Loni Edwards

Illustration and Paintings in Digital, Watercolors and Ink

Perfect Picture Book Fridays – Listen Buddy

My choice this week for Perfect Picture Book Fridays is the hilarious picture book, Listen Buddy

Title: Listen Buddy
Author: Helen Lester Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company 1997
Ages: Pre K- 8
Themes: Animals, Adventure, Humor, Consequences, Listening Skills
Opening/Synopsis:

Buddy’s father had a beautiful big nose. He was a great sniffer.
Buddy’s mother had beautiful big teeth. She was a great chomper.
Buddy had beautiful big ears. It didn’t matter.
When Buddy’s parents sent him to the vegetable stand to get a basket of squash,

he came home with a basket of wash.

From Publishers Weekly – (Warning! Spoilers!)

His ears are enormous, but listening is not the forte of a bunny named Buddy. And his misinterpretations of his parents’ requests make for the sort of silly confusion that youngsters love: when his father asks for a pen, Buddy drags in a disgruntled hen; instead of the slice of bread his mother wants, Buddy turns up with the sawed-off headboard from a bed. Taking his first solo “long hop,” Buddy forgets whether he is supposed to take a left or a right when the road forks. He selects the wrong route, of course, and ends up at the cave of the Scruffy Varmint, where he unleashes merry mayhem in trying to help that cranky creature cook soup. After the varmint decides that he’d rather eat stew made from “the Bunny rabbit who never listens,” Buddy hears him loud and clear. If lacking the all-out pizazz of Lester and Munsinger’s Tacky the Penguin, this sprightly paced tale amiably nudges kids whose direction-following skills need some honing. Munsinger’s watercolors-and Buddy’s comical expressions in particular-are characteristically entertaining. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Activities:

I found a neat little children’s play based on Listen Buddy

iTunes has a Listen Buddy app

Helen Lester’s & Lynn Munsinger’s Houghton Mifflin Author & Illustrator page

Playing a game like “Telephone” is a fun way to to teach children about listening
Why I like this book: I love the humor in Listen Buddy. The funny things Buddy comes up with when his parents request something (“hen” instead of “pen”) will make the reader giggle. Munsinger’s delightful illustrations are a perfect combination with Lester’s comedic writing. It’s a fun way to introduce children to the concept of paying attention and listening to instructions.

Perfect Picture Book Fridays are a weekly blog event where participants review some of their favorite picture books. The posts are compiled on author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website. They are categorized by theme to help parents, educators and readers find the perfect picture book easily. To learn more, please visit Susanna’s site where you will find the complete PPBF’s library.

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20 Comments

  1. Susanna Leonard Hill 27/04/2012

    I love Helen Lester and haven’t read this one. It sounds delightful and very apropos for many kids! 🙂 I’m not sure we have another book that addresses listening, so VERY glad to have this one on the list. Thanks for sharing, Loni! 🙂

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      Hi Susanna! Thanks for your comment 🙂

  2. Penny Klostermann 27/04/2012

    Oh! It does sound hilarious. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the review!

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      You’re welcome Penny, thanks for stopping by!

  3. Patricia Tilton 27/04/2012

    Such a fun book with a fun message, Loni! A lot of parents can use this book so kids can see themselves and laugh! I enjoyed your review!

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      Thanks Patricia! I agree, this would be a positive way to say to a child, “hey, pay attention!” 🙂

  4. Amy Dixon 27/04/2012

    ooooh, I LOVE the concept of this book, and think it would be great for my 4 little selective listeners 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation!

  5. Beth Stilborn 27/04/2012

    Those EARS! They’re wonderful!

    As someone with a hearing impairment who gets words wrong on a fairly regular basis, I would identify with Buddy — and would find the book hilarious.

    Thanks for sharing!

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      Haha! Aren’t those ears great? 🙂 Yes, I think you will find this book very enjoyable. Thanks for your comment Beth!

  6. patientdreamer 27/04/2012

    Very cute. I can imagine this to cause quite a laugh with kids. My oldest brother could have used this when he was a child, to. Thanks Loni.

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      It made us giggle every time we read it. 🙂

  7. Myra from GatheringBooks 28/04/2012

    Hi Loni, this sounds like a book that I would truly enjoy. That kind of humor never never goes away, and it does seem like a really cute book. Thank you for sharing it this week. 🙂

    • Loni 28/04/2012 — Post Author

      You’re welcome Myra! Thanks for stopping by.

  8. Erik -This Kid Reviews Books 29/04/2012

    I checked out the app! The illustrations are great! My parents are always telling me to listen to what they are saying 🙁 Buddy sounds like me 😉

  9. Vivian Kirkfield 29/04/2012

    Oh wow, Loni! Such a great books to read with little ones…anything that encourages them to listen will win a prize with every parent. 🙂
    Love the activities and resources as well…thank you so much for a GREAT review and choice!

  10. Stacy S. Jensen 29/04/2012

    We have listening issues at our house. Perhaps one for the entire family — mommy and daddy included. 🙂

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