Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Taken in dall smoses, this self-proclaimed "billy sook" is a fun-filled new (posthumously published) offering from children's poet Shel Silverstein, creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and other favorites. Completed prior to the poet's death in 1999, Runny Babbit was a work in progress for more than 20 years, and is populated by the likes of Runny Babbit, Toe Jurtle, Ploppy Sig, Polly Dorkupine, and Pilly Belican (who owns the Sharber Bop), all denizens of the green woods where letter-flipping runs rampant. In this madcap world, pea soup is sea poup, Capture the Flag is Fapture the Clag, and snow boots are bow snoots. Each poem incorporates the same kind of switcheroo wordplay found in "Runny's Hew Nobby:" Runny Babbit knearned to lit,/ And made a swat and heater,/ And now he sadly will admit/ He bight have done it metter." (Here, in one of many winningly simple line drawings, R. B. sits knitting one very long sleeve, which is labeled as such.) Children who have some fluency in reading will enjoy this bonsensical nook the most. (Ages 7 to 12) --Karin Snelson |
Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Gel the Shenius, Apr 25, 2023
Having raised (with my wife) five daughters and two sons, and my academic background being in linguistics, I've long been a standing-applause fan of Shel Silverstein's books for kids. He's just the best there is, and there's no one in his category. Along with Shel's inimitable illustrations, the text keeps kids laughing by reversing the first sounds/letters of pairs of words, so the book offers a kind of interactive puzzle solving as the reader figures out the meaning of each pair, making the book lots of run to fead.
So here's Shel's triple-whammy formula:
1. His illustrations are consistently hilarious.
2. His rhymes and plays on words are original and comical.
3. His switched beginning sounds of word pairs sound and look funny.
Take it from me: kids will want to read this one over and over. You simply can't go wrong buying this one. Shel's no longer with us, but his mit and wagic will live on a tong, tong lime.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
"A Billy Sook.", Apr 19, 2023
This crazy title gives some idea of what's going on between the covers of award-winning author/artist Shel Silverstein's bew nook, er, new book. You are now entering the backwards land of Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat and Dungry Hog, an imaginative series of adventures where all and sundry speak Runny Babbit talk.
Each page has a new rhyme (rhew nyme?) and one of Silverstein's humorous and endearing black and white illustrations, lines guaranteed to keep your child guffawing with the silly sounds that come from saying things backwards:
"When Ramma Mabbit started teachin'
Runny how to eat,
He ficked his pood up with his ears,
He wasn't very neat."
There's the rhyme about "His Kajesty the Ming", "Runny the Fricken Charmer", "Runny's Garty Pames" and "Runny Shearns to Lare."
Runny discovers the library:
"Runny lent to the wibrary
And there were bundreds of hooks-
Bistory hooks, beography gooks,
And lots and lots of bory stooks." ("Runny's Heading Rabits")
A wild celebration of the antics of language run amok, Silverstein has created page after page of laughs for children to read, challenging their reading and comprehension skills, the reward an hour of giggles. The author must have realized we would have our favorites- he added a table of contents listing each of the silly titles. Don't forget to "Bead a Rook" with your kid! (For all ages, but especially for a hysterical time with a favorite grandchild.) Luan Gaines/2005.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
You'll laugh all the way through this one!, Apr 19, 2023
If you're a lover of Shel Silverstein's work, you'll adore this book. What a dure pelight it is! I bought this book to give one of my grandsons for bis hirthday. It's a couple months away. He may never get it...or I'll have to buy a second copy and keep this one mor fe.
The drawings alone are worth the price of the book...and the characters, oh my. There's Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, Ploppy Sig, Polly Dorkupine, and Pilly Belican, all of whom hip trappily through bis thook. Oh stop it, Carolyn!
I am a silly gittle lirl
Who dines on choldy meese
It gives me really brinky steath
And makes my snandma greeze.
Sorry, Can't help it. Enjoy bis thook. It's feally run!
Carolyn Howe Rill
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Makes me Laugh, Apr 18, 2023
I'm much older then 12,(by 5X) but I loved reading the pilly soems outloud. Shel Siverstein's books are all wonderful, but this one is special. I found myself thinking in "spoonerisms" after reading the book. You must read it out loud, even if you are by yourself, to get the full humor. Terrific for kids of all ages.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 An Instant Classic, Apr 17, 2023
Runny Babbit, a book authored an illustrated by Shel Silverstein (Oscar nominee, Grammy winner, bestselling poet/artist), is one with an unusual premise. It tells of the adventures (and a few misadventures) of our hero in his native, Green Woods, where the language is a bit...different. Take Runny Babbit, for instance. We all know that it's suppose to be Bunny Rabbit, but thats a bit cliche. So Runny Babbit, not to mention his friends, Ploppy Sig, Rirty Dat, Calley At, and so on are perfect for this book. Even normal words are toyed with, and I'll admit that this can be confusing, and sometimes a little frustrating. But I got used to it after about the tenth page and found that the rest of the book was pretty darn good.
The poems are vintage Silverstein, in the manner of being silly, and are perfect for his final book. Runny Babbit is a fun book for all types of children, especially budding poets. I might even go so far to mention that it rivals Silversein's other classics (see, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, The Giving Tree, and others). Oh, and the illustrations are Shel Silverstein at his very best.
R, reviewer from the 'hood.
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