Spinky Sulks (Sunburst Book)

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Summary: Spinky Sulks
Review: "Spinky Sulks" is hilarious! William Steig has caught the exact feelings of every child at some point in their life. It is a great story that I enjoy reading to my five year old daughter over and over. Appealing to adults and to kids.

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Summary: Not Impressed
Review: A friend of mine bought this book and wanted to read it to my son. I read the book first and my initial impression was negative. However, I let my friend go ahead and read it. My son liked it, but he also enthusiasticaly took on the 'Spinky' attitude and began to sulk after the slightest rebuke from anyone. Spinky is negative, selfcentered, and unforgiving. He pessimistically finds ulterior motives for others acts of kindness toward him. His last minute realisation that the folks aren't all bad, at least they're trying, so I guess I'll forgive them afterall, doesn't negate his negative character that is built up in the first three quarters of the book. Kids will pick up on his basic character, not his one act of forgiveness at the end.

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Summary: One Bad Attitude
Review: I am 36 years old and noticed this book, by the author of SHREK, on the shelf at the public library and checked it out for my daughter. I was expecting a good book, but this one just plain blew me away. It's funny, poignant, and has a couple lessons in it that every parent (maybe even every *person*) should keep in mind, about the difference between a sincere apology and an insincere one, and about how carrying a grudge forever is self-defeating.

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Summary: Maybe the best kids' book I've ever read
Review: I am 36 years old and noticed this book, by the author of SHREK, on the shelf at the public library and checked it out for my daughter. I was expecting a good book, but this one just plain blew me away. It's funny, poignant, and has a couple lessons in it that every parent (maybe even every *person*) should keep in mind, about the difference between a sincere apology and an insincere one, and about how carrying a grudge forever is self-defeating.

Rating:
Summary: One Bad Attitude
Review: This story is about a boy named Spinky and his bad attitude. Every time his family did something he didn't like he would start to sulk and climb into his hammock. His family tries everything to cheer him up. His sister even picks daisies for him but he just throws them on the ground. I think people can really relate to this book. This book is very interesting to read. I like this book a lot.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother with this one.
Review: We threw this book right out. William Steig is very disappointing this time around.
Spinky is a spoilt, undisciplined, overly-sensitive brat. His parents are extremely indulgent and coddle him endlessly. They permit and encourage this sort of tantrum-ish behavior. This book is so pop-psych that it's sickening. Instead of disciplining him and/or simply telling him to get over it, they spoil him endlessly. The story really is quite stupid. My children were not impressed either.
This book encourages this sort of self-centred nonsense that has become all too common in this day and age. I mean, come on, what responsible parent is going to allow their young child to sleep outdoors in the pouring rain overnight? Don't get this one. Even though we will not be using our copy, I don't even plan to give it to anyone, or to recycle it. It's going straight in the trash.
His other books are better. Particularly, Brave Irene and Doctor De Soto.