Caps for Sale

Rating:
Summary: Tsz tsz tsz.
Review: A folktale fastforwarded to 1940. In this fine lighthearted little yarn, author Esphyr Slobodkina reinvigorates the folk tradition with a marvelous story. In it, a peddler looses his hats to a tree of 16 chattering monkeys and must find a way to get them back. There is no overwhelming complexity in the text of this tale, but sixty-some years after its original publication there is still great charm in its words. Accompanying the staid story is a series of brightly colored illustrations. The peddler seen here is not your classic workaday schmoe in dirty clothes and a five-o-clock shadow. He is prim and pristine. With a moustache like Hercule Poirot's, a smart black suit, and a pair of cheerful red spats he is a picture of competence and sterility. Which makes his eventual foot-stomping, fist-shaking temper tantrum at the mischievous monkeys all the more amusing. I was particularly taken with the monkeys response to the peddler's demands. All they say is, "Tsz, tsz, tsz". Who knew we shared this phrase with our simian kin? Slobodkina has created a precise little tale. Though she never says it, sixteen caps sit atop the peddler's head (his preferred method of peddling his wares, doncha know) and sixteen monkey pinch them. The combination of bright colors, funny monkeys, and the dapper little peddler man make this a real treasure of 1940s children's literature.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Story for the Kids
Review: A timeless tale written in 1940 still attracts young children's attention. This is a very humorous, easy to understand book to read aloud. The story is accompanied with brightly colored pictures that actually tell the story. After reading it through children can re-tell the story by just looking at the pictures.
It is a story that children will pass on to their friends.

Rating:
Summary: A corporate lesson
Review: A very simple case study of an entrepreneur who hoped to make the Fortune 500 by vending colored headgear.

Although carefully balancing his inventory, he was still caught napping by unscrupulous bandits, and had to resort to trickery to get his investment returned.

This elementary lesson teaches the young student several things:

1. You can't sell caps at 50 cents without drawing attention to yourself.

2. Don't ever fall asleep on the job.

3. Don't monkey around in your business dealings.

4. Losing your temper can be a good thing, once it gets the desired results.

5. Returned goods can still be sold for full price if properly displayed.

A useful learning tool for the budding CEO in your family.

Amanda Richards, December 4, 2004

Edited to expand: Children can have additional fun with this book counting the hats and identifying the colors. They can also count the monkeys, and have fun acting the role of the peddlar trying to get back the caps. My son liked to pretend he was a monkey!

Rating:
Summary: Give me back my caps!
Review: Caps for Sale is a family favorite. My husband does a wonderful job at making the monkey noises. It's a fun story to act out.

Rating:
Summary: kids love it
Review: I read this book aloud to 3-5 year olds. It is one of those books the kids love to join in on, once the monkeys show up. You can really animate this book by giving it personality with your voice. After a few reads, the kids are reading it to you. They learn the story almost immeadiately. It can make anyone a captivating storyteller. The big book addition of this is perfect for circletime. Teaches colors, as well.

Rating:
Summary: kids love it
Review: I read this book aloud to 3-5 year olds. It is one of those books the kids love to join in on, once the monkeys show up. You can really animate this book by giving it personality with your voice. After a few reads, the kids are reading it to you. They learn the story almost immeadiately. It can make anyone a captivating storyteller. The big book addition of this is perfect for circletime. Teaches colors, as well.

Rating:
Summary: A favorite book throughout generations
Review: My four month old loves this book. Well, since he can't read, he loves it when Mommy and Daddy act out the story. I have great memories associated with this book; going to the library when I was younger, getting to pick only one or two books, and usually this was one of them (unless it was one being returned!) It's never easy to get my husband very 'into' reading books to our son, but this one is a cinch -- with all the stamping and shaking of fists, he can easily demonstrate and then have our son imitate with a little help. For a father who got frustrated because his son couldn't wrestle and play baseball five minutes after birth, this was a godsend. And little Alekz thinks Daddy is hilarious. From my generation to his, this is a wonderful book!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Classic!
Review: My kids love this book! It can be used to teach the concept of equal...counting the peddler's hats and matching them to the number of monkeys. "Hurry and turn the page!"

Rating:
Summary: You will love this story!
Review: Simply written yet a captivating story, this is children's liturature at its best. This story should be in everyone's library. As soon as my older (8,9 and 11 years) children hear me reading this to the preschoolers they come flocking to my side and huddle around me as I shout out "Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap."

Don't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fun - Delightful - Get Ready to Laugh
Review: This book is so fun to read - it is a funny tale that will make you laugh out loud. Get this book and read it to your kids, if they are old enough to read already, get it anyway and have them read it to you.