Runny Babbit

Runny Babbit #1

by Shel Silverstein

"Runny Babbit lent to wunchAnd heard the saitress way,"We have some lovely stabbit rew --Our Special for today.""From the legendary creator of "Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, " and "The Giving Tree" comes an unforgettable new character in children's literature.Welcome to the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own."So if you say, "Let's bead a rookThat's billy as can se,"You're talkin' Runny Babbit talk,Just like mim and he."

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Picture Books, Humor, Fiction, Animals, Classics

96 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2005

About the author

Shel Silverstein was the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.

Shel Silverstein will perhaps always be best loved for his extraordinary books. Shel’s books are now published in more than 47 different languages. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up

Reviews

[John Hatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lot of fun to read this book. I can recommend it to anyone who likes to read books to children, and to anyone who, like me, likes to play with language.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhis took gs ireat! Really a big fan of Shel Silverstein - a true 'Aquarian Renaissance' man who really did so much to widen the consciousness of the masses. Even this lesser known work of his touches what it means to try to be authentic in a world that may be confused - adults can learn as much (if not more) than children from this book.

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a very creative work of Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) who is also the author of the 1964 book, "The Giving Tree" that I enjoyed so much I bought copies of which and gave away to my friends. I think I did that in 2001 not knowing that he just died a couple of years back. I also only learned that he's already dead by reading the Wiki while composing this review. Felt so sad.

The story's main protagonist is Runny Babbit whose actual name is Bunny Rabbit but for unknown reason he and all the animals in the story, i.e., Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, etc., interchange the first letter of the two words of their names and most the other two-word phrases when they talk to each other. I had to adjust a bit at the start but eventually gained speed halfway the book. Just like any typical children's book, the story is composed of several independent funny events in the life of Runny Babbit and his friends and each story varies in my laugh barometer from mild, medium and outright funny. Hey, some are even cheesy or heartwarming (which should be for parents to enjoy).

The drawings are hilarious! They are in black-and-white and done in simple way but the imagination of the illustrator is just awesome. They effectively complement the free-verse poems (that tell the stories). My favorites are "His Kajesty, the Ming" (pp. 19) with Runny's friends lining up while bowing down to him in respect and "Killy the Bird" (pp. 45) with the same set of friends lining up in surrender to Runny atop a horse with his gun. You should see their faces. Soo cute!

During Christmastime, I normally give away to my friends and officemates the books that I enjoyed but do not plan to re-read. Many of those books are children's books since nobody in my family is interested to read that genre. However, this one I will keep for future re-reads. Also I still have to play the CD. Since my daughter is already 15 going 16, I think I will reserve that one when I already have grandchildren hopefully around 10 years from now.

You who gave me this last Dec 18: you know who you are and I thank you for the friendship that I will be remembering everytime I see this book. Thanks for a wonderful book!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book when recently visiting friends with rabbits. Though published posthumously, Shel worked on this collection of switching letters of words around for 20 years. He completed this zany rhyming collection with black and white sketches prior to his death in 1999. I found it cleverly delightful but likely a disaster for dyslexic readers. A CD is included of Dennis Locorriere performing some of the verses. Like Shel's character the Runny Babbit, “Let’s bead a rook That’s billy as can se.” 4.5 stars.

[Jason Koivu]

* * * Read & reviewed with my niece Emma * * *

Nope. Wasn't working for us. We just weren't in the mood for the silly wordplay. For example, the subtitle to Runny Babbit is A Billy Sook.

Maybe we'll give this another shot at another time, but this time around both Emma and I found this too annoying to read, regardless of how short it is. A shame really. I'd hoped for more from a Shel Silverstein. I expect him to knock it out of the park every time.

[Gauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book I read to my brother before bedtime. It is a silly book of poems that switch around the first letters of two words, creating funny sounds and sentences.
For example:
"Runny be quimble
Runny be nick
Runny cump over the jandlestick"
He enjoyed it very much and I'm sure any kid would, too. I took a star away from my usual four stars though, because I found it very odd that the characters said such mean things to each other. For example, all of Runny's friends insult him for eating too much and being 'fat' (it's a bit harsh). I felt compelled to remind my brother that their behavior isn't kind and shouldn't be reenacted.

[Scarlet Cameo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a tough one, I enter as I enter to every Silverstein's book and ended up reareading the phrases 'cause the letters are out of order. The good part is that made you think as you read, so I if you're practicing your english, this one is really good-.

The story is average in deed.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never, ever, ever heard my son laugh as hard as he does when his dad reads this book to him. If you had a syndrome whereby smiling would kill you, and you heard Henry chortling uncontrollably while reading Runny Babbit, you would smile despite yourself, and then you would die. What was my point? It's a good book.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published posthumously, as, I believe, was Shel Silverstein’s first collection of poems (Don’t Bump the Glump), and I am glad to have a chance, as an adult, to read two more books from the pen of my favorite childhood poet. In many ways, Runny Babbit is a typical collection of Shel Silverstein poetry, but with two differences from his norm: they all deal with the same central character (Runny Babbit), and the letters of some words are switched.

I read this together with my daughter, and she enjoyed “decoding” the poems for a while. I thought it was a good exercise in phonics and reading for her to try to figure out what the words were supposed to be. She could do it about 60 percent of the time on her own, and the other forty percent of the time I’d nudge her with “switch the __ and the __” to help her along. After a while, she got tired of this exercise, and I began reading the poems to her more quickly “in translation,” as the words should be. I think if you read them as they are written, it is too hard for a kid to get the jokes within the poems themselves (though some kids will simply laugh at the joke of silly sounding words), but if you do the switcheroo as you read, many of the poems are actually quite clever of their own accord, and several have the trademark Shel Silverstein funny twist. (I especially liked the one where Runny Babit’s friends left with chicken pox.)

Reading this book requires more effort and interaction than is typical for our nighttime reading, and I probably would not want to do it again, but as an exercise in thought, and for the general quality of the poems, I give the stook four bars.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Runny's Brig Beakfast

Runny, why'd you eat so many
Grancakes off the piddle?
You've gotten teavy in the hail
And mick around the thiddle.
Your chace is fubby,
And you're tubby
In the bront and fack.
Runny said, "I can't talk now -
I've got to snet a gack!"

Shel Silverstein

We laughed and laughed and laughed. Awesome book. Words are so fun to play with.

[Connie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Shel Silverstein's silly poems. This book adds an extra twist...the first letter of words are swapped...the clever reader and listener will enjoy it and laugh even more.

[Pouria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I love Shel Silverstein a lot, I didn't enjoy this book of his that much. I think this book is specifically for children; however, some adults might enjoy reading it too. It was annoying and boring for me because of the numerous alphabet interchanges. Children probably will find it hilarious especially if someone reads it for them. Drawings were funny, cool and complementary as always. Still, contents of poems were not as profound as most of his books like "Where the Sidewalk Ends" or "A Light in the Attic".

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really like this book... a book of spoonerisms. I like it especially since I like to randomly talk or sing switching the first consonants in words near each other!

This is my favorite example (not from the book). I probably sang this in the car a dozen times over the holidays... the kids always think it's funny (I can be a bit of a comedian around my kids and their friends in case you didn't suspect).:

Bingle Jells
Snashing through the dough
In a one-horse sopen leigh
O'er the gields we foe
Waffing all the lay.
Bells on robtail bing.
Braking spirits might.
What fun it is to side and ring a taying song slonight.
Bingle Jells, bingle jells, wingle all the jay.
Oh fut won, it is rue tide in a one-horse sopen leigh, hey
Bingle Jells, bingle jells, wingle all the jay.
Oh fut won, it is rue tide in a one-horse sopen leigh.

This also reminds me of a funny little poem a mission companion (Jon Waisath)told me many years ago...
Once a big molicepan
Saw a bittle lum,
Sitting on the sturbcone
Chewing gubble bum.
"Hi!" said the molicepan.
"Better simmie gome."
"Tot on your nintype!
"Said the bittle lum.

[Badseedgirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this audio book because I was making a three hour drive with a three year old. Ok, When phrases like "Don't Thuck your Sumb" are shouted in an enthusiastic tone, they sound quite a bit like words you DO NOT WANT A THREE YEAR OLD TO REPEAT! This may be a book I should have read instead of listened to.

[Aleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lenjoyed earning Runny Babbit talk:)

[L13_F Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on CD while reading the book at the same time. It was read by Dennis Locorriere who has sort of a scratchy voice but he made it very entertaining. I tried to listen to it without looking at the book but it was so difficult to understand without seeing the pictures and words. It sounded like "Jive Talk" and there were a few parts that sounded like the reader was swearing like when he said "fookin' for a light!" in the poem Killy The Bid. This made up language took some getting used to but after I figured out that Shel Silverstein just switched some letters from two separate words to create new words, I got the hang of it. I still needed the book to see the words however. That made it a lot easier to comprehend. I think my favorite poem was Runny's Rittle Leminders and there were about 30 post-it-notes on the wall of reminders of what Runny should remember to do. I guess I picked up on all those quickly as they were being read because they are things I say to my own kids but in English of course; bake your med, trush your beeth,fash your wace and say thease and plank you.

I think kids would enjoy trying to read these aloud because they are kind of like tongue twisters. I would recommend this book for 4th grade up. Any younger, they might have difficulties trying to comprehend what they are saying. I think it would be a fun activity to take a regular poem and change the letters around to make it a silly poem like the ones in this book.

[Katherine Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book certainly kept me entertained while I tried to read the jumbled up words and try and make sense of the sentences I was reading.
This story is about a rabbit on a simple adventure, however the clever quirk that the author inhibits within the story is to change the first letter of certain words with another letter of a word e.g runny Babbit.
This book would be great to use as a game during a phonics lesson or just at the end of the day before the children go home. They could challenge themselves to who can read a whole page correctly in the shortest time. Although all the words are not correct, due to the authors quirkiness, it still promotes the learning of phonics as the children would need to use their knowledge to read the new words created.
A visualiser could be used or the page could be written up on an IWB for all the class to check the child's articulation.
I would recommend this book for teaching year one upwards, older pupils could even create their own runny Babbit style book.

[Reagan]

This book has a town of animals that speak a total different way. They switch the first letters of every word they say!This book was written by Shel Silverstein about a young rabbit with a big imagination who everyone makes fun of.

This book was one of the WORST books I've ever read.I probably only read the first 10 pages before I turned it back into the library.I mean half of the time I couldn't even understand what they were talking about because the letters were mixed up.I bet you,if I can't understand it a 5 year old can't either.

I recommend NOT to read this book because probably a lot of you will put it down after the first few pages.

[Dani]

For every frustrated kid learning how to read - make the parents read this one aloud so they'll get a first-hand taste at how hard it really is sounding out those confusing letters! This book can be the turning point for a struggling learner, and at the very least, will develop some empathy on the part of adults who have forgotten how confusing language is. A sensitive and hysterically funny book.

[Maddy Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very cute! When I was younger I read a few of Shel Silverstein's books and I loved them. The only issue I had with this book was it was hard to read. I had to read some pages twice because the wording messed with my head. This is a book I would read to a younger child, but I wouldn't recommend they read it on their own. Overall the book and pictures were adorable.

[Dan Crist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Runny Babbit is a great children's book. I recommend that a parent sits down to read it with the child because some parts get a little complicated. This book has bunch of short stories about Runny Babbit and his friends. Shel Silverstein does a great job writing this book without making it too hard to follow. I recommend this book to any elementary teacher to read to their class.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book but tricky to read out loud since the letters are mixed up.

It isn't a picture book though there are many pictures in the book. This book is for older kids who can read chapter books on their own.

I probably would give it 3.5 stars. I liked it better than the lion who shot back book.

[Brave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably one of my favorite Shel Silverstein books. It cracks me up every time. I read this with the kids I nanny for today, and I'm counting towards my goal BECAUSE I WANT TO. It's fantastic and I love it. It's a beat grook.

[Machelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this is a must read to your little ones! We all just laughed out loud reading these funny poems!

[Mari Stair · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all love humor, and this book guarantees some. It's grealy grealy rate!

[K Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fuuny and sad because his friends where mean to him

[Marinda (rindasreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter made me read this book to her in one day (she's four, that's a lot of listening!). I had a hard time "talking normal" for a few hours afterward but we had a lot of laughs together!

[Katie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Shel Silverstein books, he's the reason i wanted to become a poet. I will aways recommend 💕

[Isaiah Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wt ias a bood gook and I iiked lt I tove lhat runny babbit.

[Mia Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein is a great poetry book with a twist. All the poems in the book have twisted up words. The book was great and I think it is a good book for all ages. I rated this book 4 stars because it was a good book, but I think the poems aren't the best I've ever read. I didn't rate it lower than what I did because the poems are nice and fun to read and it would be understated because this book is no lower than a three star rating. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fun poetry.