The Runaway Dinner - Softcover

Ahlberg, Allan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0763638935 ISBN 13: 9780763638931

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

Synopsis

"A wacky, whimsical narrative. . . . More sophisticated in structure than the classic tales and verses that inspired it, this madcap riff is for primary-grade readers — and their clever parents." — Kirkus Reviews

What happens if someone's dinner decides that, well, it doesn't want to be eaten? For a hungry little boy named Banjo and a savory sausage named Melvin, it's a plight that can only result in a breathless escape — and what a chase it is! Off speeds the sturdy sausage — leading fork, knife, and plate, chair and table, a handful of fries with various French names, and three fat little peas — out the door, down the street, and around the park, with poor Banjo taking up the rear. Will the famished boy ever catch them? And what (gulp) happens to Melvin if he does? Allan Ahlberg is in his element with this fast and funny tale, while Bruce Ingman's kid-friendly illustrations add visual comedy to the chase.

About this title

About the Author:

Allan Ahlberg is one of he most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books. He is the author of THE SNAIL HOUSE, illustrated by Gillian Tyler; THE CAT WHO GOT CARRIED AWAY and THE CHILDREN WHO SMELLED A RAT, both illustrated by Katharine McEwen; HALF A PIG, illustrated by his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg; and THE SHOPPING EXPEDITION, illustrated by Andre Amstutz. Allan Ahlberg lives in Bath, England.

Bruce Ingman is the award-winning children's book illlustrator of BOING!, written by Sean Taylor, and the author-illustrator of BAD NEWS! I'M IN CHARGE! Bruce Ingman lives in London.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 3–When Banjo Cannon sits down to dinner, his sausage (named Melvin) jumps off the plate and runs away. The kitchen furniture, cutlery, peas, French fries, carrots, the famished boy, and his parents follow out the door in Gingerbread Man fashion. The chase continues down the street and through a park where a duck eats Paul the pea, two fries sail away in a toy boat, and a picnicking family grabs the fork and knife. Just when Banjo catches up with Melvin, his mom yells, Don't eat that, it's been on the ground! The surreal adventures are relayed in a droll, conversational style with casual asides (Now here's the exciting part, the unbelievable part–though it is all true). Ingman's acrylic illustrations, done in muted tones, combine detailed panoramic scenes and fully fleshed-out characters with pen-and-ink outline sketches. The naive drawings of the stick-legged sausage and his fellow runaways will elicit giggles. This fast-paced yarn is full of kooky charm.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
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About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0763638935
• ISBN 13: 9780763638931
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Ingman Bruce