A Big Ball of String

This is a wonderful rhyming book that falls back time and time again on the refrain, "...I can do anything, anything at all!" and is much more than a beginning reading book. It is thrilling to a child (and to an adult for that matter) that with something as simple as string they can do so many different things, even while sick in bed (part of the theme of the story). My next-to-youngest child of four children begged me to read this book aloud over and over long after his beginning reading days were over. I think it struck a chord with him in regard to his natural mechanical abilities, and he started around then taking things apart and fixing them. Now at 25 he can fix just about anything. Our copy is falling apart, but I plan to keep on gluing it, taping it, or whatever is required to be able to keep on reading it, including to my grandchildren who are now under my homeschool tutelage and my great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, should I be blessed with so many years.

This was my favorite book growing up. I love the drawings and the ideas the boy came up to do with his string. I decided to go online to look for a copy I could read to my own kids. Now that I see how rare it is, I think I'm going to beg my parents for my old book back. Its a well worn book and has had its spine taped since it was read so much. But that's ok -- I still love it. (Besides, its all ready personalized for me -by me- in big red crayon "Kerry")

A wonderful rhyming story of Imagination and CAN-DO ability of a 6-9 year old child. The story begins with things to do with string out of bed. It ends with how many things can be done from bed. My decrepit copy begins at page 19, however is still enjoyed by, and hopefully inspires, first graders to step away from the TV. A MAGAZINE company advertises String a ma Thing a toy that had to have been inspired by this inventive boy. My copy is an orange-red hardcover, written and illustrated by Marion Holland and precious.

This book is a wonderful read-aloud book for very young children. I have an original copy which I now share with my four children. The repetition and sing-song lyric make it easy for very young kids (2-3) to "read" along. My copy is 36 years old and still going strong!

I have the original book, "A Big Ball of String", that was written and illustrated by Marion Holland (copyright 1958). This book, a family favorite, has been enjoyed by three generations of our family. It has been used so much that it is literally falling apart. Even at 22, I find myself picking it up for a good laugh.The curious little boy in this story goes on an adventure, finding a "good thing" to do with his big ball of string. I laugh every time I read it. Especially funny, is that he spends a lot of time out of bed, using the string to help him stay "in" bed. The rhymes and phonetics of this book are clever and catchy. I give this book a two thumbs up!!!!