Centerburg Tales: More Adventures of Homer Price

More tales of Homer Price and friends! Robert McCloskey's stories are full of humor and keen insight into children's relationships with their families and friends.

I read the Homer Price books as a kid and was happy that my grandchildren enjoyed them as much as I had.

I bought this book for a 8 yo child but enjoyed it myself. It's very witty.

Children and old people are mutually attracted to each other and if it is a small town with a town park they have a ready made meeting place. Stories flow from the oldsters in a steady stream to be devoured and savored by the young listeners, in most cases taken at face value and the veracity of the teller protected deeply. The third story in "Centerburg Tales" is a parody of this idyllic life, the humor broad brush but illustrative of imagination at work in accordance with the times. The machinations of the children at work to protect one of their favorite story tellers is hidden but implied lending to the humor of the story in its own fashion.The first two stories are examples of the tales told by the children's favorite story teller, the first a comical tale of barrel busting Indians (native Americans now) and the construction of a Rube Goldberg like device to satisfy their craving for thrills, spills, and barrel rides. This tale leads to a further depiction of strength which then leads to complications in maintaining a workable tale in having ice break when subjected to loaded wagon weight but no problem when the weight is supported but a man's back but the man is now supported by the formerly frangible ice so that a load can be transported. The explanation is part of the humor.The second story is a showing of life and expecttions in that time period from a humorous level. The final three stories are further life adventures, mostly expectations versus outcomes, the fourth tale being an inheritance from which great expectations are held but outgo exceeds income, the fifth tale shows the townfolk being swindled due to their lack of knowledge of the story of the emperor's new clothes and the final story is just a tale common to everyone's knowledge, a tune is heard somewhere and the hearer can not seem to get it out of his head. The book ends here with the townspeople tired from their exertions caused by the tune and wary that the next time might have a different outcome. All stories are well told and should be enjoyed by all readers, no caveats.

I read these stories in my youth and took the up for my children as well, My seven and six year old son and daughter, love these stories. They are campy and funny just what kids like. Though written in the mid-late 40s. These stories are priceless and for any era. This book is a continuation of tales from McCloskey's Homer Price and a just as well written and campy. McCloskey was an award winning writer of many other fine children's books: Make way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine and Time of Wonder. Check them out with your little ones. They are worth it. I was glad to still see these in print and available.

This is the second book. The first book is Homer Price. My eight year old enjoyed Homer Price and wanted more Homer Price stories. This book is really a small collection of short stories. My son loved it. I’d say they are about a 2nd/3rd grade reading level. My son is in 4th and found the actual reading easy. The words are fairly large and it does have some black line pictures throughout.

I remember reading "Pie and Punch and You-Know-Whats" in grade 5. I couldn't remember where the story came from, so I googled it and got hits for Centerburg Tales and Homer Price. Homer Price and his friend Freddy kept playing the record in the jukebox over and over again because they liked that song so much. I'd do the same thing. Thanks for the memories!

Humerous stories of a young boy and his misadventures. My son loves this book! Great book for encouraging reading.

Nice short stories for emerging readers