SESAME STREET IS BACK WITH ZARA LARSSON AND POST MALONE: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

The fuzzy friends who taught generations of us to count are back, and this time they are bringing a few famous faces along for the ride.

Season 57 of Sesame Street lands on Netflix on Monday 23 November, with a fresh batch of episodes built around kindness, compassion and helping little ones cope with big feelings.

And if your house has a toddler who can't get enough of Elmo, the guest list might just win over the grown-ups too.

Pop stars and puppy parties

GRAMMY-nominated Swedish pop star Zara Larsson joins Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster to sing a brand-new song, Puppy Dance Party.

It features in an episode called Elmo & Tango's Puppy Playdate, where Elmo and his dog Tango throw a party for their four-legged friends.

Things go awry when a special present for Tango's cousin, Mambo, fails to turn up, so Mail Monster Grover steps in to help track it down.

Meanwhile, Cookie Monster pretends to be a dog in the hope of scoring a treat, which will surprise absolutely nobody who knows him.

Singer Post Malone also drops in, along with Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams and comedian Michelle Buteau.

More celebrity friends will pop up in exclusive digital content throughout the season.

What's new on Sesame Street this season

Each episode is built around an 11-minute interactive story that invites children to play along and become part of the adventure.

The show's makers say every story focuses on kindness, compassion and big feelings, with lessons designed to carry on long after the screen goes off.

In Elmo's Treasure Hunt, Rudy feels left out of an imaginary game, so Elmo and Abby apologise, give him a hug and make a Buddy Rock to share with a friend in need.

Abby's Beastie Bestie sees Abby feeling sad when her beastie has to leave for Fairyland, so Nina and Elmo help her make a memory box of happy times.

In Elmo's Game Night, Elmo feels jealous when his mum and Abby team up, so he takes a calming "heart breath" before saying sorry.

Fan favourites Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck are back, along with Tales from 123, an animated peek at the goings-on inside the most famous apartment building on the street.

Little viewers will also hear the catchphrases they adore, from Elmo's cheery hellos to Cookie Monster's excited outbursts.

Why the focus on feelings

Sesame Workshop's Senior Vice President of Global Education, Dr Rosemarie Truglio, says kindness and compassion are needed today more than ever.

She says the show's curriculum explores everyday social problem-solving, such as taking turns, cheering up a friend and seeing things from someone else's point of view.

Those skills, she says, help lay the foundation for lifelong emotional wellbeing.

Executive producer Sal Perez says the new season brings children right into the action, with big adventures and plenty of surprises to make them laugh out loud.

For parents, it is a gentle way to open up conversations about tricky emotions like jealousy, sadness and feeling left out.

One simple idea: watch an episode together, then ask your little one how the character felt and what helped them feel better.

How to watch

The new episodes are the first of three volumes, with the other two due in 2027.

They will be available in more than 30 languages on Netflix, and in the US they will also screen on PBS KIDS on the same day.

Sesame Street first went to air in November 1969, and it is now reaching more children in more places than ever before.

There is plenty more to come, too.

Sesame Workshop and Netflix have extended their partnership to deliver new episodes all the way through to Season 62.

Netflix is also developing a Sesame Street film, with Rideback and Sesame Workshop set to produce.

You can read the full announcement of the new season here.

Season 57 of Sesame Street premieres on Netflix on Monday 23 November, so pop it in the diary and get the snacks ready.