Boing!

Most nights, sandwiched between my sons (ages 6 and 4) I read two books before they go to bed. We read 4-5 new stories each week and fill the rest of our time with favorites from their large bookshelf. I've come to learn that reading aloud is a partnership. The author and illustrator provide the basic tools but, ultimately, the reader must use them to bring the story to life for the audience. That energy starts with clear pronunciation and enunciation, building with rhythm and cadence, upon which voices (or impersonations) match the different characters and sound effects are layered to complete the story. Ultimately, "Boing" lives or dies depending on your performance. My sons loved this book. They have their own trampoline, so a story about the "Great Elastic Marvel" bouncing all over the city was a perfect match. For "Boing" I've got two tips: 1. Narrate the book as though you are the ringmaster of a circus: "Ladies and Gentlemen...Children of all ages!" 2. Place your hand on the book; when the Great Elastic Marvel bounces back into the sky, throw your hand into the air with an enthusiastic "Boing!" In summary, I highly recommend this book for bedtime reading. The Great Elastic Marvel landed a five-star rating from our sons. BTW: Check out my review of The Monster at the End of this Book from my list of "Young boys' bedtime books" for more tips on reading aloud.

What a fun and imaginative book! Both my four year old son and I found it entertaining read after read. The pictures are inventive and there are plenty of fun details. I found it by chance in the library and can't believe I never heard of it before!

My two-year-old loves this book. When I read it, I leave out some of the words so make it shorter and more succinct. We checked it out of the library several times and now we are going to buy it. We had great fun enacting the scenes from the book with stuffed animals.

Practising a 'deadly difficult quadruple, headfirst flip', the Great Elastic Marvel (five times World Trampolining Champion) misses his trampoline and plunges out of a high storey window. Absorbed in a TV cartoon, his son Felix does not notice that his father is hurtling towards earth and certain death. But is it possible that the Great Elastic Marvel's gymnastic skills can save him? Boing! Boing! they do, time and again as he bounces up and down in a series of extraordinary feats. This wonderfully entertaining tale with its deadpan, perfectly placed text is illustrated with black line and wash in the French style reminiscent of Bemelmans and Dufy. Stripey awnings and acursive script at dramtic moments reinforce the Gallic flavour and there are lots of delicious jokes in the illustrations. A triumph that will be enjoyed by everyone from five upwards. Rosemary Stones ("Books for Keeps" magazine September 2004)