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Hairy Maclary #8
Slinky Malinki, Open the Door
Slinky Malinki, a mischievous cat, and Stickybeak Syd, a bird, get into lots of trouble when they are left alone in the house
31 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1993
9 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Lynley Dodd
129 books152 followersDame Lynley Dodd is an internationally celebrated writer for children whose titles are highly regarded and much loved by her readers in New Zealand and around the world. Her stories are known for their lively sound qualities, curious animal characters, and the memorable illustrations that accompany the text. Lynley has received numerous awards, both for her writing and illustration, and in 2002 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to children’s literature.
Lynley was a founding member of Bookrapt in 1983.
Lynley was a founding member of Bookrapt in 1983.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 23, 2020
🐈
Slinky Malinki
and Stickybeak Syd
were a troublesome pair;
do you know what they did?
Alone in the house
one mischievous day,
they opened a door,
and they started
to play.
🐈
Slinky Malinki
and Stickybeak Syd
were a troublesome pair;
do you know what they did?
Alone in the house
one mischievous day,
they opened a door,
and they started
to play.
🐈
May 2, 2021
"Slinky Malinki jumped high off the floor, he swung on the handle and ..."
I can still hear my daughter shouting out the next line "OPENED THE DOOR!". That was over twenty years ago.
We had more than one of the Slinky Malinki/Hairy Maclary books, but I think this one was a favourite. Lovely rhythm to the words, delightful, madcap illustrations, and a fun story line which kept my kids asking if we could read it.
We have grandkids now. Might be time to hunt down a copy or two ...
I can still hear my daughter shouting out the next line "OPENED THE DOOR!". That was over twenty years ago.
We had more than one of the Slinky Malinki/Hairy Maclary books, but I think this one was a favourite. Lovely rhythm to the words, delightful, madcap illustrations, and a fun story line which kept my kids asking if we could read it.
We have grandkids now. Might be time to hunt down a copy or two ...
August 19, 2022
My kids loved this one with the repetition of the story and the mischievous cat and bird
March 21, 2019
Slinky Malinki and pal Stickybeak Syd are every pet owner's worst nightmare, and the delight of imaginative kids.
Slinky Malinki can open doors, and he uses this skill to get into rooms he and Syd are probably not allowed to play in usually. Their romp through the house leaves quite a trail of destruction and messes behind.
The humorous and colorful illustrations are accompanied by well done rhyming text that repeats certain phrases making it easy for emergent readers to "read" along. Some of the New Zealand-named objects Slinky and Syd play with will possibly be foreign to American kids (like petticoats and pillow slips).
Slinky Malinki can open doors, and he uses this skill to get into rooms he and Syd are probably not allowed to play in usually. Their romp through the house leaves quite a trail of destruction and messes behind.
The humorous and colorful illustrations are accompanied by well done rhyming text that repeats certain phrases making it easy for emergent readers to "read" along. Some of the New Zealand-named objects Slinky and Syd play with will possibly be foreign to American kids (like petticoats and pillow slips).
January 20, 2013
The chaos caused by this cat is so fun to read about. The great rhymes and repetition make the book appeal to even very young ones. The humor and mess make it appeal to older children as well. It's fun even for adults reading with children. We love Slinky Malinki.
I just read this story again with my daughter, and this is the first time that I spent a long time looking at the pictures. I think that the pictures are even better than the story itself. They are funny and detailed. Some of them give clues to what is about to happen on the next page.
I just read this story again with my daughter, and this is the first time that I spent a long time looking at the pictures. I think that the pictures are even better than the story itself. They are funny and detailed. Some of them give clues to what is about to happen on the next page.
May 2, 2018
I'd only read one Slinky Malinki book, the original, before I discovered my library system had others. My mom had brought the original home from England for my children when they were little. Since then, I've been surprised that the series has never really caught on in America. There are plenty of us cat lovers here after all.
Regardless, if you're looking for children's books with cats as the main characters, Slinky Malinki is a fun series to explore. The illustrations are fun and colorful and the story is told in a poetic meter. The vocabulary in this tale of Slinky Malinki's adventures at home with the family bird, is much simpler than that in Slinky Malinki, Cat Flaps.
The story itself is (hopefully) very unrealistic in it's portrayal of cat behavior - especially with birds. But of course, the more outlandish a children's story is, the more they'll typically enjoy it. And, it is true to what children may imagine their pets are up to when they aren't home with them - especially if they come home to an unexplainable mess!
This story ends in a typically Slinky Malinki fashion with it ending in a scene of Slinky Malinki opening the front door to a group of dogs after he and Stickybeak Syd have wreaked havoc galore through the house. The potential impact of the addition of a bunch of dogs to the scene will not be lost on the children who read this book (or have it read to them).
The ending scene and the potential action that would follow it if the story continued can be a good leaping off point for discussion with children about different versions of what could happen. It could be used to lead them into some story writing/telling of their own.
Stories with this kind of ending are not just fun and interesting, they are also instructive and help develop critical thinking skills which are so vital. I strongly recommend this book for that particular reason - if the readers are cat lovers, all the better, but it isn't necessary for them to enjoy and benefit from this story.
Regardless, if you're looking for children's books with cats as the main characters, Slinky Malinki is a fun series to explore. The illustrations are fun and colorful and the story is told in a poetic meter. The vocabulary in this tale of Slinky Malinki's adventures at home with the family bird, is much simpler than that in Slinky Malinki, Cat Flaps.
The story itself is (hopefully) very unrealistic in it's portrayal of cat behavior - especially with birds. But of course, the more outlandish a children's story is, the more they'll typically enjoy it. And, it is true to what children may imagine their pets are up to when they aren't home with them - especially if they come home to an unexplainable mess!
This story ends in a typically Slinky Malinki fashion with it ending in a scene of Slinky Malinki opening the front door to a group of dogs after he and Stickybeak Syd have wreaked havoc galore through the house. The potential impact of the addition of a bunch of dogs to the scene will not be lost on the children who read this book (or have it read to them).
The ending scene and the potential action that would follow it if the story continued can be a good leaping off point for discussion with children about different versions of what could happen. It could be used to lead them into some story writing/telling of their own.
Stories with this kind of ending are not just fun and interesting, they are also instructive and help develop critical thinking skills which are so vital. I strongly recommend this book for that particular reason - if the readers are cat lovers, all the better, but it isn't necessary for them to enjoy and benefit from this story.
May 10, 2017
Slinky Malinki and his friend Stickybeak Sid (a rainbow lorikeet) get up to all manner of mischief when alone in the house: Slinky malinki and stickbeak Sid were a troublesome pair; do you know what they did? Alone in the house one mischievous day, they opened a door and they started to play.
I have not met a child yet who doesn't respond to the beautiful rhythm of the language and the sense of fun in the Lynley Dodd books.
There is just the right amount of repetition in the rhymes to create a sense of anticipation. The illustrations are lovely, and Slinky really does have a mischievous glint in his eye! He is NOT drawn as a "human" - he is all-cat, but wow, those expressions, depicted through eyes, paws and the hair standing on end!
I have not met a child yet who doesn't respond to the beautiful rhythm of the language and the sense of fun in the Lynley Dodd books.
There is just the right amount of repetition in the rhymes to create a sense of anticipation. The illustrations are lovely, and Slinky really does have a mischievous glint in his eye! He is NOT drawn as a "human" - he is all-cat, but wow, those expressions, depicted through eyes, paws and the hair standing on end!
November 4, 2023
Book: Slinky Malinki Open the Door
Author: Lynley Dodd
Genre: Picture books, Children’s Books
Recommend: Yes
Amount of Pages 32
My feelings:
I really enjoy children books.
And read them to my kids every night. But one thing I don't do it review them.
Why I don't know, but I decided it was time to start.
There isn't a book by Lynley Dodd I dislike. I mean seriously they are so funny! The original book’s are a classic that every person on the planet knows! Always recommending this author for children's books.
Author: Lynley Dodd
Genre: Picture books, Children’s Books
Recommend: Yes
Amount of Pages 32
My feelings:
I really enjoy children books.
And read them to my kids every night. But one thing I don't do it review them.
Why I don't know, but I decided it was time to start.
There isn't a book by Lynley Dodd I dislike. I mean seriously they are so funny! The original book’s are a classic that every person on the planet knows! Always recommending this author for children's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2017
My cousin's little 3 year old loved this - every time i started the bit about him opening the door she would say "not again" and laugh - if this was my naughty cat i would be changing the door handles! lol
February 8, 2018
Such a funny book! Cat lovers will want to hear this book again and again!
July 22, 2018
Such a cute book! My niece is going to love this. Beautifully illustrated too :)
June 6, 2019
Hilarious! That house!
April 27, 2020
This was one of my favourites to read with the children. It is fun to read, the kids loved the refrain, and loved seeing all the mischief the cat gets into.
May 2, 2020
That awesome, rollicking rhyme and repetition so perfectly mastered in the Hairy Maclary series. I love Slinky Malinki and all the naughty antics he gets up to.
June 19, 2020
It was ok
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June 20, 2020
Very fun
August 9, 2020
My kids and I absolutely love this book. I love it so much that I want to own a copy of it.
November 3, 2020
Slinky Malinki strikes again! Fun to read out aloud to the toddler.
January 7, 2021
Gave clues as to what room Slinky was going to open next.
May 20, 2021
Lynley Dodd does it again. No wonder she is a huge success! Easy, enjoyable, rhyming read about mischievous duo - Slinky Malinki and Stickybeak Syd, wreaking havoc at home. Love it!
December 3, 2022
Nagustuhan ko ito. Ang kulit at kalat nung ibon at isda. Makatotohanan naman. Parang aso ko lang 😂
Read
January 31, 2023Lynley Dodd is one of my favourite children's authors. I have read this book and the rest of the Slinky Malinki books to my grandchildren countless times. They always ask for them.
August 15, 2023
Would make it into my top 5 of the Hairy Maclary universe books. Rhythm and rhyming is seamless and love the clever ending. Plus the addition of Stickybeak Syd the rainbow lorikeet is great
March 30, 2024
A funny book about a cat and bird. We adored the illustrations, as well as the short and funny rhyming sentences, and how cheeky the animals were.
October 22, 2025
Mischievous cat Slinky Malinki and his parrot friend Stickybeak Syd were up to mischief. Being a clever cat “Slinky Malinki jumped high off the floor, he swung on a handle and opened a door.” This line is repeated throughout the story as cat and bird make their way through the house causing destruction. Funny surprise ending when the last door is opened. This is an enjoyable rhyming story with wonderful illustrations.
March 14, 2017
Miss 2 loves it. I do enjoy reading Lynley Dodd's books, I like that she uses adult language rather than overly simplifying the text. Miss 2 also likes the Fancy Nancy picture books so she's quite content to hear the 'fancy' words as well as the ordinary.
August 5, 2009
My favorite of the Lynley Dodd books about Slinky (cat) and accomplice (parrot) getting in all kinds of trouble behind every open door. Reminded me a little of Cookie's Week without all of the explanation. The illustrations pretty much paint the picture. The ending was pretty funny, but made more sense because we'd also just read Hairy Maclary so we knew who was on the other side of the door from their noses, etc.
December 26, 2015
I love these books by Lynley Dodd! The rhyming is fun and the pictures are just way cute. My daughter just loves all the animals and their silly names. We have read several books by Lynley Dodd now and have loved them all!
I think so far that Slinky Malinki is my favorite character though!
I think so far that Slinky Malinki is my favorite character though!
October 27, 2013
Yet another hit from Lynley Dodd, although I get the impression (on the last page) that the rest of the story is just a prelude to the real mayhem about to be unleashed. The repeated "chorus" works very well, building anticipation as children can join in the exploration with the opening of each door.
January 3, 2016
I love the rhythm and the rhyme that these books have. This particular story wasn't my favorite, But it was still a good and enjoyable story. My kids and I are Slinky Malinki fans and are eager to read of these books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews