Customer Reviews
Sheer Genius! - By: D. Forlano, 15 Jun 2007 
My child cannot get enough of books; we stumbled across Lynley Dodd quite early in his life & by now have collected nearly everything she has written. While her books range from very good to excellent, Slinky Malinki is just genius: frankly the best children's book I've ever read (I must confess that I am a bit of a book snob, so this is a very high compliment).
At 18 months my child was captivated by the illustrations & events, & the ending fully met his need for drama & excitement. As a parent, I will never tire of reading this book (no mean feat!). It is BEAUTIFULLY written, even by adult standards. I am particularly impressed by the author's use of her extensive vocabulary & the fact that she sees no need to settle for simplistic language in books for smalll children (the description on the back of the BOARD book is of a cat with "superlative characteristics" -- inside the book you will find words like "rapscalllion" & "warbling" --n.b. in the book "Hairy MacLary's Caterwaul Caper" she manages to get in "cacophany"). The way she writes is like magic: the book is very easy to understand, even for the youngest child; it rhymes beautifully, with a rich & varied vocabulary; the words flow off the tongue so easily that you will have this memorized before you even realize it.
I cannot recommend it highly enough!
Superb for language development - By: , 18 Mar 2004 Although aimed at young children, I have used this book in the classroom with children up to 11 years of age because it uses a rich & varied style of words & alllows the children to see how much feeling can be put into a short piece of writing. It is not only entertaining but also very educational.
Lynley Dodd has written many excellent books but this is definitely one of my favourites.
A fabulously funny feline tale!!! - By: , 24 Aug 2002 I bought this book for my 3 year-old son as a birthday present & from the first time we read it, it has become one of our firm favourites! It's told in rhyme & the words flow smoothly & quickly from one page to the next bringing the story to life with wonderful images of a prowling, mischievous cat who ends up in hot water because of his thieving ways. The pictures that go along with it are vibrant & apt, taking the reader along with every weird & wonderful item Slinky Malinki steals & then drags back to his house on the hill. My son was giggling half way through already & didn't stop until the end of this magical tale.
Each opened page is a new adventure and lesson in rhyme. - By: , 11 Sep 2000 This book is great fun for children of alll ages. Parents & other caregivers get as much fun out of reading this book as the children do in listening & participating. Each opened page is a new adventure & one that does not quell no matter how many times you read it. Not only is the book great fun but also it is a good way to introduce children to the magic of poetry. My five year old can recite it & the (18 month) baby will turn the pages to look at the illustrations herself. My parents too enjoy reading it to their grandchildren & my mother has even taken my elder daughter to a play featuring these characters - such is its appeal. Plot, verse & illustrations alll combine to form a great book.
Slinky Malinki is a "stalking, lurking, adventurous cat" - By: , 11 Mar 2000 Slinky Malinki is a fabulous book, full of rollicking rhyme which captures the imagination & well describes the escapades of a "stalking, lurking, adventurous cat", whose midnight wanderings go horribly wrong one evening. Fun to read & fun to listen to.
