I must have had my dad read these stories a million times at bed time. I remember always bugging him to read one more story. It has been so many years since then and I can't wait to read them to my own children, although i don't think I can do the voices quit so well. The illustrations in the hardcover edition were beautiful and i would spend so much time pretending with my little sister that we lived in rootabaga country. It will be a pleasure to reread all the stories of my childhood. When i would pick rootabaga stories at bedtime even over everybodies all time favorite Winnie-the-pooh.

Carl Sandburg, winner of Pulitzer Prizes both for his biography of Abraham Lincoln and for his COMPLETE POEMS, explores another genre in ROOTABAGA STORIES, fairy tales that he wrote for his daughters. When asked how he wrote the stories, Sandburg replied, "The children asked questions, and I answered them."

The ROOTABAGA STORIES are unconventional in almost every way. Unlike traditional fairy tales, they have no perfect princesses and evil witches. They are American fairy tales with a rural flavor and, in fact, they have no evil characters. The settings, though fanciful, include images that defined America in the 1920s, when the stories were published: the railroad, which "ran across the prairie, to the mountains, to the sea," and the skyscraper.

In Rootabaga Country the railroad tracks go from straight to zigzag, the pigs wear bibs (some checked, some striped, some polka-dotted), and the biggest city is the Village of Liver-and-Onions. Characters in this fanciful world are equally peculiar: Please Gimme, Blixie Blimber, Eeta Peeca Pie, and dozens of others. Children and literary critics alike would be hard-pressed to explain (even symbolically) the events that occur in the stories. Nevertheless, meaning comes through and truth is revealed. For example, in "Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses and Secret Ambitions," ambition is defined as "a little creeper that creeps and creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, 'Come and find me, come and find me.'" Who would expect that "The Two Skyscrapers Who Decided to Have a Child" would have an absolutely poignant ending?

Although the events of the stories may not be explainable, the stories are replete with concrete images. Sandburg provides both visual and auditory description with musical, repetitious phrases and novel juxtaposition of words ("a daughter who is a dancing shaft of light on the ax handles of morning"). Occasionally he invents words, such as "pfisty-pfoost," the sound of the train's steam engine, and "bickerjiggers," the buttons on an accordion.

ROOTABAGA STORIES are wonderful for reading aloud. They provide an opportunity for readers and listeners to delight in language and revel in truths revealed in a fanciful world.

Sometimes it is late and you want to read your child something short so you naturally will reach for this book - where most of the stories are 4 pages or less and they are not really connected - the problem is: you can seldom stop at one and if you are not careful you will read the whole book! My 10 year old is just as mesmerized by Sandberg's words as my 8 year old was 2 years ago, mostly because Sandberg's choice of words and fantastic plots and settings are continually unexpected and surprising. I'm mesmerized too, but I won't reveal my age.

This is a wonderful book! Bill Harley is a great storyteller. My 6 year old son loves this story and even though I have read it over and over, I still enjoy it. It's lots of fun to read out loud. It makes us realize that we all have stories to tell.

This is one of the most imaginative books I've ever read. Bill Harley is a master story teller. I thouroughly enjoyed squeezing down the anthill with Sarah. I think this book is a great addition to anyone's library.

This is a really excellent book to read to your children. It is written with a lot of imagination but the pictures really bring the story to life!

We borrowed this audio tape from our local library during a family vacation. The entire family enjoyed it so much that we could all recite the entire tape by heart. Bill Harley's stories are just plain fun and he really captures the emotions and anxieties of childhood. The songs on this tape are a real treat. Bill Harley is really having fun telling these stories and it comes through very clearly.

Bill Harley is a great lyricist. This cassette and his 'There's a pea on my plate' are favorites of my 5 amd 3 year old. 'It's Moving Day' is a very touching song and 'Put your helmet on' is a great message delivered in a fun song.

Bill Harley's Bear's All-Night Party is a children's book about the optimistic Bear who wants to throw a big celebration, despite the pessimism of the many other animals, who claim that "no one will come." It doesn't take long for Bear's dance, music, and song to catch on in this extravagantly illustrated modern fable about the importance of enjoying the moment. A lovely, lively picturebook superbly enhanced with Mellisa Ferreira's artwork.

I had loads of fun reading this wonderful BOOK!

This storyteller/singer/commedian is terrific. You'll laugh your head off when you hear his material. Hilariously funny!

This book is put to good use in my Kindergarten classroom. All of the characters are adorable and the children love to hear me read the story out loud. I have created a super lesson where I have the children act out the story wearing costumes that I created resembling each animal. What a wonderful way to learn about sequencing. This offers me a great way to kick off our learning about how to use ordinal numbers.

This is a great read-aloud book, with a fun rhythm to it. I am an elementary school librarian and took this book to school to read to my first and second graders. They had a great time joining in on the "refrain" each time. I wasn't sure how it would go with my older kids, but even the fifth graders got into guessing what animal would come next. Many of my students understand very little English, but they were all enthralled by this book and joined right in. I have long been a fan of Bill Harley's storytelling, and this story coupled with Kitty Harvill's eye-catching pictures is one my favorites! I will be recommending it to fellow librarians in my school district. As a side note, this would be great to use in conjunction with Jan Brett's "The Mitten."

This is so well done, and it appeals to our 17 month old Grandchild who picks it up and giggles outrageously! The animals are those which any child can relate to, and the counting lesson is slipped in as an after thought. Learning couldn't be more fun.

It is a funny, entertaining story. Our entire family enjoyed all of Bill Harley's tapes. This story is to capture a moment of our childhood. Bill Harley really can tell a story.

Although this is a good story for kids to read I found it hard to read to my son or for him to read it to me and having to say "stupid" and "dumb" - 2 words that are repeatedly used in this book. Instead of stupid, author could have used the word silly. I know children will eventually use these words but why make them part of their reading material???

This is a wonderful story, depicting a child's discovery that staying up all night isn't as exciting as one might think. Having been taunted by his older brother, Jack finds the courage to stay awake and explore his house in the dark alone at night. Jack soon learns that there are no parties or special fanfare occuring in his home after he goes to sleep. Nothing Happened was written by Bill Harley, a family favorite in our household. Bill Harley is one adult who hasn't let go of the magical curiosity of childhood - and this ability shines through his storytelling, songs and books.

"Swiftdeer's" real name is Harley Reagan, a blond white guy who sometimes impersonates being Cherokee and sometimes impersonates being Mayan. And some are dumb enough to fall for it. Some are also apparently dumb enough to believe that Eastern Mysticism is the same as Native American, that sex orgies are part of Cherokee beliefs, and that being a gun toting survivalist, pimp, and pervert extraordinaire are compatible with being an Indian medicine man...Some gullible New Agers and shame-on wannabes will still undoubtedly be dumb enough to throw their time, money, and even their lives away on this fraud, just like...Porsche Lynn did.