
From the Back of the Bus
Completely True Stories
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Narrated by:
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Bill Harley
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By:
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Bill Harley
About this listen
Listeners also enjoyed...
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Weezie and the Moon Pies
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 44 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Audiences often ask Bill Harley if his stories are true. The answer is both "yes" and "no." While Harley does recall vividly the sights and scents of the lunchroom, he says "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady" is a story about names. Meanwhile, "Weezie" is a folktale many will recognize. It's based on a traditional tale found in many cultures - in Mexico it's called "The Day It Snowed Tortillas."
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The best Bill Harley we've got
- By Josh Flowers on 11-30-03
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Charlie Bumpers vs. the Perfect Little Turkey
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- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
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Charlie is looking forward to the big Thanksgiving gathering at his house this year, but he's having trouble being a polite host to his super-annoying little cousin, Chip. Chip makes everything hard for Charlie; he gets him in trouble, ruins his things, and generally makes a nuisance of himself. On top of that, for homework, Mrs. Burke has assigned Charlie the task of writing what a family is to him. How will Charlie be able to see past his turkey of a cousin to understand the real meaning of family?
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I loved it I really liked the team bumpers
- By Shelley on 03-02-23
By: Bill Harley
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Lunchroom Tales
- A Natural History of the Cafetorium
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 54 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In Lunchroom Tales, Bill Harley and his band - the Troublemakers - return to the Delaware Trails Elementary School where Bill once roamed the halls as a student. They kick off their show with the song "Everyone's a Little Bit Different" - but soon, memories get the best of Bill, and he begins to recount adventures and disasters from his former days of glory (or was it torture?). Meet Mr. Hambleman, the custodian (not janitor!) and Mrs. Nottingham, the terrifying 3rd grade teacher (are teachers human, or are they a different species?), explore super cool places like the back of the bus, and enjoy Harley's engaging recreation - through song and story - of what it feels like to be a kid in school.
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Wonderful listen!
- By Cristine on 08-12-03
By: Bill Harley
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The Teachers' Lounge
- More Completely True Stories and Poems
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 56 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Teachers' Lounge is Bill Harley's newest spoken word recording: a collection of hilarious and dead-on observations about life in elementary school. On this latest recording, two richly detailed and plotted stories of his school experiences ("The Teachers' Lounge" and "The Science Fair") are coupled with three poems.
By: Bill Harley
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Dinosaurs Never Say Please and Other Stories
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 40 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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If you were big and ugly, had a ton of sharp teeth, and a truly enormous appetite, you wouldn't need the "magic word" either! These stories for kids, from acclaimed storytelling songster Bill Harley, center around the theme of being small.
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Mrs Jones 1st grade class loved it!
- By Dan on 04-10-03
By: Bill Harley
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Storytelling: Come on Out and Play
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 55 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether performing his original tales or retelling an old classic, Bill Harley is one of the liveliest acts going in storytelling for kids. You'll hear a story about a little girl named Sarah as well as Harley's take on what might happen if a kid stayed up all night (something he never got to do as a child) and his version of the old English folktale "Fox's Sack."
By: Bill Harley
-
Weezie and the Moon Pies
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Audiences often ask Bill Harley if his stories are true. The answer is both "yes" and "no." While Harley does recall vividly the sights and scents of the lunchroom, he says "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady" is a story about names. Meanwhile, "Weezie" is a folktale many will recognize. It's based on a traditional tale found in many cultures - in Mexico it's called "The Day It Snowed Tortillas."
-
-
The best Bill Harley we've got
- By Josh Flowers on 11-30-03
By: Bill Harley
-
Charlie Bumpers vs. the Perfect Little Turkey
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlie is looking forward to the big Thanksgiving gathering at his house this year, but he's having trouble being a polite host to his super-annoying little cousin, Chip. Chip makes everything hard for Charlie; he gets him in trouble, ruins his things, and generally makes a nuisance of himself. On top of that, for homework, Mrs. Burke has assigned Charlie the task of writing what a family is to him. How will Charlie be able to see past his turkey of a cousin to understand the real meaning of family?
-
-
I loved it I really liked the team bumpers
- By Shelley on 03-02-23
By: Bill Harley
-
Lunchroom Tales
- A Natural History of the Cafetorium
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 54 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Lunchroom Tales, Bill Harley and his band - the Troublemakers - return to the Delaware Trails Elementary School where Bill once roamed the halls as a student. They kick off their show with the song "Everyone's a Little Bit Different" - but soon, memories get the best of Bill, and he begins to recount adventures and disasters from his former days of glory (or was it torture?). Meet Mr. Hambleman, the custodian (not janitor!) and Mrs. Nottingham, the terrifying 3rd grade teacher (are teachers human, or are they a different species?), explore super cool places like the back of the bus, and enjoy Harley's engaging recreation - through song and story - of what it feels like to be a kid in school.
-
-
Wonderful listen!
- By Cristine on 08-12-03
By: Bill Harley
-
The Teachers' Lounge
- More Completely True Stories and Poems
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 56 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Teachers' Lounge is Bill Harley's newest spoken word recording: a collection of hilarious and dead-on observations about life in elementary school. On this latest recording, two richly detailed and plotted stories of his school experiences ("The Teachers' Lounge" and "The Science Fair") are coupled with three poems.
By: Bill Harley
-
Dinosaurs Never Say Please and Other Stories
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you were big and ugly, had a ton of sharp teeth, and a truly enormous appetite, you wouldn't need the "magic word" either! These stories for kids, from acclaimed storytelling songster Bill Harley, center around the theme of being small.
-
-
Mrs Jones 1st grade class loved it!
- By Dan on 04-10-03
By: Bill Harley
-
Storytelling: Come on Out and Play
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether performing his original tales or retelling an old classic, Bill Harley is one of the liveliest acts going in storytelling for kids. You'll hear a story about a little girl named Sarah as well as Harley's take on what might happen if a kid stayed up all night (something he never got to do as a child) and his version of the old English folktale "Fox's Sack."
By: Bill Harley
-
Cool in School
- Tales from the 6th Grade
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Remember 6th grade, where the question, "Are you cool?" takes on cosmic proportions? Acclaimed storyteller Bill Harley revisits the excitement (or was it torture?) in these hilarious true (or at least real!) stories. His wacky tales capture the essence of what it feels like to be a kid, and will delight and engage children and parents alike.
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Bill Harley is like salted peanuts...
- By Native Texan on 07-01-03
By: Bill Harley
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Grownups Are Strange
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
These wacky, but true, stories from growing up are about trying to figure out how the adult world works, and about having fun no matter how old you are. In this collection, Bill Harley, one of the most prolific and celebrated storytellers of our time, performs "Grownups Are Strange" (and, yes, kids are too!).
By: Bill Harley
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The Battle of the Mad Scientists
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A Grammy-nominated recording artist, Bill Harley - songwriter, storyteller, author, playwright - is known as one of the finest family performers in the United States. His unique combination of song and story, silly and serious, has entertained families for 20 years, and led him to be called "the Mark Twain of contemporary children's music" by Entertainment Weekly.
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Bill Harley saves the day!
- By Suzy on 05-01-03
By: Bill Harley
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Charlie Bumpers vs. the Puny Pirates
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Charlie, Tommy, and Hector have high hopes for their soccer team this season until they find out that their new coach isn't all that interested in the fantabulous plays the three friends have worked out together.
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Wonderful Bill Harley
- By kk on 10-31-22
By: Bill Harley
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Charlie Bumpers vs. the Squeaking Skull
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Charlie and Tommy have big plans for Halloween. They hope to get out of taking their little sisters around and go trick-or-treating in Alex's upscale neighborhood instead. There they'll get tons more candy, they'll be on their own, and afterwards they'll get to attend the sleepover at Alex's house. But when Charlie finds out that the entertainment at the party is to consist of the Scariest Horror Movies Ever, he is struck by panic.
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The song
- By Amanda Montoro on 07-03-24
By: Bill Harley
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Blah Blah Blah
- Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates & Dogs
- By: Bill Harley
- Narrated by: Bill Harley
- Length: 1 hr
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Here it is! The recording fans have been asking for! A recording that contains the hilarious and completely captivating tale of Dirty Joe, a pirate who steals socks, and his equally odious sister, Stinky Annie, who steals underwear.
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Fun for kids and adults
- By Tracie on 03-04-07
By: Bill Harley
Critic reviews
"...Harley addresses that undersung rite of passage from the comforting confines of 4th grade (where the teachers are so coddling) to the be-cool-or-get-stomped boot camp that is middle school."(Parent's Choice)
What listeners say about From the Back of the Bus
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Kimberly
- 10-14-04
Clever!
My husband and I really enjoyed listening to this one a lot, the kids are anticipating getting to listen to this one, it's their next surprise. We've loved all the Bill Harley stories that we've gotten so far and he's quickly becoming a household MUST have.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Teresa
- 04-01-13
Made my son afraid to go to middle school
We have listened to and enjoyed Bill Harley's other "books", but this one I really didn't like. It was well performed, but the stories sent the wrong message. Bill Harley describes surviving middle school by pretending to be invisible: Don't stand out, don't draw attention to yourself. He tells a story about a teacher who bullies and gets away with it, and that the school gets the oldest elementary kids ready for middle school by forgetting the kids names and being mean. That in middle school you aren't important to the school, that teachers won't try to remember your name, that you become a number. He tells about being bullied by older kids and that it is normal and no one interferes. Bill Harley does include a Vice-principal that connects with him over bottle cap collections and a bus driver that is kind, but no one helps him when he is bullied or and no one helps him when he feels he has to be invisible.
The only good thing that came out of all of this was a discussion with my son about being himself, standing up for himself and for others and especially: if a teacher ever bullies him that he should tell me and that teacher will get in HUGE trouble. I doubt that last will come up, but he needed to be reassured that teachers aren't bullies and the adults at school will help him when he needs it.
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