Punch in New York (Picture Puffins) - Softcover

Provensen, Alice; Provensen, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140540679 ISBN 13: 9780140540673

Publisher: Puffin, 1996

Synopsis

After Punch is abducted as he arrives in New York City, he needs all his ingenuity to save himself

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

Arriving in New York with his traditional puppets, Professore Tucci-Piccini is robbed of the suitcase containing Punch. The disgusted thief tosses Punch from a skyscraper window, setting him free to pursue his knavery throughout the city: he whacks a man who squeezes into his bus-stop seat, then allies himself with muggers and helps them hijack a limousine by causing a diversion (he sprays a ``naughty word''--''Stupid''--on it). Charmed by Punch's driving (over the rooftops), the oblivious owner, ``Mr. Helmstrump,'' hires him as a chauffeur--a post that Punch fills until he happens on the other puppets, performing in Central Park. Provensen's airy, carefully structured illustrations are a loving tribute to the city (whose reputation sometimes seems almost as notorious as the classic bad-guy puppet's); her irrepressible Punch goes through his paces with appropriately wicked glee. It's an inspired pairing, resulting in an unusual, highly entertaining book with many intriguing details to explore. A sensible ``Note on Punch'' explains that he ``doesn't motivate us to do evil deeds [but] provides us with a harmless outlet for our guilty thoughts.'' (Picture book. 4+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-- At last, Mr. Punch makes his long-overdue arrival in the New World! Stolen before he can even leave Kennedy Airport, the plucky puppet uses his wits, quick feet, and an occasional wallop from his trusty club to steal food, escape muggers, and land a job chauffering Harry Helmstrump, the richest man in the world. In the end, Punch rejoins Judy and the rest of the troupe for Sunday performances in Central Park; weekdays, they all work for Helmstrump--"and they rip him off good." Provensen stresses Punch's historical wickedness heavily in an explanatory note, but tones him down in the story; he's not abusive to his family at all, and the punishment he metes out to others is well deserved. In the large painted illustrations, Provensen combines costumes, cars, and buildings from several eras to create a crowded but clean-lined cityscape in her characteristic antique style. A brief but lively tribute to an old, rough-and-tumble school of theater. --John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0140540679
• ISBN 13: 9780140540673
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32