Customer Reviews

Cannonball Simp

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this great little book. As a substitute teacher it was one of the sure-fire "hooks" that I used to engage children in the classroom setting. They were instantly on my side after listening to the story and enjoying the illustrations. When I returned to a particular school, kids would see me on the playground and ask if I had brought Cannonball Simp to read. The scruffy little dog, Simp, lives in all of us for one reason or another and kids loved watching her find a place to not only belong, but to win the admiration of others. Afterwards, the kids couldn't wait to tell me about their own dogs and the ice was broken for the day. I came to Amazon to find another copy because I've lost my original one. I don't substitute any longer but I plan to read it to the neighborhood kids and hopefully, to my own grandchildren some day.

Burningham's classic is as beautifully illustrated as any of his books, and is filled with memorable images. It begins as a very sad story about a stray dog, who must face the perils of cats, rats, and the dogcatcher before finally finding her way to a circus, where she is adopted by a kindly clown. The clown is in danger of losing his job, because crowds do not like his act. Simp decides to help her benefactor by climbing into a cannon when nobody (including the clown) is looking and being fired through a hoop at the climax of the clown's act. She is a big hit, and they all live happily ever after. This book shows how a good soul can muddle through in the face of adversity, and how kindness begets kindness. There are many words on each page, making it appropriate to read aloud to K-2nd graders, or to preschoolers who can sit still for the words.

I got this book for my nephew and ended up keeping it for myself. This is a lovely colourful book about an ugly little dog that is abandoned by her owner near a garbage heap. Eventually she finds her way to a circus after several near misses with the local dogcatcher and a nasty cat. It is the circus clown who takes Simp in, and she rewards his kindness by becoming part of his act, thus enabling him to keep his job at the circus. Cannonball Simp is a delightful story for young children. It is easy to read, has colourful bright pictures but most importantly of all it is a fun book to read.

I'm so glad to see this gem is still in print. Before I learned to read, THIS was the book I checked out of the library repeatedly and made my family members read to me over and over again until they groaned and begged me to find another book I liked. But this colorful book and its endearing pooch captured my heart and delighted my imagination like no other book at that time. Forty years later, I can still remember it vividly. Now that I know it's available, I'm going to order a copy for myself.

The best memory of my childhood are the days spent reading this book. A must have

Had borrowed this book from the public library for years. Got thrown out due to moisture damage. Was told it would not be available. Was very pleased to have found the book in readable condition and was received exactly as seller stated. Thanks.

Myself, I find the storyline not just unpleasant, but a little freaky. It's natural in children's animal stories that you put yourself in the place of the animal and anthropomorphize it. Okay, talk about a way to freak a kid out... you're an orphan and you get taken in by a clown? and shot out of a cannon? The happy-ending doesn't feel quite so happy. If anything, it makes you feel more insecure. It's not a feel-good book.
The illustrations are unpleasant. About the only this I can say good is that the vocabulary is simple and the typeface is bold and quite easy to see for the early reader.