Gerald McBoing Boing (Little Golden Book)
by Dr. Seuss

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Book Reviews of Gerald McBoing Boing (Little Golden Book)

Book Review: Dr. Seuss's Beautiful Update of "The Ugly Duckling"
Summary: 5 Stars

Emotionally, Gerald is taken through a course of being first puzzled by everyone's reactions to him, then feeling rejected, then ostracized, then wanted, and finally craved like a pop idol.

Gerald is unable to speak. Instead, he can make all kinds of weird noises. His first one is "boing boing." Later he adds "boom!" and "skeek!" and "clang clang clang." These noises create negative reactions in all those around him until he finds his place as a source of sounds for radio shows. He can do a terrific "clop-clop, bang!" (a cowboy on a horse, who shoots his gun).

"Now Gerald is rich, he has friends, he's well fed

'Cause he doesn't speak words, he goes BOING BOING instead!"

As you can see, the rhymes are typical Dr. Seuss.

Children are hyper-sensitive to any differences they notice in themselves, and are inclined to think of these differences as deficiencies rather than as unique and positive aspects of themselves. This story gives you a chance to reinforce the specialness of your child and to celebrate her or his differences, and help him or her to do the same for other children and adults.

All of the most successful children's books mostly operate from the child's perspective. Gerald McBoing Boing is no exception. Your heart will ache for this poor child as his parents are baffled, his doctor stumped, his teacher nonplused, and children avoid him. When Gerald runs away from home, you will feel leaden and heart-sick. Then what a wonderful release you'll feel when the radio station owner hires Gerald, and puts him on the road to stardom and significance.

The design of this book deserves positive comment. Each sound is typeset in a different style, size, and color. They evoke the sound that they portray. Nicely done, indeed!

The drawings are not done by Dr. Seuss, but are adapted from the Academy award winning cartoon movie by Mel Crawford. The style is straight from the Jetsons, and captures the world in 1950 (both in images and colors) in a way that will bring out nostalgia for all of those who remember those golden last years of radio's dominance.

After you have finished enjoying this story with your child, I suggest that you ask your child if she or he is different in any way. Then ask how that difference is an advantage. The answers your child comes up with can be happily agreed to by you, and you'll both take joy in their discovery.

Find the beauty and advantages in differences, wherever you find them!

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