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Never Talk to Strangers
If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please—
Never talk to strangers.
This book brilliantly highlights situations that children will find themselves in—whether they’re at home and the doorbell rings, or playing in the park, or mailing a letter on their street—and tells them what to do if a stranger (always portrayed as a large animal, such as a rhino) approaches. Colorful, ’60s-style “psychedelic” artwork and witty, lively rhyme clearly spell out a message about safety that empowers kids, and that has never been more relevant.
Irma Joyce wrote many Golden Books during the 1960s.
George Buckett was a popular children’s book illustrator during the 1960s.
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please—
Never talk to strangers.
This book brilliantly highlights situations that children will find themselves in—whether they’re at home and the doorbell rings, or playing in the park, or mailing a letter on their street—and tells them what to do if a stranger (always portrayed as a large animal, such as a rhino) approaches. Colorful, ’60s-style “psychedelic” artwork and witty, lively rhyme clearly spell out a message about safety that empowers kids, and that has never been more relevant.
Irma Joyce wrote many Golden Books during the 1960s.
George Buckett was a popular children’s book illustrator during the 1960s.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
7 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 28, 2009
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I still actually have my worn well loved copy, it lives on my daughters bookshelf now. I think I enjoyed this book so much because of the art work and the funny yet serious story line. The book teaches kids about not talking to strangers and uses animals in funny situations to tell the story.
January 21, 2009
This is one strange book. At first I kept saying to myself, "they published this, really?" Then I read that it was a 'classic' golden book from the 1960s--1967 to be more exact. That clarified it a little bit for me. I can see at least one use for Never Talk To Strangers: to present to a classroom of college students as an example of didactic literature. What does the book offer to readers? Let's see. Rhymes mostly on the silly side. Nostalgic-looking illustrations with an odd flavor that can only mean the 1960s*. And a message that is repeated on practically every page.
If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please--
Never talk to strangers.
If you are shopping in a store
And a spotted leopard leaps through the door,
Don't ask him what he's shopping for.
Never talk to strangers.
If the doorbell rings, and standing there
Is a grouchy, grumbling grizzly bear,
Shut the door. Your mother won't care.
Never talk to strangers.
You're getting the idea I'd imagine. Animals. Crazy clothes-wearing animals represent the concept of stranger on each page of this "classic" little book for kids. Of course, they present a few exceptions, if your parents (and/or teacher) know the strange animal in question, you can talk as much as you want. The only other exception? You can always talk to the easter bunny because everyone knows him (and he's harmless.)
Not only is the message repeated over and over and over and over again. It's presented in a way that's weird at best and confusing at worst. Animals are not humans. They don't walk around wearing clothes. They're not the ones posing threats to kids. "Strangers" aren't weird looking, different looking, glaringly obvious threats. "Strangers" are people like you and me. Men. Women. All ages. All sizes. All colors. Some could be dangerous. Others aren't. Because you can't tell by looking at someone if they're a threat, then it's best to be cautious. But not freaked-out-silly.
The truth of the matter is, that sometimes it's not "strangers" that present the greatest threat to kids. Family members. Friends of the family. Acquaintances. So yes, it's important to talk to kids about safety. But this book isn't really the answer.
What do YOU think? Did you grow up with this book? Was it part of your childhood? Do you plan to read this to your grandkids? Are you just discovering this book? Do you plan to read it to your kids?
*Personally, I find the illustrations a bit scary. But that's just me, maybe?
If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please--
Never talk to strangers.
If you are shopping in a store
And a spotted leopard leaps through the door,
Don't ask him what he's shopping for.
Never talk to strangers.
If the doorbell rings, and standing there
Is a grouchy, grumbling grizzly bear,
Shut the door. Your mother won't care.
Never talk to strangers.
You're getting the idea I'd imagine. Animals. Crazy clothes-wearing animals represent the concept of stranger on each page of this "classic" little book for kids. Of course, they present a few exceptions, if your parents (and/or teacher) know the strange animal in question, you can talk as much as you want. The only other exception? You can always talk to the easter bunny because everyone knows him (and he's harmless.)
Not only is the message repeated over and over and over and over again. It's presented in a way that's weird at best and confusing at worst. Animals are not humans. They don't walk around wearing clothes. They're not the ones posing threats to kids. "Strangers" aren't weird looking, different looking, glaringly obvious threats. "Strangers" are people like you and me. Men. Women. All ages. All sizes. All colors. Some could be dangerous. Others aren't. Because you can't tell by looking at someone if they're a threat, then it's best to be cautious. But not freaked-out-silly.
The truth of the matter is, that sometimes it's not "strangers" that present the greatest threat to kids. Family members. Friends of the family. Acquaintances. So yes, it's important to talk to kids about safety. But this book isn't really the answer.
What do YOU think? Did you grow up with this book? Was it part of your childhood? Do you plan to read this to your grandkids? Are you just discovering this book? Do you plan to read it to your kids?
*Personally, I find the illustrations a bit scary. But that's just me, maybe?
May 18, 2022
This rating is for the edition illustrated by George Buckett
January 8, 2018
I owned this book as a child and was absolutely delighted to find it still on the shelf in the library where I work! The illustrations are borderline hallucinogenic but I love them.
March 16, 2019
One of my daughter's favorites when she was little...
April 2, 2009
I grew up reading this book. I love the funny animal characters that lighten the burden of teaching kids about strangers.
September 22, 2013
Wonderful illustrations and a cute message of when it is not ok and when it is ok to talk to strangers.
December 30, 2017
My parents read this to us countless times. I should set the stage: it was the 1970s. Etan Patz disappeared in 1979 and Adam Walsh in 1981. New York was a dirty, grungy place; airlines served meals and treated you like kings; hostages were taken in 1979 and the Israeli athletes had been killed instead of being allowed to compete in the 1972 Olympics. We understood that terrorism existed - after all, crazy people still hijacked planes; and we understood that children sometimes disappeared - victims of the mysterious van with candy that would whisk you away from your parents. In short, this was the very perfect book for that time. We did learn never to speak to strangers: First, that was the way of the world - things were more formal, and often you were introduced to someone rather than introducing yourself; and second, in a world without cell phones or computers, you wanted to know who someone was before you opened yourself to contact. For people who have at their service Google or Facebook or LinkedIn, this might seem crazy - but the only way we knew who people were was if we knew who they were.
So. With that said. I loved this book, and when my kids were born, my mother tracked down copies for them to read as well. I think the message, although a little dated, is still a good one: Know to whom you speak. For very young children, it is still important to know who can be trusted and who cannot, because they lack the higher reasoning skills they need to sort safe from unsafe. This simple rule is still good messaging for little kids, delivered as a proper fantasy without anything to frighten them.
So. With that said. I loved this book, and when my kids were born, my mother tracked down copies for them to read as well. I think the message, although a little dated, is still a good one: Know to whom you speak. For very young children, it is still important to know who can be trusted and who cannot, because they lack the higher reasoning skills they need to sort safe from unsafe. This simple rule is still good messaging for little kids, delivered as a proper fantasy without anything to frighten them.
January 3, 2024
I found this in a box of my old childhood books and read it today. The illustrations are wonderfully seventies and the writing is fun - it was the MESSAGE that had dated so terribly.
This book uses lots of fantastical situations to teach children to "never talk to strangers" - but it's ok if it's someone your family or friend has introduced you to, or someone everyone knows. I couldn't read this without thinking about how most child abuse (which the book is clearly attempting to prevent) is actually done by someone the child knows, NOT a stranger (a friend of the family, a neighbour, the local coach that everyone knows). So the book creates an unnecessary fear of strangers while encouraging a dangerous certainty that people others know are safe.
I'd rather teach my child about body autonomy and encourage their self-confidence and problem-solving skills than teach them to "never talk to strangers".
This book uses lots of fantastical situations to teach children to "never talk to strangers" - but it's ok if it's someone your family or friend has introduced you to, or someone everyone knows. I couldn't read this without thinking about how most child abuse (which the book is clearly attempting to prevent) is actually done by someone the child knows, NOT a stranger (a friend of the family, a neighbour, the local coach that everyone knows). So the book creates an unnecessary fear of strangers while encouraging a dangerous certainty that people others know are safe.
I'd rather teach my child about body autonomy and encourage their self-confidence and problem-solving skills than teach them to "never talk to strangers".
February 23, 2024
I was read this book often as a small child. it appears to have been illustrated by different people over several editions, but this one was particularly scary. especially the bee ready to trip the kid on the bike.
the sort of book which parents afraid of CPS love. even as a little kid I could tell something was off about it. given how much more common abuse is from family and those known to the family than total strangers, the emphasis on only and always trusting those your parents know was disturbing. with regard to strangers, there's a degree of parity between them and children, but in my family speaking out against an older relative or family friend was discouraged as rude even when the abuse was explicitly acknowledged.
I hate this book. I hate its moralizing refrain which only sometimes rhymes, it's learing cartoon animals, it's one size fits all victim blaming approach, it's petite bourgeois fortress mentality, insufferable smugness.
the sort of book which parents afraid of CPS love. even as a little kid I could tell something was off about it. given how much more common abuse is from family and those known to the family than total strangers, the emphasis on only and always trusting those your parents know was disturbing. with regard to strangers, there's a degree of parity between them and children, but in my family speaking out against an older relative or family friend was discouraged as rude even when the abuse was explicitly acknowledged.
I hate this book. I hate its moralizing refrain which only sometimes rhymes, it's learing cartoon animals, it's one size fits all victim blaming approach, it's petite bourgeois fortress mentality, insufferable smugness.
Want to read
July 16, 2021This is a terrible book, but I love the illustrations. They are fuzzy, bright bold 70s illustrations.
As for the words -- it's okay to talk to strangers. Stranger danger ain't the thing anymore. So I wouldn't read this to books. Also, the idea that if you see a fictional character you can talk to them because everyone knows them kinda . . . cracks me up. Because, what a way to ensure a child feels safe. Dress up in an easter bunny suit and they'll hop right into your van!
This book is good for the illustrations.
As for the words -- it's okay to talk to strangers. Stranger danger ain't the thing anymore. So I wouldn't read this to books. Also, the idea that if you see a fictional character you can talk to them because everyone knows them kinda . . . cracks me up. Because, what a way to ensure a child feels safe. Dress up in an easter bunny suit and they'll hop right into your van!
This book is good for the illustrations.
June 2, 2018
I thought this was a great, educational book for children until I reached a page near the end. This page says that if you run into the Easter Bunny on the street then it is okay to speak with him because everyone knows him. However, I believe there could be a real life scenario in which a child could run into someone dressed up as the Easter Bunny, but without the encouragement from an adult, the child still should not talk to that stranger.
February 18, 2023
Key Words: Creative, and silly
Summary: This book was a cute storyteller but still leaves me scratching a bed a little bit. At first, I thought it was about "oh no matter what the person looks/smells/ is doing never talk to strangers" for safety reasons but then leaves me in a more what about that type of safety? I'm not to sure if I would read this out loud but I really liked the art and color.
Summary: This book was a cute storyteller but still leaves me scratching a bed a little bit. At first, I thought it was about "oh no matter what the person looks/smells/ is doing never talk to strangers" for safety reasons but then leaves me in a more what about that type of safety? I'm not to sure if I would read this out loud but I really liked the art and color.
March 18, 2023
A classic for a reason. The text is very fun and it VERY GENTLY approaches the topic of strangers. For littles who basically need to be introduced to the word "stranger" before diving into the details of why and who to stay away from. I like this a lot. I scared my daughter too much with the stranger talk (maybe for the better?) but I gave her anxiety and I'm looking for ways to better approach a subject that she now always wants to talk about. This is a great one.
March 30, 2024
The book was a very fun read, and also very informative. The atmosphere of the book was surreal and magical, it was like riding on a rollercoaster.
Ofc reading it alone is not enough to teach the subject of strangers and how to treat them or be careful around them since it only asked children to not talk to strangers but how to recognise dangerous strangers or how to escape from them was left unsaid.
Ofc reading it alone is not enough to teach the subject of strangers and how to treat them or be careful around them since it only asked children to not talk to strangers but how to recognise dangerous strangers or how to escape from them was left unsaid.
October 5, 2017
I was worried about "never" talk to strangers because there are times when it's appropriate like other kids, new teachers, etc. But in the end it went over when it's ok and that's when it's someone your parents introduce you too. I used it as a stepping stone to a conversation with my 5 year old about when we do and don't talk to strangers.
June 4, 2022
The message gets lost in all the fun of the amazing illustrations. Rules of what do when incountering strangers has made this books instructions obsolete and at times incorrect for todays and yesturdays strangers. All in all a fun a beautiful read but don't let your research on strangers and how to handle a situation involving them end here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2017
I happened to pick this up to teach my kids good principles but was surprised to find I recognize the pictures. I'd read it a hundred times as a kid and every page was like a warm hug.
October 14, 2018
Loved the animals - never really paid attention to the lesson. The tea party with the llama and cupcakes is my favorite!
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September 15, 2020Best book i could have ever read as a kid
April 27, 2021
The perfect book to teach kids to " never talk to strangers"!
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May 9, 2022I don't get it
If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please—
Never talk to strangers
Rather campy, and trivializes the point!
If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please—
Never talk to strangers
Rather campy, and trivializes the point!
February 27, 2023
Love these wacky illustrations by George Buckett.
February 14, 2017
In Never Talk to Strangers, each page gives an example of when you should not talk to someone you do not know. If the door bell rings, you are shopping, on a walk, or a car pulls over to talk to you and you do not know them, then do not talk to them. Towards then end of the book, it shows when it is acceptable to talk to someone that you do not know. For example, when your parents introduce you to someone or if a friends brings along another friend, it is okay to talk to them because they are not strangers. The theme of this book is all about safety and knowing who you should avoid when a parents or guardian is not around. I give Never Talk to Strangers five stars and recommend it because it educates kids on being safe and how to protect themselves when they are out in the real world.
May 2, 2015
Never Talk to Strangers is a great book to introduce or build on the concept of personal safety in a fun and funny way for younger children. It highlights different situations that students may find themselves in, and uses animals and funny rhymes to illustrate the importance of being safe by not talking to strangers. It also shows examples of a safe stranger (someone you parent introduces to you that they know), and an unsafe stranger (someone that no one knows that you meet). This is a great book for younger children, such and kindergarten and first grade students, and may be used while discussing personal safety.
November 27, 2015
Although this book is very dated, it has certain features that newer books about stranger danger just don't quite cover. I really appreciated that it illustrated the differences between a "safe stranger" and an "unsafe stranger." I also feel that the use of rhyme was very clever since this book targets preschool-early elementary students who respond really well to rhyme. I would not use this book alone but would incorporate this book into a unit about stranger danger where perhaps the D.A.R.E. or resource officer at school stops by to talk to the students. There are several newer books that are more current, however, this would still make a great addition to your class library.
January 31, 2013
This book teaches children the importance of only talking to people that they know. The children also get different scenarios that they can be exposed to and the also show how the children should go about the situation. The children also learn how to act when they are introduced to someone new. They learn to be polite and friendly only to those people that they know their name.
Learning Extension: Let children practice with one another how to introduce themselves properly and also how and what to do if they are in a situation like a stranger inviting them into their car.
Learning Extension: Let children practice with one another how to introduce themselves properly and also how and what to do if they are in a situation like a stranger inviting them into their car.
June 30, 2013
This is an old (1967) book reprinted verbatim for contemporary (2000) children. Read it with the kids: the eldest thought it was just silly, the middle liked the repeating bold lines ("never talk to strangers."), and the wee liked the timbre of the rhymes. What they came away with? Don't talk to ginormous wild animals that lurk when you go about your day to day, unless your dad knows them. Hm. Kind of defeats the purpose. As a general story, this is weak; as a life lesson text, this is the pits.
February 26, 2015
This book teaches the important lesson of not talking to strangers in a way that is silly for young children. It also teaches the difference between people who your friends and family introduce you to, and people who truly are strangers. This book is a great book complete with colorful illustrations, and I will always keep this book in the back of my mind for teaching, parenting, and nannying purposes.
December 5, 2010
For kindergarten children, this is an excellent book to read to teach children about who and not to talk too. I would use this book in the classroom to as a read aloud to discuss with children different situations that they may encounter a stranger and what to do. The book is filled with colors and shapes to inform children in a kid way that strangers come in all shapes, colors, and forms.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews