Those who grew up learning their ABC's with Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Kermit and the Cookie Monster will immediately recognize Sonia Manzano as the bilingual Maria on Sesame Street. Ms. Manzano attributes her appeal to the fact that she acts the same toward children as she does toward adults - straightforwardly, coming across as a decent person. She gives children a character with whom they can identify.
 
Not only does Ms. Manzano act in the award-winning Sesame Street, she also is a writer for the show. In fact in 1986, Ms. Manzano won an Emmy award for being a contributing writer to Sesame Street. In the last few years the show's writers - Manzano among them - have tackled such issues as dealing with a loved one's death, the complexities of making an emotional commitment that leads to marriage, and the factual aspects of pregnancy.