Customer Reviews

Polkabats and Octopus Slacks: 14 Stories

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I heard Daniel Pinkwater and Scott Simon review this book and read it together on NPR years ago and I simply had to have it. I have subesequently bought all of Mr. Brown's other books. Delightful and entertaining. My 3 year old loves them all.

Anytime I look for a new book for my daughter, I always try to find something that I'll like too--because if she likes it, you know I'll be reading it to her several hundred times! Thankfully, "Polkabats and Octopus Slacks" is one of those books.

I don't know what I like more...the folk-art illustrations or the silly poems. Calef Brown captures the whimsy of Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends," with poems that are easy to memorize and fun to recite. This book became a bedtime favorite at our house in record time!

I am a third year college student and recently celebrated by 19th birthday. When my good friend handed me my gift and I tore apart the colorful wrapping paper to find an even more colorful children's book, I was surprised to say the least. A children's book called Polkabats and Octopus Slacks is not your typical birthday present for a 19 year old. However, I'd have to say it is the best gift I've received, possibly for any of my birthdays. It has offered endless enjoyment... a silly stress-reliever for myself as well as a great entertainment device for visitors. The vibrantly colored illustrations are unique and each time you look through the book, you find more and more interesting details about each illustration. My favorite poems are Kansas City Octopus, Ed, Funky Snowman, and Polkabats. This will certainly remain on my list of all-time favorite books, and will be passed down to my children and theirs. Silly children's books... one of life's most simple, wonderful pleasures.

This book is f-u-n-k-y. It is great for kids of all ages.
My first and second grade students beg me to read it. They call out requests for their favorites. They beg me to read just one more even though they know all of the words. The best thing is that my struggling readers are able to pick up the book and read it. This is the best kids poetry of all time.

I read this book with great delight at a friends house and ordered 5 the next day. One for my son who at the age of 3 understands that silly is a good thing ... and the rest for baby gifts. Any baby raised on PolkaBats and Octopus Slacks is sure to be well-adjusted and have a great sense of humor. It's a real pleasure to the eyes, ears and soul! "Kick it funky snowguys and gals!"

Whenever I pick up this book to read to my 3-year-old, she makes me read the whole thing (14 stories). It's a good thing they're so much fun. My older child likes them too.

My toddler just loves this book, even though he's way below the recommended age for it. It's easy to read the rhymes sing-songy; he practically dances to them. I think this book is going to last us for years.

This book will help lure to reading youngsters who may not have previously been very interested. The sense of humor crosses age boundaries. I was surprised at the target age, because I'm 63 and can't wait to read it to my grandchildren. My husband and children are not "safe" either, but I know they will enjoy it, too! A review I read somewhere on this book said "not for those with limited library funds." I couldn't disagree more. Fun reading is healthy and worth the investment for all ages. ("You go, Calef!") I can thank PBS in Norfolk, VA again for calling my attention to a pleasure I might otherwise have missed.

I bought this book for my 7 year old niece. We read it together a giggled the whole time. The illistrations are beautiful. They bring each story to life. After we finished giggling we tried to think of other crazy thing that could be in the pockets of "Eliza's Jacket". Kids won't be able to read just one story at a time. They're just to much fun to read.

This is a book meant to be read aloud! The ryhthm and cadence of each story is a wonderful word salad ready to be heard by children of all ages. I bought this for my daughter when she was quite young (about 6 months), and we still read, laugh, and enjoy it after several years. About the only thing I do not like, as another reviewer also noted, is the use of the word "turd" in one of the stories. However, the cleverness and overall wit of the stories makes up for it. Each story has a magical rhythm that you can only tap into by reading aloud. It is wonderful for younger children because they learn invaluable language skills. It is wonderful for primary children because they learn how to play with language. I highly recommend this book.