Slinky Malinki Paperback – International Edition, 30 July 1992

My son had a reading age of nearly eight when he started school. People asked me how I "taught him to read". Here's the secret. No young child is taught to read. If they love the sounds and images they hear, then they learn to decode what they see. This is one of half a dozen books I read to Peter from the day he was born. He never got bored with it, and neither did I, because it's a brilliant book.It has everything necessary for a good children's read - clever vocabulary, humour, quirky illustrations which aren't vulgar or lazy cartoons, a wicked protagonist, a moral and - best of all- it rhymes. Don't get me started about phonics - reading should be a joy which your child discovers alongside you, not the end result of parrotty lessons from a teacher with a microchip where her imagination should be. Buy this book and have fun!

I've got my son a couple of the other Lynley Dodd books - Hairy MacLary; Scarface Claw - so was pretty sure he would love Slinky Malinki, and he does.It's a rhyming story about a cat who goes around town at night poaching things from other gardens and houses (a bit like our own cat!). My son loves the rhymes, and the story is easy to incorporate noises and actions into, to help kids learn words (you can sniff the smelly sock; beep like the alarm clock; crash like the breaking glass bottles).Really great book for kids around age 2-3.

My son (and let's be honest, me too) absolutely loves this book. It's great rhyming and is good fun, with a message that stealing is not good! Bought it for my 9 month old, he loves to rip the pages, so hardback would be better for this age. I don't think it's designed for this age group though

Bought this for my granddaughter and she loves it Fantastic pictures and fun story

Lynley Dodd books are terrific. They have a great rhythm and rhyme to them - kids just love the characters. They learn the words and in no time will be reciting the story along with you. The author is also not afraid of using descriptive long words, but they are easily understood within the context of the story. I am convinced they helped my daughter be an early reader and now my nephew loves them too. Check them out in the library, but you need your own copy of this one!

Bought these books for my granddaughter. Just love them.

This has to be one of the best story books for a young child. As a parent, it's a joy to read. The flow of rhyme throughout is superb and the storyline is funny and entertaining. Very well written as all Lynley Dodd's books are. Bought this as a present for another child but was unable to find hardback version. Shame really as a small child would want to get their hands on it and therefore the hardback would be more appropriate and would stand teeth marks and sticky mitts!

I love all the Hairy McClary and Slinky Malinki books. The illustrations are lovely and I like the vocabulary used - they are a joy to read aloud! My son and I particularly enjoyed this one, especially when poor old Slinky got tangled up in all his stolen goods. If you like Slinky Malinki I'd strongly recommend getting 'Early Bird', 'Open the Door' and 'Cat Flaps' as well.