Lance Rogoff News Today

A recent book narrates the saga of an American woman who helped the most beloved children’s show in the West cross the Iron Curtain

An American tasked with bringing Sesame Street to Russia after the collapse of communism shares her wild story.

In 1989, Jim Henson's 'Fraggle Rock' became the first American television series to air in what was then still the Soviet Union.

Who doesn't know Sesame Street, the American educational children's television series that premiered in 1969 and runs on animation and puppetry. It is one of the longest-running shows in history. And it has been adapted for dozens of other countries. In a must-read new book Natasha Lane Rogoff describes the harrowing conversion to Ulitsa Sezam for Russia and Ukraine. And yes, there is a chess connection.

In the 1990s, when much of America’s media and political class was delivering condescending lectures to Russians, the team tasked with bringing the children’s show “Sesame Street” to Russia embraced collaboration and sought to convey universal values. Their experience – and success – offers valuable insights into the Russian mind.

Natasha Lance Rogoff, who executive produced the show in its early years, tells of the dark adult situations faced by the staff putting on a lighthearted children's show, in the book Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, then-Senator Joe Biden spearheaded an effort in Congress to send the beloved show, "Sesame Street", to Russia. The move was part of a larger aid package designed to help with education reform and win over the hearts and minds of Russian youth. Natasha Lanc

Natasha Lance Rogoff, author of the new book "Muppets in Moscow" speaks with ABC News about making the TV show in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.

In an unexpected new book, Nastasha Lance Rogoff recalls some difficult and at times dangerous tales of making Ulitsa Sezam

The upcoming season is rich with strong titles from independent and university presses. Here are 20, for adults and kids, to put on your radar.