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Audiences often ask Bill Harley if his stories are true. The answer is both "yes" and "no." While Harley does recall vividly the sights and scents of the lunchroom, he says "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady" is a story about names. Meanwhile, "Weezie" is a folktale many will recognize. It's based on a traditional tale found in many cultures - in Mexico it's called "The Day It Snowed Tortillas."
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.
If you were big and ugly, had a ton of sharp teeth, and a truly enormous appetite, you wouldn't need the "magic word" either! These stories for kids, from acclaimed storytelling songster Bill Harley, center around the theme of being small.
Here it is! The recording fans have been asking for! A recording that contains the hilarious and completely captivating tale of Dirty Joe, a pirate who steals socks, and his equally odious sister, Stinky Annie, who steals underwear.
The Teachers' Lounge is Bill Harley's newest spoken word recording: a collection of hilarious and dead-on observations about life in elementary school. On this latest recording, two richly detailed and plotted stories of his school experiences ("The Teachers' Lounge" and "The Science Fair") are coupled with three poems.
Charlie, Tommy, and Hector have high hopes for their soccer team this season until they find out that their new coach isn't all that interested in the fantabulous plays the three friends have worked out together.
Audiences often ask Bill Harley if his stories are true. The answer is both "yes" and "no." While Harley does recall vividly the sights and scents of the lunchroom, he says "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady" is a story about names. Meanwhile, "Weezie" is a folktale many will recognize. It's based on a traditional tale found in many cultures - in Mexico it's called "The Day It Snowed Tortillas."
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.
If you were big and ugly, had a ton of sharp teeth, and a truly enormous appetite, you wouldn't need the "magic word" either! These stories for kids, from acclaimed storytelling songster Bill Harley, center around the theme of being small.
Here it is! The recording fans have been asking for! A recording that contains the hilarious and completely captivating tale of Dirty Joe, a pirate who steals socks, and his equally odious sister, Stinky Annie, who steals underwear.
The Teachers' Lounge is Bill Harley's newest spoken word recording: a collection of hilarious and dead-on observations about life in elementary school. On this latest recording, two richly detailed and plotted stories of his school experiences ("The Teachers' Lounge" and "The Science Fair") are coupled with three poems.
Charlie, Tommy, and Hector have high hopes for their soccer team this season until they find out that their new coach isn't all that interested in the fantabulous plays the three friends have worked out together.
In Lunchroom Tales, Bill Harley and his band - the Troublemakers - return to the Delaware Trails Elementary School where Bill once roamed the halls as a student. They kick off their show with the song "Everyone's a Little Bit Different" - but soon, memories get the best of Bill, and he begins to recount adventures and disasters from his former days of glory (or was it torture?). Meet Mr. Hambleman, the custodian (not janitor!) and Mrs. Nottingham, the terrifying 3rd grade teacher (are teachers human, or are they a different species?), explore super cool places like the back of the bus, and enjoy Harley's engaging recreation - through song and story - of what it feels like to be a kid in school.
Charlie Bumpers has his heart set on playing the role of the evil Sorcerer in the fourth grade play. He's even got the laugh down pat: Mwa-ha-ha-ha! But his dreams of villainous stardom go up in smoke when he finds out that Mrs. Burke has cast him as the Nice Gnome! Determined to rectify this terrible injustice, Charlie concocts one plan after another, but nothing seems to work. To make matters worse, his dad has assigned chores to all the kids in the family and Charlie's job is walking Ginger, the diggiest, sniffiest, and poopiest dog in the universe.
It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. Guts, glory, danger, and sacrifice are all in a day's work for Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security. While investigating a murder on the ranch, Hank finds himself the number-one suspect.
Remember 6th grade, where the question, "Are you cool?" takes on cosmic proportions? Acclaimed storyteller Bill Harley revisits the excitement (or was it torture?) in these hilarious true (or at least real!) stories. His wacky tales capture the essence of what it feels like to be a kid, and will delight and engage children and parents alike.
Charlie is looking forward to the big Thanksgiving gathering at his house this year, but he's having trouble being a polite host to his super-annoying little cousin, Chip. Chip makes everything hard for Charlie; he gets him in trouble, ruins his things, and generally makes a nuisance of himself. On top of that, for homework, Mrs. Burke has assigned Charlie the task of writing what a family is to him. How will Charlie be able to see past his turkey of a cousin to understand the real meaning of family?
In this collection, Harley, one of today's most prolific and celebrated kid's performers, explores the troublesome and troublemaking times in our life (particularly between 4th grade and middle school). Hear him sing with his trademark hilarity "In the Back of the Bus" and perform "Bottlecaps" (about the confiscation of his world-class bottlecap collection) and "Mr. Anderson," who was Indiana State Bus Driver of the Year (an honor brought upon mostly because he had eyes in the back of his head).
Before they were the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden lived with their parents on Fair Meadow Farm. Although times are hard, the Aldens are happy - “the best family of all,” Mama likes to say. One day, a blizzard hits the countryside, and a traveling family needs shelter. The Aldens take them in, and the strangers soon become friends. But things never stay the same at the farm, and the spring and summer bring events that will forever change their lives.
Meet Ramona. She lives on Klickitat Street with her mother, father and big sister, Beezus. She’s not afraid of anything and is always up to something. And that’s just the beginning…. In this audio collection, join Ramona, one of Beverly Cleary’s most beloved characters, on all her wacky adventures!
Charlie and Tommy have big plans for Halloween. They hope to get out of taking their little sisters around and go trick-or-treating in Alex's upscale neighborhood instead. There they'll get tons more candy, they'll be on their own, and afterwards they'll get to attend the sleepover at Alex's house. But when Charlie finds out that the entertainment at the party is to consist of the Scariest Horror Movies Ever, he is struck by panic.
The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their 50th anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one commemorative edition.
Henry Huggins’s adventures are finally all in one location! Come join Henry on Kilckitat Street as he gets into hijinks – usually with the help of Ribsy and none other than Ramona Quimby. This collection includes: Henry Huggins, Henry and Beezus, Henry and Ribsy, Henry and the Paper Route, Henry and the Clubhouse, and Ribsy.
These wacky, but true, stories from growing up are about trying to figure out how the adult world works, and about having fun no matter how old you are. In this collection, Bill Harley, one of the most prolific and celebrated storytellers of our time, performs "Grownups Are Strange" (and, yes, kids are too!).
"Harley's audiences are families, but it's hard to tell who enjoys him more - parents or children. His material works at both levels?" (Los Angeles Times)
Bill Harley has an amazing knack for capturing the flavor of childhood and family interactions. I have a few of his albums-- some, like this one, are mostly stories ("Dinosaurs Never Say Please" and "Grownups are Strange" are two others). Others are mostly songs ("There's a Pea on My Plate" and "Big Big World"). Some of the songs are priceless (There's a Pea on My Plate), but overall I like the story albums better. My 8-year-old daughter adores them-- I am occasionally chagrined at some of the lines she picks up to use against me, but they are all G-rated and hilarious enough to make up for it. "The Race Down Mammoth Hill" on this album had me in tears from laughing so hard. Highly reccommended!
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bill Harley's stuff is awesome. It has quickly become my kids' favorite thing for a road trip. (Ages 13, 11 and 9)
Great stories that recount Bill's exploits as a youth, which both young and old can relate to.
My kids fade away and lose interest in the standard "Books On Tape" - that run for five hours. Harley's stuff is broken up into little 15 minute stories, songs, etc., that leave you waiting for the next one.
Now, before every road trip, my kids ask if I've gotten any new Bill Harley for the ride.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bill Harley is a wonderful storyteller, and this collection is my favorite. The stories in this collection are full of humor, suspense, and sweet innocence (in a messy kid kind of way). The storytelling performance could not be better. His use of voice performance techniques - pacing, pitch, pauses, tone, volume, etc. . . are absolutely delightful to the ear.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
No offense....but with a 6 hour car trip I was counting on this recording to keep my 5.5 and 2.5 year olds occupied. It worked. They were very entertained and enjoyed the narrative stories and song! Besides what 5.5 year old boy DOESN'T love a little gross out humor.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My kids LOVED this. Very funny and very good for kids.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My daughters, 9 & 5 at the time, listened to this almost every night for 3 months at bedtime and occasionally on the weekends during the day too. It was good for lots of giggles and there was no fighting at bedtime about "I don't like that" which often occurred before we got "The Battle of the Mad Scientists". My husband and I also like listening to it.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bill Harley has become one of our favorites, we really enjoy having this title and the others that we have. Very clever stories that Mommy and Daddy will like listening to as well as kiddos.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I subsitute teach in seven rural school districts. Battle of the Mad Scientists is one of my "secret weapons" to reward good behavior. Kindergarten through 8th grade LOVE Bill and all of his stories and songs. My own middle-school child has been a Bill Harley fan for years, and his work is our favorite entertainment on long car rides.
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
My kids (5, 8, 10) love his stories and so do I. Very entertaining and has been great on car rides.