• The Town Around the Bend

  • Bedtime Stories and Songs
  • By: Bill Harley
  • Narrated by: Bill Harley
  • Length: 1 hr and 1 min
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (128 ratings)

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The Town Around the Bend  By  cover art

The Town Around the Bend

By: Bill Harley
Narrated by: Bill Harley
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Publisher's summary

Bill Harley's 2003 recording is a very special collection of songs and stories for bedtime about a wonderful and wacky imaginary place, The Town Around the Bend. Harley's long-established humor, meaning, and music are toned down for the quiet time right before the eyes close and the world rests. Featuring "Warning about Jumping on Beds," "Nighty Noodles," "How the Town Around the Bend Got Its Name," "Bellybuttons," "Look Out Your Window," "Bucket of Beans, Clarisse, and the Bubble Machine," "Why Pillows Sing," "I'm Your Pillow," "Why Kids Sing to Their Parents," "Go to Sleep, Little Daddy," "Strawberry Peach Sky," and "Nighty Noodles (Again)."
(P) and ©2003 Round River Music (BMI)

Critic reviews

"Bill Harley rings true...still the best in expressing kids' incertainties, hopes, pet peeves, and pleasures." (Los Angeles Times)

What listeners say about The Town Around the Bend

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Nighty Noodles...

My kids (ages 5 and 3) cannot possible go to sleep at night without their "Nighty Noodles" the stories in this collection are not only clever, but pleasant and perfect for bedtime. My husband and I enjoy the silliness of these stories as well, and Bill Harley witty storytelling is a must have in our house and vehicles. The kids love him oodle loodle oodles it's true.... I highly recommend these stories for any kids between the ages of 3 and 10, I think they would truly love them lots.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Both my four and nine year olds love this recording, and - at least the first few times - the stories are also entertaining for the grown-ups in the family. The narrator is excellent and the songs are good too. Perfect for bedtime or for a rainy hour on the couch.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I've head this every night for months...

I've heard this album almost every night since I bought it from Audible. It's a perfect mix of fun and relaxation. The kids insist on us playing it every night, and we (parents) enjoy the stories and songs as much as they do. Most books that Audible sells are long, but you only listen to them once. These stories are perhaps an hour long, but if you have kids (or are very silly) you'll listen to this over and over again.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very fun stories

My 4 year old son loves this book. This guy's very clever and fun.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

My boys 9 & 5 love this performance. He does a really great job of entertaining kids (and adults). Very unique.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this!

I love The Town Around the Bend so much. I was given a CD of this in 2004 when my oldest son was a baby. He loved it, and we listened to it every time we were in the car. Now my youngest son listens to it on my phone every night before bed. He's almost 2 years old. I'm so glad he's going to grow up with this, as well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved as a kid and still love it now

Good help's me sleep and brings back good memories of my childhood. ! ! !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you liked cloudy with a chance of meatballs

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Town Around the Bend?

We adore this book and we listen to is almost nightly.

What about Bill Harley’s performance did you like?

Lively, but not so lively it doesn't put the kids right to sleep.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is silly and fun. Great story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My son really enjoyed it! Different, hilarious

What about Bill Harley’s performance did you like?

The stories were very well read & captured the full attention of my 7 year old son

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Alligators live on cheese!

My two (8 and 6) love this story and it is often called for as a going to sleep audio. Brilliantly engaging.

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