First sentence:
I've always lived in Dinkerville,Premise/plot: Diffendoofer School is different from other schools. The teachers teach their students to think. And the teachers are all unique and have their own way of teaching and celebrating knowledge. But one day, the school is threatened by a TEST. If their students don't do well on the test, then, the students will have to go to other schools. Will the students do well on the test? Even if they haven't spent time especially preparing for it?
My friends all live here too.
We go to Diffendoofer School--
We're happy that we do.
My thoughts: I liked it. I wish I knew how much of the text was by Dr. Seuss and how much was by Jack Prelutsky. The art is certainly different and unique and complements the text quite nicely.
Have you read Hooray for Diffendoofer Day? Did you like it? love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories contains seven "lost" stories by Dr. Seuss. They include: "The Bippolo Seed," "The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga," "Gustav, The Goldfish," "Tadd and Todd," "Steak for Supper," "The Strange Shirt Spot," and "The Great Henry McBride." All stories were originally published in magazines in the 1950s.
The Bippolo Seed
First sentence:
One bright sunny day, a young duck named McKluckPremise/plot: A duck finds a magical bippolo seed, but, unfortunately is led astray by a cat. The bippolo seed grants wishes when planted, but, the cat is strongly encouraging the duck to wish for more and more and more. Nothing good ever comes from such greediness, and such is the case here...
Had a wonderful, wonderful piece of good luck.
He was walking along when he spied on the ground
A marvelous thing that is quite seldom found.
My thoughts: I liked it. I did. It didn't wow me with this is the best story ever. But it was good.
The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga
First sentence:
Once of upon of a time, way down south,Premise/plot: Can a rabbit outsmart a bear?
Lived a very big bear with a very big mouth
And very big teeth in his very big jaws
And very big claws in his very big paws.
My thoughts: It didn't make the best first impression on me. But once the story really got started, once the rabbit started talking--quick-talking--it improved. I still can't say I loved, loved, loved it. But it was a nice enough story.
Gustav, The Goldfish
First sentence:
The man who sold Gustav the Goldfish to usPremise/plot: What do you think might happen if you feed a fish too much?!
Had warned us, "Take care! When you feed this small cuss
Just feed him a spot. If you feed him a lot,
Then something might happen! It's hard to say what."
My thoughts: I really love A Fish Out of Water. Seuss's story came first, of course. Seuss's story rhymes. I don't know which is the "better" of the two. Because one is super-familiar to me, and the other is not.
Tadd and Todd
First sentence:
One twin was named TaddPremise/plot: Do both twins like being "as two peas in a pod"? Maybe. Maybe not.
And one twin was named Todd.
And they were alike
As two peas in a pod.
My thoughts: It was okay. I didn't especially dislike it. I just wasn't especially impressed either.
Steak for Supper
First sentence:
When I'm all by myself and there isn't a crowd,Premise/plot: Do you know the consequences of bragging? Read Steak for Supper and find out!
I guess that I sometimes get thinking-out-loud.
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. It was very silly and fun. When a boy happens to "think out loud" that his family always has steaks for supper every Saturday night, someone--an Ikka--starts following him. The Ikka is soon joined by others--all with fanciful names, of course. They are all super-excited by the thought of eating STEAK. What will his parents think when they all arrive home?!
The Strange Shirt Spot
First sentence:
My mother had warned me:
"Stay out of the dirt."
But there, there I was
With a spot on my shirt!"
Premise/plot: A boy finds it nearly impossible to remove a stubborn spot from his shirt.
My thoughts: This idea was used again, and, perhaps used better in The Cat and the Hat Comes Back. I love, love, love that book. This one was fun, but, mainly because you could see where the idea came from.
The Great Henry McBride
First sentence:
"It's hard to decide,"
Said young Henry McBride.
"It's terribly, terribly hard to decide.
When a fellow grows up and turns into a man,
A fellow should pick the best job that he can."
Premise/plot: Henry McBride can't pick just one job he wants to have when he's all grown up...so he imagines having lots of jobs.
My thoughts: It was okay. I liked it fine.
Have you read The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories? Did you like it? love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!
If you'd like to join me in reading or rereading Dr. Seuss (chronologically) I'd love to have you join me! The next book I'll be reviewing is Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories and What Pet Should I Get. I'll be doubling up for the rest of the year each Saturday.
© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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