Customer Reviews
With just a little more effort... 
2008-06-16
Given such a rich subject matter the illustrations should have been more creative. The simplicity and harmony of the original song is lacking on the version provided with the CD so I just play the original version when reading/listening with my son. Doing that also avoids the horrible "but not so little GIRLS AND boys" lyrics revision, at least for pre-readers. There's a typo in the book that annoys me: I believe the words are "Pirate ships would lower their *flags*..." -- in the book it's singular: flag. I personally like the happy ending that the book suggests, though. Summary: my son loves it, and I like it as long as I can listen to the original version of the song while we read.
Puff's Musical Magic is Missing 
2008-06-01
The illustrations by Eric Puybaret are interesting, unique and imaginative and if there could be a separate rating I'd give them 5-Stars.
Peter Yarrow's singing seemed tired, but was tolerable.
What is absolutely unacceptable are the two words that were noticably "inserted" and sound like a skip! The original lyrics, "A Dragon lives forever, but not so little boys", have been revised to, "A Dragon lives forever, but not so little GIRLS AND boys." Gosh, we can't have a song that is only about a little boy? This poorly executed and tacky revision ruined the book and CD.
Beautiful book! 
2008-04-23
My 2 1/2 year old and I are really enjoying this book. I loved the song as a child and was excited to share it with her. I did think there was a story book for Puff but this is just the lyrics with pictures. The song is a sad one and my little girl understands it very well. The thing I like most about this book is that the illustrations show a new child coming to play with Puff and make him happy again. The song just ends with Jackie Paper never returning and Puff being lonely. I love that the pictures leave you on a happier note.
Simply Lovely 2008-04-22
This new illustrated Puff is absolutely lovely. My five year old listens to the song during quiet time in school, so I picked out this book to complement that activity. The CD has a beautiful new version of the old Peter Paul and Mary song as well as three other children's songs, which is a nice addition. My daughter is delighted with it! The illustrations have added to the imaginative journey as she asks complicated questions about Puff's cave and about where Jackie Paper went when he went away. We talked about how sometimes grown-ups lose their imaginations as they get older, but that it doesn't have to happen that way.
Some readers didn't appear to like the suggestion in the illustrations that Jackie brought his daughter back many years later to befriend Puff, but I found it comforting. As a child, I often cried when hearing the song and it stuck with me into adulthood. Sometimes sad endings are inevitable and kids do need to learn to deal with heartbreak, but those things happen naturally enough without us having to evoke it for them. The book has a gentle and bittersweet ending for, although Jackie returns later, Puff still has to endure his lonliness for many years, something my young daughter pointed out! Children are so intuitive.
A beautiful book for every home library. We own thousands of children's books and I do not review every one of them. Only a very few present such an emotional connection worthy of a public review!
Beautiful! 2008-04-21
This book takes the classic story and sets it to wonderfully illustrated pictures. We love it.
Politically Correct Version of Puff 2008-04-20
With Yarrow’s and Lipton’s blessing, Puff, Jackie Paper, and the land of Honalee finally live on the page. The exquisite package includes a cloth case with a tipped-in illustration and an embossed jacket with foil touches, as well as an exclusive CD featuring not only Puff, but several other songs performed by Yarrow, his daughter Bethany, and cellist Rufus Cappadocia.
Hollywood Ending 
2008-04-08
I am of the opinion that one of the things that makes Puff the Magic Dragon a great song is the bittersweet ending. That and Peter, Paul and Mary's three-part harmony. Sadly, this book adds a Hollywood ending by suggesting, through the pictures, that Puff's life of play continues with the next generation. Okay, maybe it does, and maybe some people had it figured that way. Puff is the song we grew up with and Puff is the song we sing to our kids. Duh! But don't go spelling it out!
Beautiful creation.... 
2008-04-05
I chose this item after reading other reviews on it. The illustrations are fabulous! The contents are just that of the song but perfect for "little" viewers. Clever inclusion of the CD in the back of the book for storage. I bought one for a gift and then ordered a second one for myself. After previewing the book and listening to the CD it would have been hard to give it away. I'm so glad to have one around to share with guests.
Singing it makes it wonderful 2008-03-09
I have a 3-year-old, and he absolutely loves this book. I sing it to him, and that makes all the difference (as it really is just the lyrics to the song). Singing it brings the story to life along with the absolutely beautiful pictures. He took it to daycare for show-n-tell one day, and she sang it to his class, and they requested it again - they loved it. The CD has the song, and 1 or 2 more, and then it has just the music of the song, which we sing and dance to as well.
really only a comment 2008-02-19
This is really only a comment rather than a review but I am very happy that the book changes the ending because even now (in my 50s) I can't hear the song without tearing up at the sad ending.
