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Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook Hardcover – January 6, 2015

by Shel Silverstein (Author, Illustrator)

4.8 1,133 ratings

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From the legendary creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and The Giving Tree comes an unforgettable new character in children's literature: Runny Babbit.

Runny Babbit is Shel Silverstein's hilarious and New York Times-bestselling book of spoonerisms—words or phrases with letters or syllables swapped: bunny rabbit becomes Runny Babbit.

Welcome to the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own.

So if you say, "Let's bead a rook
That's billy as can se,"
You're talkin' Runny Babbit talk,
Just like mim and he.

And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns, the new book from Shel Silverstein!

Reading age

5 - 10 years, from customers
Print length

96 pages
Language

English
Lexile measure

NP0L
Dimensions

8.64 x 7.64 x 0.69 inches
Publisher

HarperCollins
Publication date

January 6, 2015
ISBN-10

9780060256531
ISBN-13

978-0060256531
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Completed prior to his death in 1999, Silverstein's last collection is a celebration of the spoonerism, the verbal game of transposing words' first consonants. Each poem stars Runny Babbit, a skew-eared bunny of indeterminate age and multiple personas. Sometimes Runny is out on dates with his girlfriend; sometimes he is Everychild, with chicken pox and a messy room. Particularly funny are selections that insert Runny into familiar tales with a gleeful, subversive spin; in one scene, for example, Prince Runny searches for Cinderella, "slass glipper" in paw, but finds, instead, only "lots of felly smeet." Although the book doesn't have the extraordinary wit and polish of Silverstein's earlier collections, it will still please the author's numerous fans with its silly scenarios and expressive ink drawings. Kids will instantly adopt the infectious wordplay on the subjects straight from their daily lives: Will it be a "peanut jutter and belly" or "sam handwich" for lunch? Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0060256532
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; First Edition (January 6, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780060256531
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060256531
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 10 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NP0L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.64 x 7.64 x 0.69 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #68,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23 in Children's Humorous Poetry
- #153 in Children's General Humor Books
- #1,071 in Children's Classics

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,133 ratings

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Shel Silverstein

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"And now, children, your Uncle Shelby is going to tell you a story about a very strange lion- in fact, the strangest lion I have ever met." So begins Shel Silverstein's very first children's book, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. It's funny and sad and has made readers laugh and think since it was published in 1963. It was followed the next year by three more books. The first of them, The Giving Tree, is a moving story about the love of a tree for a boy. Shel returned to humor the same year with A Giraffe and a Half, delighting readers with a most riotous ending. The third book in 1964 was Uncle Shelby's Zoo Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies, Shel's first poetry collection, and his first and only book illustrated in full color. It combined his unique imagination and bold brand of humor in this collection of silly and scary creatures. Shel's second collection of poems and drawings, Where the Sidewalk Ends, was published in 1974. His recording of the poems won him a Grammy for best Children's Album. In this collection, Shel invited children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible, from a hippopotamus sandwich to the longest nose in the world. With his next collection of poems and drawings, A Light in the Attic, published in 1981, Shel asked his readers to turn the light on in their attics, to put something silly in the world, and not to be discouraged by the Whatifs. Instead he urged readers to catch the moon or invite a dinosaur to dinner- to have fun! A Light in the Attic was the first children's book to break onto the New York Times Bestseller List, where it stayed for a record-breaking 182 weeks. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up (1996). Like his other books, it is filled with unforgettable characters. Shel Silverstein's legacy continued with the release of a new work,Runny Babbit, the first posthumous publication conceived and completed before his death and released in March 2005. Witty and wondrous, Runny Babbit is a poetry collection of simple spoonerismsH, which twist the tongue and tease the mind. Don't Bump the Glump! And Other Fantasies was recently reissued in 2008 after being unavailable for over 30 years. Shel was always a believer in letting his work do the talking for him--few authors have ever done it better.

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4.8 out of 5

1,133 global ratings

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Dee Gee

Delightful book!

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023

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You can't go wrong with Shel Silverstein books. I first saw this one at my vet's office and found it charming and delightful. It's so clever & creative and the illustrations are giggle worthy. Adults & children will love this book. It's silly & entertaining and should be part of every child's personal library.

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Kristin

Yet Another Great Shel Silverstein Book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2012

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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!)

6 people found this helpful

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DanceMagick

Best book ever

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

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I love this book. It's my favorite of all of his books. My kids loved it too! A true classic.

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MM

Shiniest Shel Silverstein

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023

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Great book. Clever story Ingenious, fun way for kids to become more familiar with phonics, rhyming words, creative thinking. Bravo!

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Beje

🐇A Kooky Ride, errr— Read!🐇

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019

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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.

8 people found this helpful

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Richard Garza Jr.

Very relaxing and fresh sound for America

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2023

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Like new and a 10-year-old ready to read.

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Rex

Filly but sunny stuff!

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2023

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I love this book and have loved Shel Silverstein for a LONG time! I bought “Runny Babbit” for our granddaughter who has also become a fan! Silverstein certainly is missed but has left us with great memories.

2 people found this helpful

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BillyeReads

Get your Silly on with Runny Babbit.

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

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.

7 people found this helpful

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Lena Savic

I'm buying this book for the third time.

Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2024

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Brilliant , hillarious and clever poetry with delightful illustrations. Silverstein is my favorite poet for children, but he's not for children only. Great for giving and keeping. I''ll order it this time for myself.

RP Rosewarne

As it says in the title, a perfect name for it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2022

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This is going to be a present to someone who will appreciate it.

Vivi Figueira

Um livro de poemas onde as iniciais das letras são trocadas

Reviewed in Brazil on August 18, 2019

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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!"

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Renisha Bharvani

One of the best children's books ever written!

Reviewed in India on May 22, 2017

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One of my all time favourite books. Very funny and challenges kids to think out of the box.

Jolie

'Runny Babbit'...No, no, Mommy! Bunny Rabbit!...honey...Runnny Babbit...listen and find out whats wrong! Oooh yeah, that's fun!

Reviewed in Germany on August 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

I recommend this book to mothers who love to read to their children, and have a good time with word play. An excellent book for learning to listen and concentrate, and the fun is also in it. This book is best for native or english speakers.

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