Review: Runny Babbit

A Billy Sook By Shel Silverstein

HarperCollins; 2005; 89 Pages

Juvenile Non-Fiction; Poetry

Ages: 4(read aloud to) -10 (independent reading)

ISBN: 0-06-025653-2

A posthumous book of poetry centering on a single character, Runny Babbit, and his world of mixed up phonemes!

My Thoughts:
Of course I loved this book. Not only does this book center around a rabbit main character, it also derives most of its humor from wordplay. In fact, to be honest, many of the poems, if read straight, are really not all that amusing. However, with the first sound of many of the words swapped, hilarity ensues. Some of the themes, such as knitting and reading, were personally intriguing as well. The book is not as diverse in meter, theme, and length as other Silverstein books. In fact, to some extent, I would not recommend sitting down and reading it straight through in one go. It's humor holds up better in smaller chunks.

This is a good book to introduce children to poetry. The poems are short, cleverly illustrated, and entertaining. This would also be a good book to use as a public speaking or recitation exercise. The poems beg to be read aloud...I would venture that they HAVE to be read aloud in order to be properly enjoyed. The intricate phoneme swaps would encourage children to enunciate and pay close attention to their words, while the poems are brief enough to keep recitation from being an ordeal.

The Thoughts of Others:
Lee Bock of School Library Journal in 2005 wrote that "children will love these clever poems and without prompting will probably create their own, unaware that they are focusing on a key reading skill: phonemic awareness."

Kirkus Reviews published a review of Runny Babbit in March of 2005. They enjoyed it overall, but felt it "plays too long on a single trope."

The Giving Tree

Today I did my fourth Story Time with Megan. Since I had the day off I drove to the Port Orchard branch office, where I used to work. They had wanted to hear a story as well. I did an adaptation in flannel of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. I have posted the transcript to the right.

I know that this story is used to teach the importance of generosity. It shows kids that true happiness is found by giving, and by making others happy. But does it really? Ever since I was a little kid and first read the book I have thought that the boy was a creep. He takes and takes and never even thanks the tree. I almost feel that they story teaches kids to rip off those who look after them, and not express gratitude or care about what it costs others to help them. Still, it is a good story, and a modern classic. It is worth telling to children, but I would present it with a story that talks about being thankful/grateful for what we receive.

The performance went over well...although it was noted that this story was less of a warm fuzzy than the other stories I told. (Actually...one of my coworkers, Gail, was actually crying at the end. I didn't know whether to be pleased with the fact that I had moved her, or to feel bad because I made her cry...)

I need to thank my cousin Jake who is staying with me this weekend. He was my guinea pig audience several times when I practiced (pointing out mistakes and giving advice on wording), gave honest feedback on the flannel shapes, and then filmed the performance.

Little Bunny Foo foo

Today was the third Story Time at work. Whether due to a more convenient time slot, or the fact that buzz had been building from my previous performances, I had over twice as many attendees today. In fact, they had to relocate me from one of the signing rooms to the HUGE board room. It was also a more "high-ranking" audience...president, vice president...no pressure there!

The story I did was "Little Bunny Foo Foo,"' which was my own adaptation of a traditional camp/scout song. I expanded the verses to include reasons why Foo Foo bops the field mice, got rid of what I thought was a cheesy ending (Hare today, Goon tomorrow), and added my own ending. I have not yet written out a transcript for this story. I have told it before, and since I was very familiar with the storyline from the song,never took the time to write it down. I will do so soon though, and post it with the other transcripts.

I REALLY LIKE TELLING THIS STORY! And, I think and hope, people enjoy hearing it. I like that it can incorporate blatant moral lessons with twisted dark humor. Also, the repeated lines and hand motions can be used with younger audiences to bolster participation. My favorite thing about this particular video recording is that you can hear the audience reacting the way I want them to. It is reinforcing to me as a teller when they laugh or gasp in the right places.

(On an even more positive note...the president was so excited by the story that she demanded an encore and command performance of a second story...luckily, I still had my purple dry erase marker with me...I grabbed the white board from the sales room and did a rendition of Harold and the Purple Crayon. She even suggested that we do something like this once a week to break up the stress...I am all for that!)

Thank you to my supervisor, Kim, who filmed this one. She was so shocked at the end that she almost forgot to stop the camera!

Koto Tales

I went to go see Elizabeth Falconer, a Koto Master, perform at the Key Center Library. traditional Japanese Folk Tales, and performed traditional and contemporary Koto music. She toldOne of the legends, the Tanabata, is geared towards a slightly older audience. Another from Okinawa, about a dragon, centipede, and a rooster, was definitely a children's tale.

I really enjoyed watching how she incorporated music and instrumental sound effects into her tales. I was also very impressed with how she used the instrument and its components as a prop. With the dragon tale, she also used hand puppets, at one point using the dragons tail on the Koto to exemplify him stirring up the waves.

There were only two kids in the audience, which is why she also included the Tanabata legend. Still, it was very interesting. She also took time to explain the history of the Koto and Japanese storytelling. (And I got to play the Koto after the performance was over...FUN!!!)

The Library that hosted the session had put up a display of children's picture books based on Japanese folktales, featuring Japanese characters, or set in Japan. They did not, however, include my favorite Japanese tale...that of Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes. This is a true story, available as both a picture book and early reader chapter book. I think it would adapt well as a story telling tale, especially if one were to incorporate origami into the story (perhaps folding a paper crane as one spoke).

Chicken Soup for the Storyteller's Soul

The vice president/head of HR at the title and escrow company where I work has agreed to let me hold the president, vice presidents, managers, and sales team hostage at one of their Monday Morning Sales Meetings! I get to come in and do an inspirational/uplifting story to help focus them and encourage them to persevere through the poor real estate market!

I am looking through various children’s books, as well as Chicken Soup for the Business Soul type books for ideas. The owner loaned me her copy of Who Moved My Cheese, which could work well, too. The only problem with it is that the entire management team has read it.

(On the plus side, I can be as weird and out there as I want…after all, I am the one they called on to lead “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” at the company retreat…they expect me to be a little quirky!)

Hack Hack, Cough Cough!!

So, I was extremely excited to share a story with the class online tonight. I had decided to do an oral version of a Robin Hood and Marian story that I adapted from the middle english ballads as my undergraduate honors thesis.

I practiced. I timed myself. I found a cool picture.

Then it hit...the Shang-hai funk.

My father brought back a great souvenier...a sore throat/cough/cold germy thing! It got so bad that they sent me home early from work to rest my voice in hopes that I would be able to talk on the phone tomorrow!

I had to write Jenine and ask for a one week extension on my story...sad!

On the plus side, now I can come up with a wicked cool visual to go with the story!

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

I gave my first recorded storytelling performance last night. I have posted the video to the right...
It was for the midweek children's bible class at my church. I had eight kids there, ranging in age from 5 to 12, and a fellow teacher who videoed me. After the story we did some activities based on it, and then I had the kids retell me the story in a fill in the blank oral format. It was amazing how much they retained!

Things I learned:
1. The camera adds weight...yuck!
2. Children who are normally perfect angels during bible class turn into little hams when they know there is a video camera on them.
3.Having repeated phrases in a story does help the kids pay attention and remember things!

On a side note: When I told the kids that the question about Baal going to the bathroom was actually in the Bible they were shocked and all grabbed Bibles off the shelves to look for themselves. It was very gratifying...who knew that a well told story could encourage reluctant readers to read the scriptures!