comedy . That ’ s what  SESAME STREET  is . It was at  SESAME STREET  that I learned how to write for children . I wrote a lot of  Elmo  & a character  called  Baby Bear  . By the time I was gone I realize d this was where I wanted my career to be . "

Out side of  SESAME STREET , Willems create d the Cartoon Network series  Sheep   in   the   Big   City  ( which at various time s feature d  SESAME STREET  cast member s  JOE Y MAZZARINO  ,  STEPHANIE D ' ABRUZZO  ,  FRAN BRILL  , Ruth Buzzi  &  JERRY NELSON  ). He also wrote for  C ode name :   K i d s   Next   Door  & create d t he " Off - B eat s " interstitial s for Nickelodeon.

More recently, Willems has shifted to writing & illustrating c h i l d r e n ’ s book s , including  Don ’ t   Let   the   Pigeon Drive the   Bus  ,  Knuffle   Bunny : A Cautionary   Tale  , &  Leonardo   the   Terrible   Monster .