Customer Reviews

Who wants a cheap rhinoceros?

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Not only is this a highly imaginative book for children, but it also about love, vulnerability and humor. Between the ages of 4 to 8, children have generally become well aware of the imperfections in their parents and to a more limited extent in the world, as well. Regrettably, it is often parents who are the last to face the truth. If anyone can understand Charlie Brown's love for a skinny X-mas tree, then you will appreciate this funny, little, love story between a child and a used rhinoceros. When a book has great cartoons like this one, don't just give the book to your kid to read and look at, but read it together and enjoy. My own daughter is now an adult, but when she was in this in age range, she made me read it to her before bed, every night, and sometimes, twice....

This book came out when I was four and is one of only two books I remember from my childhood so it holds a special place in my memory. This is a book about love and affection. It is also a book that stretches one's imagination as you must imagine all the possible uses of a rhino. Frankly, the book is funny. Does the book contain certain passages that some parents might find objectionable? Opening a beer can with the horn? Perhaps politically incoreect, but give a child credit in just enjoying this story of love and imagination. I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough for me to read this book to her.

1964 was a pretty busy year for Shel Silverstein. not only was he travelling around the world making strange observations as Playboy's roving reporter, but he had 4 books published: The Giving Tree (which has been reviewed and analyzed to death, if you ask me), A Giraffe and a Half, Uncle Shelby's Zoo: Don't Bump the Glump (inexplicably out of print) and this little book, later revised in 1983.

Quite honestly, I didn't get a real impression of this book. It was--dare I say it?--rather cute. However, judging from the negative review previously posted, perhaps Shel's humor did manage to poke its way through the simplistic narrative and rhyme. In other words, perhaps "Rhinoceros" is worth another look.

Still, I have to wonder--it was the only book of his published at MacMillan (not his usual haunts of S&S and Harper&Row/Collins) and I guess I am curious at the genesis of its publication. But perhaps that is something I shall never know.

I adore rhinos. A "cheap" rhinoceros -- well, there is no such thing, which is one of the tell-tale signs that Silverstein is up to his wonderful, tender, down-to-earth antics. ... It's a read-aloud book, so you can share your view of the world with them and vice versa. A great, honest book from one of our most honest children's writers. You'll love rhinos even more after reading the book with your kids (or, as an adult, with those you love or even by yourself). Now, if you're concerned by what other reviewers have written, read on; if not, stop here!

Let's not go too deep here; if we want literary criticism, one could argue that Shel's objectifying a living creature -- one that may soon be extinct! Rhinos are poached for their horn (among other things), after all, and the rhino in Silverstein's book is often used as an object.

But I don't think that's Silverstein's point; in fact, it's the exact opposite -- how fun to have a friend with whom you can play pirates and "good guy-bad guy" and all kinds of other fun pretend stuff and who will help you out just as you help him -- in short, a friend who is with you through thick and thin, good and bad. We should all be so lucky.

Two key lines that helped me survive college come from this book. "He is awfully good for yelling at . . ." is one, and I'm tearing up (really!) just remembering the line. It's not fair that our rhino friend be the brunt of our sadness or anger, but as a friend he's willing to take it. And then, immediately following, is the book's sweet ending: " . . . and he is easy to love." That's what human relationships are all about: sometimes we give of ourselves as little more than a foot stool; we try to protect the ones we love; sometimes we let our friends yell at us because they have stuff to get off their chest; and always, always, because we give of ourselves, we are easy to love.

I've written a lot into this (always do), but it's a simple book with some complex stuff lurking under the surface. I mean, all the great children's authors, from Frank Baum to Maurice Sendak to William Steig, write books that appeal to all ages -- kids take the story on a "surface" level, whereas adults (like me) read subtext into the story. Please don't be scared of this book!! Embrace it, just as you would a cheap rhinoceros. None of us are cheap, and that's just where Silverstein leads us.

I've used this book with students from kindergarten to fifth grade. I made a flash video using the images from the book and added my own audio and sound effects. It's really an awesome book to do a "Create Your Own" with. Students can get really creative with the idea of having a wild animal in their own home that can do lots of random things for them. I recommend everyone buy this book now. It's worth it.

As for the comment on the mother hitting the kid in the book...Silverstein is obviously writing from a child's point of view. Children always think parents do things for no reason. "I didn't do anything except pee on all the toilet paper...She got mad for no reason!" Think about it.

Yes it's plain - loose line drawings, and a sentence or half on each page. But it's fun. There's imagination, play, friendship, and everything else you want a "read to me" kid to hear and see.

No big lessons, just a bit of happy goofiness. I want more.

//wiredweird

In this Shel Silverstin sleeper (not one of his best-known books), the value of owning a rhinoceros is illustrated on each page in the most delightful black and white drawings. It seems a rhino can double as a table lamp, keep one warm at night (although a rhino lying on one's body at night can be a bit smothering), play jump rope, keep one's angry parents at bay if one has been naughty, and so many other things.

We also find out that rhinos are not partial to bathing, and although they will allow themselves to dress up as a girl for Halloween, it's not a favorite with the average male rhino.

By the time this book is over, your kids will be clamoring to go to the store and buy a rhinoceros--and who can blame them! I want one too!

Read by a six-year-old first grader, who thought it was pretty easy. Both she and her four year old brother liked both the story and the illustrations.

As always Shel Silverstein is inventive, funny, and unusual. My great grandchildren loved this book. Of course, the whole family loves Silverstein. It's a given.

The books by Shel Silverstein are great and Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? is terrific!! We have been getting my great niece his books for the last several Christmas seasons. Highly recommend.