[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. CHRISTOPHER CERF

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. 
Christopher Cerf upon receiving the 2010 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in 
Education. Mr. Cerf has dedicated his life to making educational 
resources more accessible to all children, and enriching children's 
educational experiences.
  Mr. Cerf began his career after graduating from Harvard University, 
when he spent eight years as a senior editor at Random House, working 
with such diverse authors as George Plimpton, Andy Warhol, Abbie 
Hoffman, Ray Bradbury, and Dr. Seuss. Mr. Cerf then took his talents to 
the acclaimed children's show Sesame Street where he has been a regular 
contributor of music and lyrics since the show's first season. He won 
two Grammy and three Emmy awards for his work with Sesame Street. For 
over forty years, Mr. Cerf has creatively been educating children using 
music and lyrics as educational tools.
  In 2000, Mr. Cerf and his company Sirius Thinking Ltd., started a new 
highly acclaimed children's educational daily television program, 
Between the Lions. Mr. Cerf's literacy series Between the Lions has 
appeared on PBS for nine seasons, and received two Television Critics' 
Award for Outstanding Children's TV Program and 10 Emmy Awards. 
Academic studies have shown that Between the Lions, and its companion 
literacy instruction resources, is hugely successful in helping 
children learn to read, especially those who are at a high risk of 
literacy failure. The literacy series has proven to have particularly 
strong results in phonics, vocabulary, and reading frequency.
  Mr. Cerf is currently working on yet another educational television 
series, Lomax, the Hound of Music, which aims to develop children's 
musical awareness.
  In addition to working tirelessly on his educational series, Mr. Cerf 
is currently a member of the board of directors of Reading Is 
Fundamental, First Book and the We Are Family Foundation. He is also a 
governor of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy.
  I am deeply appreciative for Mr. Cerf s life's work in education. On 
behalf of the 14th District of New York, I am honored to thank Mr. Cerf 
and to congratulate him on receiving the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, 
Jr. Prize in Education. May it help him with his future endeavors in 
teaching children. I know we can expect to see more great achievements 
from Mr. Christopher Cerf.

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