Runny Babbit CD: A Billy Sook Audio CD – Unabridged, November 1, 2005

I have been a Shel Silverstein fan for a very long time. My 6 year old neighbor got a real bunny and I immediately knew what I would get her for Christmas— a billy sook, Runny Babbit! She’s exceptionally bright for her age. Otherwise, this book wouldn’t work. I’d put it at a 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th grade reading/understanding level generally speaking, but it can be adapted to younger ages with assistance in the form of explanations (takes much patience). Of course, serve a glass of wine to a gathering of adults, assign reading parts that require animations, and it’s an instant blast. It’s hard to read, even for an adult. A best test as a brain and tongue teaser/twister. Part of the fun is reading it out loud and watching children figure out the real word/sentence. It’ll crack up anyone. It almost makes you crazy. As always, Silverstein’s illustrations are sensational and hysterical.

A very, very funny book. I was taking care of grand sons, ages 11 and 8, while parents were gone for two nights overnight. The 8 year old always is sad when his mom is gone and its hard for him to relax enough to go to sleep. I used this book as a diversion and it really worked! He was laughing and giggling and totally forgetting his mom was not with him at bed time. Made it a lot easier!

Shel, I love you, and I appreciate the artistic nature of this book, but I fail to see the point of using this style. It would have been funnier if interesting word were created by the transcription of letters, but unfortunately those are few and far between. I advise buyers that this is not a good book to read to youngsters who are still learning to read because it will confuse the bejesus out of their poor little minds.

Let me start by saying that Shel Silverstein can do no wrong. I have been a fan of his from his first book. As one child who checked out Where the Sidewalk Ends said, "He's so silly but I like him." Runny Babbit lives up to its subtitle -- a Billy Sook. Words turn backwards and animals have silly ideas. Perfect for a book to read to your little ones. Fun for the older kids to play with the words and create their own Billy Sook.Thank you, Shel.

I've been a fan of Shel Silverstein's work since I was a kid. Intrigued by his poetry back then, I now work as a Private Tutor and have used a lot of his books to help children with learning to read on the next level (or those who are simply struggling with reading as they tend to just find it "boring.")Of course, getting children to develop better reading skills will only happen if they practice reading consistently. Reading a book they enjoy will certainly help hold their interest and make them WANT to read. Books packed with funny poems are definitely a good method to try. Kids WILL want to read them!My First Grade student who I tutor in Reading (among other subjects) absolutely LOVES reading poems by Shel Silverstein. What he used to find boring, he now finds interesting and fun. We started with "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and he just couldn't get enough. I ended up purchasing "A Light In The Attic" for him to read as well and, of course, "Runny Babbit."You can expect the same Shel Silverstein humor & entertainment from "Runny Babbit," but it's also a bit different as, just like the title, the poems contain words with 'backwards' letters & kids can't help but laugh at this (and they DO understand how the first letter of the words have been reversed).I definitely recommend this book to any child who enjoys reading, likes humor in poetry as well as children who need that extra "push" to get them interested in reading more. (I should also mention it does make us adults chuckle quite often as well!)

If you can remember "Hee Haw" television and remember when they read about Rindercella and her stugly ep sisters, then you'll enjoy seeing this type of fun in print. After watching the television program when I was a young mother and auntie to nephews and niece, there were times when story reading became a time for ME to have a bit more fun with the books that I had read so many, many times. At that time, the kids did NOT like me to read their favorite stories in the odd fashion but I got a kick out of it. I found Runny Babbit was available while looking for Shel Silverstein books for my granddaughters. The copy I got was a used library copy so the price was right and I bought it for them. I reviewed the book before giving it to them and I hope it will bring them some fun story time off and on in the years to come. Runny Babbit takes a little getting used to until your mind engages in the fun and stops trying to work so hard. Makes you laugh. In the Silverstein tradition, it is short prose and not a continuing story throughout the book. Personally, I think it is just as much fun to take a story we are all familiar with, like Cinderella and her ugly step sisters and read it the 'wrong' way and have a few laughs too.

It's bad enough trying to keep your kid's interest reading books, but this one is just confusing for both of us. Having to keep going back and explain what I just read? Every sentence?...

I bought this for my grandson. His daddy loved this author but never had this particular book. It’s very cute and silly but watch out! It’s tongue-tying at times trying to read the transposed letters!

Very clever and very funny. Shel is a joy

My niece loves it.

Absolutely hilarious. Great fun reading it (or trying to!) Family members from five to over sixty love it!

I love Shel Silverstein's work and this is no disappointment. Lots of silly rhymes and will appeal to children of all ages (I'm 65)

Um livro de poemas onde as iniciais das letras são trocadas.Ex: Invés de "feed the cat", "ceed the fat".Palavras de Maurice Sendak citadas na primeira orelha do livro:"I wish I had done this book!"