Kids Go! [Hardcover]

They Might Be Giants (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 3, 2009 | Age Range: 5 and up

Once upon a time there were two sleepy kids. Then they heard a distant sound, a beat that got louder and louder. They had to move their feet. They got up off the couch and started to move their legs. Then, with the help of a few unexpected friends, they learned how to move like a monkey, move like a jumping bean, move like a jack-in-the-box and go! go! GO!

This very special book is both a story and a song. So watch the animated DVD, move like a monkey, and sing along!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Indie rock artists They Might Be Giants (Bed Bed Bed), fresh off a 2009 Grammy win for their children's recording Here Come the 123s, hop back into the kids' arena with an original song–cum–picture book designed to inspire kids to get moving. Called to action by the words Hey, kid! a tired-looking boy and girl are encouraged to stand up, get up off the couch, [j]ump up off the floor and go/ Get up off your chair and go! go! go! Soon they're moving like a monkey, jumping like a jack-in-the-box, and getting a high-energy groove on (there's even a dance break). With just a hint of retro style about them, Campion's thick and loose black ink lines provide a sense of fluidity in riotous scenes that use a limited but appealing palette of green, gray, and peach, splashed over lots of white space. Befitting the action words in the text, the font size bounces from small to large, adding to the energetic tone (as do a healthy number of monkeys). An accompanying DVD features an animated video of the song. All ages. (Nov.)
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About the Author

They Might Be Giants (aka "TMBG") is an American alternative music group from Brooklyn, NY. The group was founded by John Flansburgh and John Linnell, who released their first album in 1986. Throughout their 25+ year career, the band has racked up several charting albums and singles, as well as two Grammy awards--one in 2002 for their song "Boss Of Me", (the theme song for Malcolm in the Middle) and the other in 2009 for their children's album Here Come The 123s. They continue to record alternative albums while branching out into the realm of children's music, and have sold over 4 million records in total.

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Har/DVD edition (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743272757
• ISBN-13: 978-0743272759
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #600,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

They Might Be Giants (aka "TMBG") is an American alternative music group from Brooklyn, NY. The group was founded by John Flansburgh and John Linnell, who released their first album in 1986. Throughout their 25+ year career, the band has racked up several charting albums and singles, as well as two Grammy awards--one in 2002 for their song "Boss Of Me", (the theme song for Malcolm in the Middle) and the other in 2009 for their children's album Here Come The 123s. They continue to record alternative albums while branching out into the realm of children's music, and have sold over 4 million records in total.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another successful TMBG purchase! November 18, 2009

By Elizabeth Hall

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This has become the GO to bedtime story for the kids (2 and 4) - they love it! The book is very simple and repetitive (in a good way for them). The DVD is short and the song matches the words in the book. They love the song and I try to match the tune when I read the book to them. The DVD video will play over and over in a loop so it is hard to stop it ("just one more time mommy!") without dissappointing them. There really is not much to the DVD; just the single song. Very happy with the purchase though as I have been with every TMBGs kids album.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun, TMBG-style October 27, 2009

By Jeddy 3 TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There isn't as much to this package as there was to Bed, Bed, Bed, I admit -- just one book and one DVD, featuring one song with an animated video. But it's very charming. The song is, of course, ridiculously catchy and fun, and the book illustrates the lyrics in a wonderfully dynamic way, almost bringing the DVD to life on the pages. The drawings by Pascal Campion have a lively looseness that reminds me of the style of Roy McKie, one of my favorite children's illustrators. And of course, the lyrics are brilliant; we would expect no less of the two Johns.

If you've never exposed your child to the joys of TMBG, I would start with Here Come the ABCs or Here Come The 123s. If your kids are already fans, this will be a great addition to your collection. But with lyrics like "If you're still not standing up, then get up now and go, go, go, GO, GO!", make sure you don't read it at bedtime!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I love TMBG kids Stuff but this is LAME November 2, 2009

By Jeffrey Sampson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

We have all the TMBG albums (i.e. 123's, ABC's, Science, No!, and Bed) and they are all AWESOME, with great songs and great DVD animation to go along with the songs. But this book is super LAME. "Stand up, jump like a monkey, jump like a jumping bean"...that is the entire song. Every pages of the book is just a repeat of this. I am very disappointed that TMBG would put their name to something that is so simple...what a rip-off. Better to stick with the "Here Comes..." DVDs and skip this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Catchy February 3, 2013

By Lynn

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for the DVD more than the book. There's only one song on it, but it's so catchy and the animation is so captivating that my kids watch it in the car. I must confess, we are a family of TMBG fans.

4.0 out of 5 stars Kid Go! January 11, 2013

By Phyllis Baxter

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a Christmas present several years ago; therefore, I am not sure if I can rate it. My granddaughter seemed to like it.

4.0 out of 5 stars I thought it was lame but the babe would emphatically disagree June 29, 2012

By Stylist

Format:Hardcover

Not sure why this isn't simply produced as a DVD.The book doesn't read well. When my partner first brought it home, I looked through the book and thought, "it has no story, no lyrics. Lame". But the video is extremely catchy and seems well-geared towards younger babies. Not sure that was the intention, but that's how it worked for us. Our wee 5-mo. old babe would near pee her pants watching it. HA. Could NOT stop laughing and giggling and knew the book cover by sight. If she heard the music, she would immediately stop what she was doing and look for the video screen. Don't think it's engaging enough for the toddler set {though she is still amused by it, just not to the same ecstatic degree as before}, but certainly was entertaining earlier on when moving shapes and a memorable but short refrain of music were sufficient. Much more fun than listening to "row row your boat" from a wind up toy. Liked that it has an auto loop.

I'd probably give it a 3 at best myself, but being that my kid loved both the book and video so much, and was of course the intended audience, as her proxy I'd give it 5-star, minus 1-star for a book I felt didn't bring much additional value to the DVD.

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids Go by TMBG January 20, 2011

By D. Taggart

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This product shipped immediately and arrived surprisingly quickly in brand-new condition as promised. The book is pure TMBG and entertaining for all.

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand children loved this book! January 12, 2011

By D. Walsh

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Been in the dark about this group. Found out about their children's songs and books and bought a set for each of my grandchildren! They all loved them!