Kid Tales by Michael Paul Miller Search Amazon for other books by or about Michael Paul Miller. Rating: Reviewed by: John L. Hoh, Jr.

This book is a collection of delightful children's stories. The author's aim is that parents read the stories to their children. Sans pictures, the aim is to propel the child to use his/her imagination. No age range is given for the book, but I know at one time when I read books to my son he wanted to see pictures with my spoken words. And forget about a story book with spares pictures among many words. He wanted to see every detail being said. If the story about Thomas the Tank Engine included Percy, but no picture on the pages had Percy, I would be asked, "Where's Percy?" It does take away from the flow of story-telling. Now my son reads books, even without pictures (he's seven), so I have to think this book has to be age appropriate in some manner. The author does suggest the stories are not likely to be popular with kiddies under age 3.

The stories are rather humorous with a view from a child's eye. The first story, "A Monkey in My Closet," features a boy named Brian who finds his clothes strewn about and his sandwiches eaten. His parents yell at Brian about his uncleanliness and misbehaviors. Well, Brian insists, it's not him but the monkey in his closet. Does it surprise you that the monkey would be hiding when the parents went to look? (I'm not sure this is the creativity I want Matthew to follow. He gets enough ideas on his own.)

Each story a has a "story break" in mid story. A teaching tool perhaps? No, it's an acknowledgment that parents have busy schedules and might be too tired to read a whole story. It is simply a place to stop for the night.

Overall I did enjoy reading the stories. Even Matthew had fun reading them and asking me, "Dad, isn't this funny?"