The Judge: An Untrue Tale

After all, a JUDGE should know. Who are these dimwits to tell him so: That "a HORRIBLE THING is coming this way, Creeping closer day by day." They're liars, scoundrels, nincompoops. Never a JUDGE would ever stoop To act upon such brainless chatter, But thoroughly dismiss the matter. But, as the judge prepares to leave His body shakes from sleeve to sleeve; For that Horrible Thing is at the door To gobble HIM up...and look for more. (This is not the story, which is a story, of course. In fact, it's a lie. But it's fun to believe.) [The book does not seem to end properly, so my students concluded the book when storyreading to primary students with the last stanza above.] A Non-Workbook, Non-Textbook Approach to Teaching Language Arts: Grades 4 Through 8 and Up

My two daughters, son, six nieces, and five nephews loved to have me read and re-read this book to them. (All but my son are grown.) Of the young adults, all but one has told me that one of their fondest childhood memories is of me reading this story to them as they acted it out. (The one dissenter has said that she wasn't frightened, she just 'isn't interested in other people's memories'~a direct quote.) As recently as last fall, four of them were together when they burst out with, "Its eyes were scary, its tail was hairy..."

This story was one of the ones I had my mother read to me over and over again when I was a girl. I loved it! So much so that it remained in my memory all these years (I'm 33 now) until I was compelled to buy a copy. Now that I've reread the book, I'm sincerely puzzled as to why I adored it so. I imagine that my younger self was responding to the poetic repetition; however, I'd like to think that I was a 4 year old rebel enjoying the antiestablishment theme. Who knows?

Perhaps this book isn't suitable for young children, but I think it's wonderful. My mother read this book to my sister and me when we were young and we turned out just fine. Sure, our humors may be a little morbid, but not solely because of this book. And we had no nightmares or ever feared being eaten by an imaginary beast.This is one of my favorite books of all time and I can still remember most of the words. In fact, to this day (some 14 years later) there are times we'll quote to each other, "Please let me go. Judge, I didn't know, Judge that what I did was against the law, I just said what I saw..." This is a book I have read to countless children, including my niece and I plan on reading it to my own children. The cadence and rhyme of this story catches kid's attention and the moral is clear. Don't be a wuss, keep it light and your kids will love the book and won't be terrified by the ending. Besides, the Judge gets what he deserves, does he not? Kids love that and they'll find it humorous, if you let them. There is really nothing grisly about the ending. Bear in mind that it's fire you see, not blood.Again, this is one of my favorite books of all time and a must have for any quality children's library.

This is a story about a person who will not listen to people until he experiences the event for themselves. The judge doesn't listen to people and "judges" them harshly. In the end, he ends up with a harsh judgement himself. Oh well...