publicity¹ photograph as she plants a garden on "Sesame Street" with characters Big Bird and Elmo. "Sesame Street", the world’s largest informal children’s educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009 with Obama" width="450" border="0" s="" the="" on="" appearance="" src="/upimg/091005/4_012501_1.jpg" />
First Lady Michelle Obama is shown in this undated publicity photograph as she plants a garden on "Sesame Street" with characters Big Bird and Elmo. "Sesame Street", the world’s largest informal children’s educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009 with Obama's appearance on the show.

US first lady Michelle Obama is to kick off the 40th anniversary season of the children's TV show "Sesame Street" with a segment encouraging kids to plant gardens and eat healthy food.

Obama, who is planting a fruit and vegetable garden on the grounds of the White House, will appear in the November 10 season debut² of "Sesame Street" -- the educational show for kids that is broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world.

Producers said on Tuesday that Obama will teach the furry³ "residents" of Sesame Street about the benefits of growing a garden and healthy living, and will show children how to plant tomato, cucumber and lettuce⁴ seeds.

"All these seeds need to grow are sun, soil and water. If you eat these healthy foods, you're going to grow up to be big and strong, like me," Obama says.

"I know you're going to like these vegetables, because in addition to being healthy, they really taste great!"

The new season will highlight a two-year science initiative on "Sesame Street" called "My World is Green & Growing." The show is broadcast on public television in the United States.

Michelle Obama in March broke ground on the first fruit and vegetable garden at the White House since World War Two. The 1,100 sq ft garden will grow some 50 fruits and vegetables for use in the White House kitchen.

Other celebrities⁵ due to make "Sesame Street" guest appearances in the 40th season include actresses Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria-Parker, British comedy actor Ricky Gervais and U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant.

美国儿童电视节目《芝麻街》即将迎来开播40周年纪念日，届时，美国第一夫人米歇尔•奥巴马将亮相该季的第一集，向孩子们讲述种地和健康饮食的益处。

奥巴马夫人在白宫院内自种水果和蔬菜，她将于11月10日亮相《芝麻街》第40季的第一集。“芝麻街”是一档儿童教育节目，目前在全世界120多个国家播出。

该节目制片人于本周二称，届时奥巴马夫人将向芝麻街的毛绒“居民们”讲授种地和健康生活方式的益处，还会向孩子们示范如何种植西红柿、黄瓜和莴苣。

米歇尔说：“这些蔬菜种子生长所需要的是阳光、土壤和水。如果你们吃了这些健康食品，也会长得又高又壮，就像我一样。”

“我知道你们一定会喜欢这些蔬菜，因为它们不但健康，而且真的很好吃!”

《芝麻街》最新一季将播出一档为期两年的科教节目《我的世界是绿色的，生生不息》。该节目将在美国的公共电视台播出。

今年三月，米歇尔•奥巴马在白宫开垦了自二战以来这里的首个蔬果园。这个菜园面积达1100平方英尺，可为白宫厨房提供约50种水果和蔬菜。

其他将在《芝麻街》第40季中担任嘉宾的明星包括女演员卡梅伦•迪亚兹、伊娃•朗格莉亚-帕克，英国喜剧演员瑞奇•热维斯，以及美国篮球明星科比•布莱恩特。

Vocabulary:

kick off: to begin; start 开始（The concert kicked off with a folk song. 音乐会以一曲民歌开始。）