Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that food is personified, named, and then eaten in this story. If kids have no issue with that, they will find plenty to laugh at in the pandemonium that ensues as a result of the food chase.
Families can talk about how surprised they would be if their food jumped off their plate and ran away. Could that really happen? What would you do if it did? Do you believe the narrator when he says that this story is the "absolute truth, the complete picture"? Kids also might like to talk about the names of the characters in this book, and come up with new ones that they might choose. For starters, Banjo is an unusual name for a little boy.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Patricia Tauzer
THE RUNAWAY DINNER is a cross between the story of the wily Gingerbread Man and "Hey, diddle diddle the cat and the fiddle" -- especially "the dish ran away with the spoon" part. All this silliness, to its great benefit, is cleverly written and illustrated. Kids will get a kick out of Melvin, the sausage, as he streaks across town with his culinary entourage behind him.
Allan Ahlberg, who authored many successful children's stories with his wife Janet, has created a friendly, tongue-in-cheek tone in this story that will make kids want to join in on the fun. And adults will enjoy reading it aloud. The story moves along briskly while the narrator interjects casual comments and questions about how true the story is, what has happened to this character or that, and how mysterious or fun it's all becoming.
The flat acrylic paintings coupled with uncolored, ink-lined drawings are inviting and entertaining too. Illustrated by Bruce Ingman, who won the 1996 Mother Goose award for When Martha's Away, each page looks a lot like a kid's painting and offers plenty to look at, search for, and count. Amid the action, kids will enjoy trying to find the French fries at the baseball diamond, the carrots dancing away in the bag, or the final remaining pea in the tree.
The Runaway Dinner is an unusual book, and a fun, silly read for all ages. Or as the book jacket exclaims: "What a tale! What an adventure! What a menu."
From The Book
Now here's the exciting part,
the unbelievable part -- though it is all true.
One sunny summer's day,
just as Banjo,
with his knife in one hand and his fork in the other,
was leaning forward and smiling happily
at the thought of eating his dinner,
the sausage -- Melvin, his name was --
jumped, yes, jumped, right up off the plate ...
and ran away.
Plot Summary:
An ordinary little kid named Banjo Cannon has a problem with his dinner: the everyday sausage, peas, carrots, and fries come to life, run away with the dishes in pursuit, and lead him on a merry chase through the English streets. Various unexpected adventures ensue until Banjo's parents carry him home to a large helping of plum pudding. And the adventure takes off again.
Related Books:
Other Books by Allan Ahlberg: Other Books Illustrated by Bruce Ingman:
The Jolly Postman series
The Snail House
The Cat Who Got Carried Away
The Children Who Smelled a Rat
When Martha's Away
Bad News! I'm in Charge
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