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Summary: GRADE A+ BOOK FOR KIDS!!!!!
Review: As an elementary school teacher I not only know and appreciate a good book, but I am even more amazed when a book offers some type of character enhancement. As a child, my mother read this book to me, and thirty years later it is still my favorite. I now read it to my kids, and love the message that "it's okay to be different."
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Summary: I'm a boing-boinger
Review: Cool book, can't wait to see the movie.
Rating:
Summary: My absolute favorite childhood book!
Review: I worshipped this book as a child. I still have my old copy that I now read to my four year old. She loves the book as much as I do. Interestingly, in my copy the author is anonymous, so the author as "Dr Suess" is new information to me. Although the other reviews do talk about the politically incorrect angles of this book, I think it brings about an excellent opportunity to discuss the way the world used to be. Particularly in terms of how we treated people with disabilities, as well as parenting fifties style.Mostly, it is a wildly entertaining and creative story. Fun to read over and over again. The illustrations are great too. Obviously it has some sensitive material that is not dealt with in a very current fashion but I think the successful ending demonstrates that there is a place for everyone on this planet. I loved finding out that this story was written by Dr. Suess!
Rating:
Summary: My absolute favorite childhood book!
Review: I worshipped this book as a child. I still have my old copy that I now read to my four year old. She loves the book as much as I do. Interestingly, in my copy the author is anonymous, so the author as "Dr Suess" is new information to me. Although the other reviews do talk about the politically incorrect angles of this book, I think it brings about an excellent opportunity to discuss the way the world used to be. Particularly in terms of how we treated people with disabilities, as well as parenting fifties style. Mostly, it is a wildly entertaining and creative story. Fun to read over and over again. The illustrations are great too. Obviously it has some sensitive material that is not dealt with in a very current fashion but I think the successful ending demonstrates that there is a place for everyone on this planet. I loved finding out that this story was written by Dr. Suess!
Rating:
Summary: Hurray for Gerald !
Review: I'm happy to see that Gerald Mcboing Boing is back for a new generation of readers. I fondly remember the book from my preschool days (and I have married children now).Gerald's misery at being different and rejected because of his inability to speak and then finding fame and self pride is presented in a charming manner that is easy to identify with. Its a short book with lots of funny pictures, just right for bedtime story.
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Summary: Is it so hard to SEE the message?
Review: I've read a couple reviews of this book that say it has a "bad" or "negative" message. One review even said the message "stinks". Well, these people are obviously entirely missing the point. In using metaphor and allegory, Dr. Seuss (amusingly as was his style) is shining a light on society's downfalls, not saying "different is bad".
Come on people, this is a great book. Very bouncy, very fun. Like all of Dr Seuss' stuff it brings a smile to my face, even as a jaded, cynical 30-something (did I just use that term?) year old. Lighten up, have fun! Fun is Good !!! (remember?)
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Summary: Dr. Seuss's Beautiful Update of "The Ugly Duckling"
Review: Misconception of every difference as being "bad" is one of the human traits that is most useful to eliminate as early as possible. Like the classic tale of "The Ugly Duckling," "Gerald McBoing Boing" provides a wonderful paean to the beauty of differences. Emotionally, Gerald is taken through a course of being first puzzled by everyone's reactions to him, then feeling rejected, then ostracized, then wanted, and finally craved like a pop idol. Gerald is unable to speak. Instead, he can make all kinds of weird noises. His first one is "boing boing." Later he adds "boom!" and "skeek!" and "clang clang clang." These noises create negative reactions in all those around him until he finds his place as a source of sounds for radio shows. He can do a terrific "clop-clop, bang!" (a cowboy on a horse, who shoots his gun). "Now Gerald is rich, he has friends, he's well fed 'Cause he doesn't speak words, he goes BOING BOING instead!" As you can see, the rhymes are typical Dr. Seuss. Children are hyper-sensitive to any differences they notice in themselves, and are inclined to think of these differences as deficiencies rather than as unique and positive aspects of themselves. This story gives you a chance to reinforce the specialness of your child and to celebrate her or his differences, and help him or her to do the same for other children and adults. All of the most successful children's books mostly operate from the child's perspective. Gerald McBoing Boing is no exception. Your heart will ache for this poor child as his parents are baffled, his doctor stumped, his teacher nonplused, and children avoid him. When Gerald runs away from home, you will feel leaden and heart-sick. Then what a wonderful release you'll feel when the radio station owner hires Gerald, and puts him on the road to stardom and significance. The design of this book deserves positive comment. Each sound is typeset in a different style, size, and color. They evoke the sound that they portray. Nicely done, indeed! The drawings are not done by Dr. Seuss, but are adapted from the Academy award winning cartoon movie by Mel Crawford. The style is straight from the Jetsons, and captures the world in 1950 (both in images and colors) in a way that will bring out nostalgia for all of those who remember those golden last years of radio's dominance. After you have finished enjoying this story with your child, I suggest that you ask your child if she or he is different in any way. Then ask how that difference is an advantage. The answers your child comes up with can be happily agreed to by you, and you'll both take joy in their discovery. Find the beauty and advantages in differences, wherever you find them!
Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable read-along
Review: My 10-month old son loved this book. He enjoyed the rhythm and laughed at the strategically placed onomatopoeia through the entire story. As a special education teacher, I appreciate the message of celebrating differences coming from a reknown author such as Dr. Seuss. The characters are slightly dated and simply drawn, but the message is universal.
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Summary: Gerald McBoing was good for fifties when father knew so so.
Review: There are a few audio versions of the book with fantastic readers, great music and thunderous sound effects. When you listen on the radio it's fun. Then you get tempted to buy the book and perhaps read it for kids, making all sorts of noises. Up to there it's a great book, especially if you are good at making sounds. The book has beautiful pictures and its good to read, but it is not good to understand. Like those boy bands that jump up and down and dance but if you listen to the song, it's pretty sad. You know what I mean. The story is a little fiftiish. When parents and teachers had a sketch book for proper behavior in front of them and "knew" how a child suppose to be. They would round any square peg. The time that some parents would think there was something wrong with you if you were left handed. Dr. Seuss goes a bit rough on parents in most of his writings. In "Cat in the Hat" the kids are worried about the mess and the fish is in tantrum when the mother is approaching. In "5000 Fingers of Dr. T" the boy is forced by her mother to do things he hates--Play Piano? Well, back then, to be a children writer meant contempt for parents--like battle of Good and Evil. As if children literature was the watered down revolution of oppressed against oppressor. Fortunately Gerald Mc Boing does not show any hard feelings for his parents. He is lovable in the book, but unfortunately, not at his home or school. The character is cute, and after reading the book, kids want to copy him, but I only hope that they do not look at us, parents, and say, "Am I different?
Rating:
Summary: Sing-songy noise-making fun!
Review: This book caught my eye when I saw "Dr.Seuss" on the cover, but also because of the fantastic artwork by Mel Crawford. I absolutely love the rhymes and making all the various sounds which accompany the text. I have a 2 year old daughter who looks forward to each sound with eager anticipation! It's easy to slam this book for being trenched in 1950's family life, and to condemn it for painting Gerald as universally unaccepted. Reading to your child is supposed to be fun. Hopefully it will also foster a desire to learn to read. This book was not written to demonstrate to children that our lives can be unfair and unequal. If after reading this book you feel uneasy about its subtext then a few things are wrong: 1) you are reading too much into the book 2) you should examine your own relationship with your child and 3) you missed the point of the book -- to provide fun and lively reading material that just might inspire a child to pick up a book on his or her own.
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