Customer Reviews

Battle of the Mad Scientists (Dig)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We bought this for a 13-hour trip, along with a few other cd's. Unfortunately, of the 6-8 CD's we bought, only 2-3 made the listen to again list.

This tops the liste. We listened to this over and over again, without getting bored. My husband and I laughed as much as our 4 and 6-year-old did. Mrs. Ammons is a favorite. Also, my son liked the Battle of the Mad Scientist so much that he is determined to get the neighborhood kids together to put on a similar play. He goes around using the same words from the CD---"no offense...", and "I'm wuined".
I would not hesitate to recommend this to any and everyone with or without kids.
I am now looking at more Bill Harley CD's to entertain us on our next 13-hour trip.

I have been lucky enough to meet Bill Harley and participate in a storytelling workshop of his, and he is a genuinely nice guy. I have been lucky enough to be part of a small audience to whom he told one of the stories on this CD, "Mrs. Ammons and the Boys' Bathroom." Nothing can replace the direct connection I had listening as he described his feats of magic in the bathroom stall, holding my sides along with fellow audience members as we fell apart into laughter. But this CD comes close!

Bill is a master of what he teaches; he paints the broad scene, then gets into the story and brings us back to that broad scene in the end. Most of us can relate to many of the experiences he tells about, whether it is strict substitute teachers, buddies who dare you to sled down the hill-FAST!-or the joys and trials of staging neighborhood productions. It is this commonplace sense that he uses so well to allow his listeners to fall into the story and see the images he paints so well for us.

I've used this CD as a lead-in to helping 7th graders write personal narratives. All of them can picture the substitute teacher, and often name our district's version of Mrs. Ammons! It is a great way for kids to start thinking about how the ordinary events of their lives can be material for a story. It is also a great way to simply sit back and enjoy stories of a childhood, well-told. Highly recommended for all ages.

I have listened to this tape many times, and at my favorite parts, I still laugh out loud. The Great Sled Race is the best.

My kids, ages 10, 9 and 7, love to listen to Bill's recordings. Our favorite piece on this CD is the "Great Sled Race", a funny, clever and exciting song. "Mrs. Ammons" will strike a familiar note with both kids and adults. Enjoy!

One quick caveat: our CD was damaged, so we only heard part of Battle of the Mad Scientists, which seemed ok but not great. I recommend AGAINST two of the remaining three selections: The Great Sled Race and Mrs. Ammons and the Boys' Room. They do not have positive messages for young listeners. The escapades of the boys in those two stories are not something I would want to encourage my son to copy.

Our family has quite a few Bill Harley CDs. This one has stories, and it is our favorite of his CD's with stories. I think its funny, and my boys especially enjoyed it when they were in the first through fifth grade.

We got this CD because we loved another of Bill Harley's cds so much in my preschool class. But, this CD is a little over their heads- probably great for 6 or 7 year olds, but not catching the ear of the 4 and 5 year olds that I know.

My 7-year old and 4-year old just love these stories to death, and no wonder: this guy is a tremendous storyteller. Boy-oriented, but still: "Mrs Ammons" and "Battle" are totally engaging even after hearing them many times, and "The Great Sled Race" is fully in the tradition of the great Woodie Guthrie, and would make the old man proud. Great humor, great stories. Any boy would love this CD, and probably a lot of girls too.

Our family loves all of Bill Harley's CDs and books. Nothing passes the time quicker on a long car ride than listening to Bill's stories or songs. The five of us range in age from 5 to 40 and all enjoy!! Give Bill's CDs as gifts instead of plastic stuff from China.

This is a scream of a CD. I am giving it to all my friends with kids or who are travelling this year. The sled ride song is already a part of my kids slang, and they can quote almost the whole of the Eeeny Weeeny Beeny ghost. So much fun.