2.) Book Review! What children’s book do you hate reading to your child?
Chicky.
Chicky.
Chook.
Chook.
Kainoa LOVES this book….as in CRACKS up when I read it….as in MAKES me read it over and over and over again until I think my brain is going to chicky chook all over the place.
I hate this book and I’ll tell you why.
There is no story line. There are no real words. There is no real redeeming quality about this book whatsoever. Part of me loves that written word can entertain Kainoa the way it does, but a bigger part of me wonders if there’s something wrong with him.
I won’t quote the entire book (it wouldn’t take long) because I’m not sure if I’d be breaking some kind of law by doing that, but here is the gist of it:
Chicky chicky chook chook chick chick chick
Chicky chicky chook chook peck peck pick
Mushy mushy mush mush mish mish mush
Mushy mushy mush mush mish mash matter.
Dizzy dizzy wiz wiz dizz dizz wiz
Dizzy dizzy wiz wiz dizz dizz weeeeeeee.
And on. And on. And on.
I would love to write children’s books and this just baffles me. What did that author’s book proposal say?? Was she sitting at home and then suddenly think “I’ve GOT IT!!! The PERFECT book!!”
Did she sit around thinking hard about how the words should go?? “Dizzy dizzy wiz bat??….nooooo…..dizzy dizzy wackadoo??….noooo….dizzy dizzy wiz wiz?? That’s IT!!!”
And then was the publisher like “YES! We must start marketing IMMEDIATELY!!”
I just don’t get it. There are millions of children’s books. MILLIONS. If you’re going to put one out there than there needs to be something that makes it different and enticing, but this one doesn’t even speak a language.
It’s just a little frustrating to read it 30 times a day and stare at my son like, “really??? REALLY??? This is funny to you? Because I could write this….in fact why DIDN’T I write this!?!” I’m an idiot for not thinking of chooky chooky chick chick.
But Cathy Maclennon is brilliant because she puts my son in stitches with laughter every time I read it to him because even though *I* don’t understand it…she’s definitely speaking HIS language.
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back and sign Mr. Linky. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1.) Describe what you would change about yourself if you could.
2.) Book Review! What children’s book do you hate reading to your child?
3.) What do you predict will happen this decade? (You can be funny or serious if you like).
4.) Choose the 7th picture you took from last January and write a poem.
5.) Write about a heated argument you had with your parents (real or fictitious).
Erin says
I don’t have a poetic rhyming bone in my body since my boys were born and I could write something like that. YIKES!
That’s just as bad as my horrible nightmare book! “Hokey Pokey Elmo” if I ever run into that red shag monster I’ll shoot him right in the face! Think that will scare the kids? =)
Mama Kat says
Yeah a little bit….it will also scare the man controlling him. Might I suggest tomatoes….like they did in the old days?
Dan says
Wait until he moves on the the Richard Scarry stuff. After reading and hearing “Baking the bread” 4,197,234 times, you’ll understand.
Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" says
I can certainly see why a kid would like that book-it makes no sense and yet it has catchy rhyming “words.” It’s definitely different. I could never write pure nonsense like this, I’m too analytical and not that creative!
Melissa B. says
And you know what? They grow up to be pretty good cooks, too! Ella Numera Una is home this week, and guess who’s doing dinner? When she goes back to school on Tuesday, whatever will I do? :)
Jen @ buried with children says
You got that one right, she is brilliant. Too bad we didn’t come up with that idea.
Why do all the good ideas have to be taken?
Los says
Hey, at least he’s interested in books, right? Or, at least that one … it’s a start. Green Eggs and Ham was a favorite of mine, even though I’d never, ever eat either of those.
Mama Kat says
Maybe it’s not the book he’s laughing at, but rather my hysterical reading skills. I may be selling myself short here.
Amanda says
This reminds me of a book my mom read to us when we were kids, only I think it taught you about numbers, Chicky Chicky Boom Boom or something like that……
Mama Kat says
Oh yeah, Maile loves that one! All the letters climb up the tree and fall back down. Not so bad.
Jennifer says
These are definitely the kind I don’t get too. A lot of kid’s books drive me nuts, but then I guess they aren’t written for me.
Gina says
Long time reader, first time participant in the workshop. Really enjoy your blog, Kat.
Mama Kat says
Yay!! Hopefully I’ll make it to all the participants this week! It can be a challenge. :)
ashley says
Reminds me of Chicka chicka boom boom.. My girls request that one all the time. Ive actually started to remember it and kinda sing it as I read it. Oh how I’ve learned to loath that book :)
Stephanie says
Somehow I keep missing the writing prompts early enough to actually particpate maybe next week. The Giving Tree is my favorite bokk to read to the kids (well it was they are all teenagers now)
Mama Kat says
Maybe I’ll start posting the writing prompts in the prompt tab in my navigation bar…that way people don’t have to go searching for it beneath other posts…
erica says
Why not just run around the room going “Chick!Chick! Blat! Smack!” In other words, just act natur– I mean, crazy.
Kids are so easily entertained. And I love that he wants it read over and over and over again.
Here’s an idea: Why not write a blog post in the way you would read a children’s book? That’s got to be entertaining.
Jenners says
You said it exactly … she knows what the little ones like and what cracks them up. Yes … it is PAINFUL for us big people. But seeing a child develop a love for reading (of any kind) is good … and having your kid laugh — also good.
I feel the same way whenever my son gets entranced by worthless movie tie-in books. I die a little inside knowing the good books out there … but whatever gets him excited about reading gets me excited.
Mama Kat says
Good point…let’s just hope he progresses to an actual story line.
Foursons says
Ummm…what is that slop he’s eating?
That book would drive me nuts, I think I’d throw it out or donate to some poor soul who needs a book.
Mama Kat says
Hahaha….enchilada filling!
Amethyst Moon says
Ok, um, really?! Yup a childrens book, for sure. Only a child could appreciate it. I say tell him to learn to read his own dang self he wants to read something like that! There that will motivate him! (just kidding)
I actually used to sing (surprise!) the books that rhymed to make them more tolerable for me(and more entertaining for them). Go ahead sing with me: ♪I like to eat them in a box, I like to eat them with a fox, on a train, in the rain♪
Mama Kat says
Hahaha…I love that idea. I can just hear Kainoa now, “no mommy dop it! Dop…no do dat!” He’s very particular about my behavior….he also doesn’t like it when I wear dresses, aprons, or have my hair down. I think he wants me to be a man.
Jannica says
Ugh, how do these things get published, and what do our children actually learn from these books? Well except a sense of humor…if it can be called that!
Charlene says
I wonder if the book’s whole purpose is to make you look stupid, which of course would make children laugh? I mean, it’s not everyday you hear an adult saying:
Chicky chicky chook chook chick chick chick
Chicky chicky chook chook peck peck pick
What really gets me though is that I can maybe see how chick chick chick and peck peck pick go together, and I can even see how maybe diz diz wiz and diz diz weeeee might go together, but what is up with the mish mish mush and mish mash matter. Matter? That doesn’t go with anything!!!!
You’re right though. Even though I’ve never read it or even heard of it, just that little bit has made me decide that it is a terrible book. It’s just a bunch of words. Who knew you could make money of random words (that don’t even go together).
Mama Kat says
Oh no, I made that up myself so as to avoid plagiarizing…it gives you the gist of what the book is like. You’re right though, most of the silly words do make sense together. It’s all about spring so chicks and pecking and fuzz and whatnot all make sense together. I think I’m just tired of reading it. NEXT Kainoa.
Lauren says
It must be incredibly easy to get published if you are a children’s author. I am just amazed and appalled at some of the books I’ve read. I told my mother in law years ago that she was not to give my children books without reading them first!
Mama Kat says
Thing is I don’t think it’s easy at ALL…unless you self publish, which comes with it’s own expenses and time commitment. This lady is ON to something…
Jessica says
It really is quite funny that you bring this up because I’ve wondered the same thing about books myself. And, not only books, but for instance the Snuggie…I could have thought of that damn thing! I’m nearly freezing my eyes out everytime I sit on the couch, but could I think of that idea? Nooooooo.
Granted, the difference between the Snuggie and the Chucky Chucky Upchuck book is that the Snuggie makes PERFECT sense. It’s amazing.
Lolli says
Hilarious. I have not read that book, but I’ve read similarly mind-numbing books. I’ve thought the same thing–how in the world did they get published?!
Lolli says
PS–is it just me or do those chicks looks strangely similar to creepy shrimp? It’s those googly eyes. Ick!
Mama Kat says
The chicks actually are creepy shrimp. And the book should really offer hope to many…if they can get published than surely any idea I have could get published.
Maybe not necessarily make much money per se….but published all the same.
Jennee says
I think if I ever have kids, I will read all the books to myself first before I read them to my child, and if I don’t like it, the kid will never know the book exsitsed!
Mama Kat says
It’s easier said than done. Sometimes you don’t realize you don’t like a book until the 200th time through it….and by then you love your kid too much to remove the book from your home.
Emmy says
Oh I so agree! Every time I read a book like this, I think why don’t I write books I could do a way better job than that! She probably was laughing while she wrote it thinking of all of the parents that would get stuck reading it.
June Freaking Cleaver says
I’m sure the Chicky book follows some long-held educational standard about repetition and how it helps children learn and remember.
Even though my children are far past the ‘read to me’ stage, I can STILL remember some of the lines from books that were their favorites.
So, yes, it does improve memory…dammit.
Oh, for a real treat, read the reviews for Chicky Chicky Chook Chook on Amazon…it got 5 stars! http://www.amazon.com/Chicky-Chook-Cathy-MacLennan/dp/1905417403
Mama Kat says
Hahaha…just read them, too funny, all of the parents who left stars talked about how they’re kids just LOVE the books…can’t argue with that!
Holly L says
Childrens books like that fascinate me for all the wrong reasons and of course thrill my kiddos. And the I end up making stupid noises all day long. The cover was really cute though!
Gina says
Logan would LOVE that book. Why, I have no idea, but he would. I, myself, have a love/hate relationship with Corduroy. He loves it, and I did too, until I read it 29060394609 times.
kiki says
thanks for the tip. i won’t be picking that book up. my son still loves, Llama, Llama Red Pajama. that has been his fav since he was a babe. i don’t mind it. it’s fun cuz i get to say, “Llama Drama.” take care.
Cathie says
My son loves all the Llama books… Llama llama Mad at Mama and Llama llama Misses Mama along w/ Red Pajama are read in this house almost daily. He even got a llama webkinz from Santa, and the webkinz has to sit and listen w/ us every time we read the books. LOL But they are cute. I don’t mind them. Actually, I kind of like them. :)
3 Men & a Lady says
Have you ever read any of the books put out by the Baby Einstein Company?? My oldest LOVED anything Baby Einstein when he was infant-3. So he accumulated several BE brand books. And they ARE TERRIBLE. Good pictures but horribly uncreative writing, no alliteration, no storyline of any sort, and just plain weird. Excerpt from “What does Violet see?”:
‘Violet sees three sparrows hopping along the riverbed.
The sparrows chirp to one another in little bursts.
They shake and ruffle their brown feathers.
Violet wishes she could hold a sparrow in her hand.
Violet takes a picture.’
WTF? For toddlers?
3 Men & a Lady says
I forgot to add, it sounds like coffee house poetry.
Mama Kat says
Seriously! How about “Violet brings a sparrow home and then her cat tries to get it and the sparrow chirps and Violet realizes the sparrow is safer outside in his home near the riverbed?” See I could WAY make that book better. ;)
Kathy says
LOL plus you paid for that irritation :o
Roxane says
Ugh that sounds dreadful! I was going to write about my hatred for winnie the pooh and the creatures of 100 acre woods but my boss sent me into a tizzy and I had to blog about that instead… Maybe next week i’ll go into the complexity of my relationship with pooh and his asinine friends…
Katie (aka Kekibird) says
It amazes me that with simple, dumb little books like this, more people aren’t authors. HELL! My almost 4 year old can write this crap and make it sound good!
Ms. Wanda says
The Name of this book alone says it all!!! LOL!!!
xoxox
Ms. Wanda
Jeanette@Bliss says
Amen! There are so many books that make me decide, “Well it must be who they know cuz it sure ain’t what they know.” Yikes.
Amy says
ha ha! I always think to myself – Why couldn’t I come up with that! It seriously cannot be that hard to do.
Jayde says
What a horrid book! I am so glad my kids are grown and can read for themselves!
Melissa says
That is just awful. I hate it and I’ve never read it!
BOSSY says
This is really cracking Bossy up! Sister mercy, it’s like the time Bossy’s dad bought a pair of flip-flops and then walked around the house pointing to his enormous feet saying, “Geesh, not much arch support.”
Sunday Stilwell says
That was a lot of fun…even if I had to relive my horrid poetry-writing days.
kisatrtle says
my kids have so many books that I think what was the publisher thinking….I totally can relate to what you are saying. BTW I actually managed to play along this week.
Michelle says
You’ve got to love the books that have somehow wormed their way into our house and small, feeble minds decide to love. I feel for you. Fortunately, I’ve never heard of that book ;)
At least your child doesn’t walk up to the librarian and demand all the “potty” books. And when asked if she’s learning to use the potty, looks at the poor woman haughtily and announces that she’s been potty trained forEVER and just likes reading about the potty.
Yeah… that’s my girl!
Megs says
Ummmm . . . i kinda cheated. Didn’t really follow the prompt although my post DOES tell something that’s going to happen this decade!
Heather says
I really should start reading to my children more. However, if this book is any indicator of children’s literature today then maybe I should rethink the whole reading more thing.
melissa aka equidae says
hiya will be doing the rounds today…yesterday had only a little time to post up my linky…ahhhh but for good reason….i went to make myself look beautiful :) am so happy with my new look will post pics soon ppl! anyway off to see the posts or i’ll carry on rambling!
Andrea says
Wow. I suppose could publish the children’s book I wrote in 4th grade if I wanted to. ;)