Would You Rather... - Hardcover

Burningham, John

4.03

382 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 158717135X ISBN 13: 9781587171352

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2002

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Internationally renowned author-illustrator John Burningham offers this hilarious book of choices for anyone who's ever wanted to do something completely out of the ordinary. In a series of challenges inspired by the childhood game "Top That!," Burningham lets your imagination soar with propositions from the whimsical to the outrageous.

Playful illustrations and childlike humor will tickle readers of all ages, while a familiar refrain lets even the youngest listener participate. Booksellers, teachers, librarians, and storytellers will cheer the return of this read-aloud favorite, first published in 1978.

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Review:

Given the choice, we think most kids would rather read John Burningham's books than taste slug dumplings, jump in nettles, or possibly even dance with a goat. However, in the delightfully silly Would You Rather..., readers are invited to play with these and many other ideas--absurd, gross, or tantalizing. A small mop-topped child lets his imagination run away with such personal challenges as, "Would you rather have supper in a castle, breakfast in a balloon, or tea on the river?" The oversized format is perfect for reading aloud, as long as the reader allows plenty of time for the audience to peruse the award-winning author-illustrator's humorous pictures (in one spread, the protagonist looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here as he is systematically crushed by a snake, swallowed by a fish, eaten by a crocodile, and sat on by a rhinoceros). For TV-weary children who have seen cartoon characters squashed and revived a thousand times, the nightmarish aspects of this reprinted 1978 charmer will not be overly alarming, but the faint of heart may want to look elsewhere for a soothing bedtime story... perhaps Burningham's own Hushabye? (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

About the Author:

John Burningham is the award-winning author-illustrator of many books for children including Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present, Mr. Gumpy's Outing, Cloudland, and Whaddayamean. He lives in England.

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