The Man - Hardcover

Raymond Briggs

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 067987643X ISBN 13: 9780679876434

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1995

Synopsis

The small man who appears one morning in John's bedroom proves to be a rather demanding houseguest

About this title

About the Author:

Raymond Briggs is one of our most respected and beloved artists. Born in Wimbledon in 1934, he studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and went on to produce a treasure trove of work. He has created characters that are now icons for generations of children, including Fungus the Bogeyman, Father Christmas and, of course, the beloved Snowman. He has won many awards over his career including the Kurt Maschler Award, The Children's Book of the Year and the prestigious Kate Greenaway Award for his Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme collection. Raymond lives in Sussex

From Publishers Weekly:

In marked contrast to his wordless The Snowman, Briggs's latest work is chock-full of text, presented as a dialogue between a boy, John, and a muscular, seven-inch-tall man who appears in John's room in the middle of one night. Following orders, the child fashions a tunic out of a sock for the naked fellow, whom John dubs Man. "At last! Dignity regained," exclaims the newly clothed Man, who then announces, "I'm dying for a pee," and proceeds to relieve himself in a glass of paint water. Man then insists on "grub," and has only complaints for the brands of food that John fetches from the kitchen ("Bah! Rubbish! Old maids' tea. Mimsy wee-wee. Always get PG Tips," he says after the boy serves him a drink in a mug decorated with the image of The Snowman). Man's extended visit and incessant demands cause trouble between John and his parents, who are heard but never seen. Busy panel art drolly portrays the contentious rapport between John and Man, but Briggs's dry humor, allusions and liberal use of British colloquialisms may be beyond American youngsters. And though the characters' conversations touch on some worthy issues (self-image, identity, tolerance and diversity), it's a lot for kids to sort out. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 067987643X
• ISBN 13: 9780679876434
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 54
• Illustrator: Raymond Briggs