The Ravenous Beast - Softcover

Niamh Sharkey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1406323934 ISBN 13: 9781406323931

Publisher: Walker Books, 2009

Synopsis

A fantastic picture book feast - brought to life with an animated DVD! The ravenous beast is hungry, hungry, hungry. But is he the hungriest animal of all? "Nonsense smonsense," scoff the other animals, and "Hokum Pokum!" But they want to watch out or the ravenous beast might just gobble 'em up and swallow 'em down! Walker Books have collaborated with King Rollo Films to create this gently animated DVD packaged together with the classic picture book. Read by Kevin Whately (Inspector Morse, Peak Practice), with specially composed music, this is an innovative combination that will delight and entertain young viewers again and again.

About this title

About the Author:

Niamh Sharkey won the Bisto Book of the Year Award and the Mother Goose Award for Illustration in 1999 for Tales of Wisdom and Wonder, written by Hugh Lupton. She is also the creator of the picture books Santasaurus and I'm a Happy Hugglewug. The Times Educational Supplement described her as "one of the most exciting new artists published in Britain today". Niamh lives in Dublin with her family.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2-The Ravenous Beast, an orange-and-blue creature resembling a dinosaur, claims to be "the hungriest animal of all." Seven others, ranging in size from a tiny white mouse to a huge whale, challenge the statement by demonstrating their eating prowess. They consume many items, including a boat, a trampoline, and a bus. As each animal finishes its unlikely meal, the Beast eyes the competitors, then settles the question by eating them all. Versions of "The Fat Cat" by Jack Kent (Parent's Magazine, 1971; o.p.) and Margaret Read MacDonald (August House, 2001), and Lensey Namioka's The Hungriest Boy in the World (Holiday, 2001) also feature inveterate eaters but end with the thwarting of the hungry protagonist. The last spread of Sharkey's book shows that the hillside has been cleared of everything but the Beast. However, the cartoon style of the illustrations and the absurdity of the animals' claims plant the narrative firmly in fantasy and help alleviate potential fears. The oversized pages and hand lettering add to the effectiveness of the design and will facilitate group sharing. Repetitive aspects of the tale, such as the boast "Now THAT's what I call hungry," add to the read-aloud potential. Children will eat this up.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1406323934
• ISBN 13: 9781406323931
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32