Audio Pick--Runny Babbit (unabr.)

From SLJ April 2006

Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI -- School Library Journal, 3/27/2006

Runny Babbit (unabr.). 1 CD. 22:51 min. HarperCollins (harperaudio.com). 2005. ISBN 0-06-082396-8.  $13.95.

Gr 2-8–Forty-two of Shel Silverstein's poems from his best-selling book (HarperCollins, 2005), published posthumously, are performed by Dennis Locorriere. The poems are spoonerisms–the initial sounds of two words are transposed, so "Bunny Rabbit" become "Runny Babbit." The poems beg to be read aloud and Locorriere, who has performed Silverstein's poems in the past, has the perfect speed, pitch, and voice range to deliver these silly poems. The wordplay and rhymes will tickle listeners' funny bones. Kids may even be inspired to write their own spoonerisms after listening to this delightful CD.  Schools will find this useful as a perfect example of this unusual form of poetry. Children and adults will be entertained by this humorous collection. A gem.