Sesame Street Muppets and BASF Kids' Lab Join World Expo 2010 Shanghai

SHANGHAI and NEW YORK, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and the rest of the Sesame Street gang, and BASF Kids' Lab, are taking to the stage for an interactive educational program called "Magic Map Show," which will run at the Expo 2010 Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010.  Brought to the children of China, and those visiting from abroad, by Sesame Workshop (the producers behind Sesame Street) and BASF Kids' Lab, the live show takes children on a journey to five continents to learn about the world we live in.  The show also comprises a hands-on experiment called "Recycling of Dirty Water" on how to produce clean water.

To kick off the Expo appearances, the Sesame Street Muppets visited Luwan Youth Activity Center in Shanghai to give kids a sneak peek of the fun and games they will be able to see twice daily beginning May 1 when "Magic Map Show" opens at Dock Theater at the Expo Garden in Pu Xi.

With plenty of singing and dancing, "Magic Map Show" encourages children to appreciate and take care of the environment.  Children will also have the chance to come on to the stage to participate in an interactive and fun chemical experiment put together by BASF Kids' Lab.

"Big Bird first came to China in 1983 and when he heard about the World Expo in Shanghai, he couldn't wait to come back to see some old friends, many of whom have their own children today, and to make some new friends like Haibao," said Maura Regan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sesame Workshop's Global Consumer Products.  "We are incredibly excited to be part of what promises to be a most memorable experience."

"We are so glad that BASF can join Sesame Street to bring a very joyful and interesting experience for the children visiting the World Expo.  I hope the children, whether they are from Shanghai or other parts of the world, will learn about the environment and how our chemistry can help improve the environment," said Johnny Kwan, Chairman, Greater China Country Board, BASF.

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children's television programming with the landmark Sesame Street.  The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo.  Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning.  Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

BASF Kids' Lab is an interactive chemistry educational program established in Germany in 1997 by BASF, the world's leading chemical company.  The program is designed for children, aged 6 to 12, to learn about science and environmental protection through fun and hands-on chemical experiment.  Since its introduction to China in 2002, more than 104,000 children have joined BASF Kids' Lab. www.basf.com/kids-love-chemistry

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SOURCE BASF