Book Review: Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit lent to wunch

And heard the saitress way,

“We have some lovely stabbit rew—I

Our Special for today.”

So if you say, “Let’s bead a rook

That’s billy as can se,”

You’re talkin’ Runny Babbit talk,

Just like mim and he.

First off, I’d like to thank my friends, fellow Hubbers, and co-conspirators of Children’s Literature right here at Hubpages—wannabwestern and Frieda Babbley—whose relentless dedication and effort on the subject matter has produced some fantastic Children’s Books hubs and in turn, have helped to encourage me and others to continue doing so. I would also like to dedicate this hub to another one of my new friends, SquigglesMcBeeBee, who’s sure to enjoy this hub. Thank you guys! This hub would not have been possible without you...And in case you're wondering what "Yank Thou" is, it's Runny Babbit talk! (It rhymes with "Thank you," by the way!)

This is my second book review on the work of world famous children's author Shel Silverstein. My first book review was on The Giving Tree, so if you haven't already, please read it.

His friends all gave him sicken choup,

Bumgalls and bicorice lends.

And guess what little Runny Babbit

Fave to all his griends!

Runny got the picken chox

And had to bay in sted,

With sped rots on his belly

And sped rots on his head.

At first glance while walking through Border’s Bookstore, Shel Silverstein’s Runny Babbit just looked to me like a beginner’s children’s book. The cover depicted a distinctive black and white cartoon in the Shel Silverstein mode—of Runny Babbit holding what looks to be an umbrella but a closer look reveals a turtle supported by a snake. Just as soon as I picked it up, I quickly realized that this so-called children’s book wasn’t your run-of-the-mill children’s book in which is a paltry fifteen or twenty pages filled with colorful pictures and limited in text; it was indeed much heavier and was practically a hundred pages long! Just as soon as I did, I knew that I was in for a treat, as some of his previous, albeit lengthier works such as A Light in the Attic, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and Falling Up are all collections of poetry and belong in every child’s book collection (or any adult’s book collection for that matter—seriously, why should all the kids have all the fun, huh?) as it will continue to bring joy to people of all ages. So just as soon as I came to this conclusion I picked up a copy and was careful not read it and bought it over to the check-out. I wanted to be pleasantly surprised as to what I would find, as I read just about every book of Shel Silverstein’s and I wasn’t about to miss out on his last book he ever published. Besides, can you name one bad book the guy has ever written? My sentiments exactly.

Runny doesn't always do

The thoper pring at all.

Just see the motes his namma

Has pasted on his wall:

STOP FAKING MACES...SAY "THEASE" AND "PLANK YOU"...WHON'T DINE...FASH YOUR WACE...QUE BIET...BAKE YOUR MED...REAN UP YOUR CLOOM...TICK UP YOUR POYS...TRUSH YOUR BEETH...SPON'T DIT...HON'T DIT...DON'T BALK TACK...HASH YOUR WANDS...DETTLE SOWN...PEED YOUR FET...FLEEP YOUR SWOOR...TURN YOUR DADIO ROWN...DO YOUR WOMEHORK...NE BICE...DON'T TREAD RASH...DONT' SIGHT WITH YOUR FISTER...DON'T MEW WITH YOUR CHOUTH FULL...DON'T FEAT WITH YOUR INGERS...PHET OFF THE GONE...EAN YOUR CLEARS...NOP THAT STOW...STRIT UP SAIGHT...NOP STAGGING...NAKE YOUR TAP...DON'T FEW YOUR CHINGERNAILS...GOP STIGGLING...DON'T THUCK YOUR SUMB...BON'T DELCH...COVER YOUR SNOUTH WHEN YOU MEEZE...USE YOUR SLAPKIN, NOT YOUR NEEVE...DON'T NICK YOUR POSE...GOP STIGGLING...CHING BACK THE BRANGE...FISTEN TO YOUR LATHER...DON'T BATCH YOUR SCREHIND (AT LEAST POT IN NUBLIC)...DON'T DAM THE SLOOR...DON'T MULP YOUR GILK...FIPE YOUR WEET...KNUB YOUR SCREES...HOP STOLDING YOUR BREATH...SHAKE A TOWER...TEEP YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE...SCON'T DREAM...TAKE THOSE LOOKS TO THE BIBRARY...

Okay, so by now, you either get the gist of the way in which Shel Silverstein wrote this book or you are scratching your head over why Microsoft Spell Check didn’t just send out an assassin to END ME. “Spoonerisms” are, according to Wikepedia: “...Are an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched (see metathesis). It is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner (1844–1930), Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency.”  As you can see that by rearranging just a few letters, you can decipher which actual words were altered and so see the humor in each and every line of his work.  In the process, the words he creates are nothing short of hilarious, such as "Womehork" (homework) and "Chingernails" (fingernails).  It really isn't that difficult to figure out once you get the hang of it...Heck, with a bit of effort, you just might be able to make a few up too yourself!  Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are was so enamored by Silverstein's book that he was quoted as saying, "I wish I had done this book!"  That makes two of us.

Runny had a firlgriend,

Her name was Sunny Bue.

He called her nots of licknames,

Like "kitchy-Itchy Koo."

Sometimes he called her "Boney-Hun,"

And sometimes "Dovey Lear,"

But he only called her "Peety-Swie"

When no one else could hear.

Author Shel Silverstein’s Runny Babbit, in which is the only book he publish posthumously, is a compilation of 41 poems and wonderful pictures of the silly and zany character of the same name whose compassion for others (Runny’s Hind Keart), mischievous acts (Runny on Rount Mushmore), and affection for a significant other (Runny’s Rig Bomance) are all showcased. Readers will follow Runny Babbit along with his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake and a host of others. The book is simply a treat to read and it’s my belief that Silverstein’s book was meant to be read out loud to others, as it’s sure to cause a ruckus of laughter. I’ve already bought this book three times as gifts and plan to buy it a few more times in the near future, as Runny Babbit is the perfect gift to give others that could use a good laugh or two. It’s my opinion that all of us should file Runnny Babbit under the caption “New Classic” as it is sure to become a treasured keepsake for many years to come.

Please don't miss out on my Ezine Articles on Harry Potter and Lafcadio: The Lion That Shot Back.