Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers (Book and CD) [Hardcover]

Ray Romano (Author, Narrator), Gary Locke (Illustrator)

Book Description

Everybody might love Raymond now, but when Ray Romano was ten years old, he & his brothers didn't always get along. Raymie has two brothers, Dickie & the Bean. One day Raymie's family takes a trip to the amusement park. Raymie & Dickie can t wait to ride the vomitizer because it s the scariest ride in the whole park. But first Mom makes them ride on Chuckie the Choo-Choo with Bean. Raymie knows that when you have brothers, things never go exactly how you expect them to, even when you give them noogie after noogie to drive the point home. But in this funny family tale we find out that Ray Romano loves his brothers -- & everybody loves Raymie! Reinforced binding. Includes a CD. Illustrations. For ages 4-7.

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

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tossing his hat in the ring of celebrity children's book authors, Ray Romano of the popular TV show Everybody Loves Raymond pens an affectionate tribute to his own boyhood with help from his two brothers Richard (Dickie) and Robert (the Bean). The good news is most everyone will still love Raymond after reading his children's book debut, a nostalgic vignette of sibling rivalry and revelry.

The story begins when the narrator (his family calls him Raymie) is 10 years old and the boys' parents are taking them to the amusement park: "Finally, after what seems like four hundred hours, they get in the car and we are on our way. Dickie is so excited that he gives me some noogies. I hate that, but he and Bean think it's hilarious." Kids with younger siblings will relate to having to ride on Chuckie the Choo-Choo before cool rides like the Vomitizer and thinking that the youngest is faking being asleep so he doesn't have to help unload the car. Because this is a book about three young boys, farting is inevitable (complete with green wafting gas), as are bathroom antics, good-natured insults, and rampant silliness. Gary Locke's skillful oil painting caricatures of the slightly (disturbingly) adult-headed boys are expressive, comical, and varied by interesting perspectives. If you can't get enough of Ray Romano, listen to the audio CD of the story included in the back of the book. (Ages 6-8) --Karin Snelson

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–Romano recounts a mildly amusing story of a childhood visit to an amusement park. The middle child of three brothers in a loving family, 10-year-old Raymie is looking forward to his favorite ride, the Vomitizer, but first must endure Chuckie the Choo-Choo with his younger brother, Bean. Typical sibling interactions, usually insults and rivalry but occasionally a sympathetic moment, provide the substance of the tale. Instances of bawdy humor (wedgies, farting, etc.) appear throughout. Done in oil paints, the caricaturelike illustrations are dynamic and expressive. Although the subject is inherently appealing to children, the tone of the narrative, with its adult perspective and tongue-in-cheek humor, seems targeted more to adult fans of Romano's television show. Accompanied by an audio CD, read by the author.– Robin L. Gibson, formerly at Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689864515
• ISBN-13: 978-0689864513
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,269,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Really not...good., April 14, 2005

By 

C. Whitmore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers (Book and CD) (Hardcover)

I picked this up at the bookstore I work at and read it on my break one afternoon. Having been delighted in the past by Raymond, I expected a lot more from him. This truly was one of the worst children's books I've read. The Borders I work at is huge, filled with talented artists and writers whose children's picture books will continue to go unnoticed. However, a celebrity can write anything and get full recognition for it. This book plays out merely as a remembrance of a day he took at a family outing. No redeeming quality or sense of entertainment to keep a child's interest in here. Just randomness of a charicature of his childhood that had potential of being interesting, yet fell very short of being just that. Stick with Sendak, Rey, Yolen, or Eric Carle if you want something that will peak interest.

5.0 out of 5 stars My kids loved this book!, November 5, 2010

By 

mimomof4 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers (Hardcover)

My kids really enjoyed listening to this book on one of our many road trips. They now have many parts memorized and repeat them often. They didn't tire of it as I thought they would. They continued to ask to hear it again and again.

4.0 out of 5 stars Our family loves this book!, January 30, 2006

By 

momof10 (Hodgkins, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers (Book and CD) (Hardcover)

Perhaps it is because my boys are the same ages as Raymie and his brothers in this story, but we found it very humorous. Any family with boys in it should be able to relate to the antics of these brothers as they go through their day. The artwork adds to the story as the illustrator has captured well the expressions on the faces. I recommend it to fun-loving families of sons. Those who wish to bring up genteel, cultured children may prefer to stick with more proper literature.