In case you hadn't noticed, "Elmo's World" has been the biggest hit of Sesame Street's thirtieth season! In fact, for most of the show's younger fans, the 15-minute show-within-a-show is the next best thing to ice cream! In other words, "Elmo's World" really works!

Sesame Street research has learned that Sesame Street is more popular with two- and three-year-olds than ever before. The short "Elmo's World" segments were created to engage this set of viewers and keep them entertained past the 45-minute mark of the show when their interest normally starts to wane.

Sure, "Elmo's World" is a big hit with kids in diapers, but if you don't spend your day playing with dolls and taking naps, you might not know what "Elmo's World" is all about. So, here's the scoop.

"Elmo's World" is a short segment at the end of each Sesame episode featuring, you guessed it, Elmo. Each segment focuses on one topic that's relevant to a child's life, like shoes, music, water, or dancing. Elmo, his pet goldfish Dorothy, and their silly friend Mr. Noodle, explore each and every one of these topics in more depth than an adult ever thought possible. Take the episode about shoes, for example. Elmo looks at who wears shoes, what kinds of shoes there are, how shoes are put on...I think you get the picture. And every episode has at least two take-away messages that are clearly repeated throughout the segment. "Shoes protect your feet" and "Shoes come in different shapes, colors, and sizes" are the two take-away messages for that particular episode. And, the cherry on top of the "Elmo's World" sundae comes at the end of each episode, when Elmo sings his hit single, whose lyrics are made up of the word of the day--you guessed it, shoes!

The fun part of "Elmo's World" is that it actually takes place in Elmo's imagination. He talks to the camera and interacts with children at home to bring them along on the educational adventure of the day. One of the most important elements to "Elmo's World" is that the show fosters exploration and curiosity. Rosemarie Truglio, Ph.D., vice president for Sesame Street research, explains that Elmo presents a three-year-old's point of view of his world, and he uses the skill of asking questions to learn more about it. As most moms and dads know all-too-well, kids love to ask questions.

Last season, 10 "Elmo's World" episodes were created and continue to air daily. If you're a regular Sesame Street fan you've seen the "Shoes" episode more than a few times and may even find yourself humming the song in the shower. While one or two viewings may have been enough for you, Sesame Street research has shown that children's participation in the show (singing, dancing, or smiling) increased with repeat viewings!

So, "Elmo's World" was the hit of the season last year. How can Elmo and Dorothy top their amazing debut? By coming back with new "Elmo's World" episodes in season 31 that are better than ever before. Elmo and friends explores 10 new topics near and dear to kids hearts, including drawing, dogs, bananas, exercise, singing, farms, telephones, hair, babies, flowers and trees. If any of these things mean anything to your youngster, they're in for a big surprise! There's more new stuff happening on "Elmo's World" this year, including cast changes and more.