Customer Reviews

Never Talk to Strangers (Family Storytime)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was so excited to find this book, it had been a favorite of mine as a child. Unfortunately when it arrived I was horrified to find that it was published with a new illustrator. The old book had the most beautiful, colorful, magical illustrations. This new addition is drab, and lacks any of the charm of the previous edition. Im sending this book back. Although the theme of the story is an important one, its a shame that they had to change the illustrations.

This is an old-time favorite book of mine, published the year I was born. I've waited a long time to find a copy for me to share with my child. The illustrations are fabulous and the rhymes keep kids giggling. It's a sweet message, but not one that's meant to teach all aspects of personal safety. I'll always love this book!

This was one of my favorite books as a child. It was very clear to explain how children should be aware of strangers. This book gave a good description of some of the "animals" children should be aware of by using animal pictures. Considering some of the problems going on with children missing today this book should not be out of print!!!!! I would love for every child in my family to have access to this book.

I purchased this book at the same time I purchased Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe by Gavin De Becker. I read Never Talk to Strangers first, and was very disappointed. What do camels with bony knees, grouchy grizzly bears, parachuting hawks, a rhinoceros waiting for a bus, coyotes asking the time, and cars with whales at the wheel have to do with teaching my child about strangers - other than their ability to rhyme with the phrase "Never talk to strangers, please."?

After reading Protecting the Gift, I decided to return this book rather than share it with my 3 1/2 year old daughter, especially after the author specifically mentioned the book Never Talk to Strangers in a chapter about why merely teaching children not to talk to strangers doesn't work. I would rather teach my children that it is *strangeness* (inappropriate behavior that's relevant), not strangers, that can be dangerous.

I agree with some of the points that previous reviewers have made about the world that we live in today and that not everyone can be trusted ... HOWEVER ... there is something to be said for misleading statements. Pages such as "everybody knows the Easter Bunny" can open the lines of communication between parent and child at an early and CRITICAL stage in a toddler/preschool childs life.

TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT SAFETY -- don't wait or wish that a book will do it for you!!! If you expect a book to teach your child right from wrong or about not talking to strangers, you are sadly mistaken.

Reading to your children is a fundamental and entertaining way to continue to build the bonds of trust between you and your child. You SHOULD read this book to your kids and then explain to them that not all can be trusted but that it is worth the time to know and understand the difference and proper manners.

The excellent illustrations and clever rhymes will build a continuity for your child. I remember reading this book when I was in kindergarten and now years later, I still believe that it is a good read. Times haven't changed much when it comes to who you can and can't trust.

Be smart, take the time to talk to your kids about who can and can't be trusted, but don't blame the message and disregard it completely. That is one thing that won't change ... "NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS".

This book was a part of my childhood collection and I loved it. Can't wait to see the updated illustrations. Strangers were always a tremendous and constant concern to my parents and I can say that this book was a great help in starting conversations and showing us the difference between a stranger and other people we encountered. As a teacher, mom and former child, I highly recommend this story. It is both effective and enjoyable.

While I appreciate the re-emergence of the text of a childhood favorite, I can't help but miss the original--it had more scenes.But complaints aside, this is still a very important book that goes over the basics of stranger communication via hilarious, adorable rhymes.

My parents bought me this book when I was a kid, and I read it so many times I almost had it completely memorized. It taught me to be careful about strangers -- it actually scared me a bit, because I was afraid that if I talked to a stranger, he might kill me and chop me up in little pieces. But, it is a good lesson for kids to learn (especially nowadays), the pictures are fun, and the story is fun to read (and be read to).

Edit:
Thanks for the alert from other posters, I purchased from one of Amazon's resellers and got the old edition with the charming illustrations that I loved. My son is still too young to understand the lessons of this book (and now I'm having some reservations about that, he's such an outgoing, charming child and I don't want that to change ... maybe I'll temper that lesson with "don't talk to strangers if mommy or daddy isn't with you") and we enjoy sitting and looking at all the funny creatures in the pictures. If you can find an old edition, buy it instead.

This was a favorite book from my childhood, and I can still chant "Never Talk To Strangers" with the best of them. Animals or not, the message "Never Talk To Strangers" got through to me. Of course, my parents did not expect a children's rhyming book to teach me all I needed to know about the dangers of the world, but this book introduced the idea of not talking to people you did not know. This was a wonderful way to teach me about being cautious, without scaring me to death. I can't wait to share this important lesson, and great story with my kids.

Finally I found someone else who has heard of this book! This is a fun little rhyming book for children. It teaches lessons about not talking to strangers, but the book seems a bit naive by todays standards. Read it to a child for the just for the joy of it. You may find it a great opportunity to start up an important conversation with him about strangers. You may just like the rhymes.