Book Details
Written by
Illustrated by
Genre
More details
See more book reviews

A Chocolate Moose for Dinner (by Fred Gwynne)

common sense media says

Fun read puts silly language in the spotlight.

parents & educators say
See 1 review | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, when it comes to content, they can rest easy reading this lighthearted book to their kids. The visual interpretations are comic enough to keep 4- to 8-year-olds entertained and also offer a lively commentary on the capricious side of the English language.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on A Chocolate Moose for Dinner

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the meaning and origins of silly-sounding words and phrases like "chocolate mousse" (which, of course, sounds just like "chocolate moose") and "guerrilla war" (which sounds like "gorilla war"). Parents can also explain that these words and phrases are called homonyms and idioms, and can talk about the differences between the two concepts. Are there any homonyms you can think of that aren't mentioned in the book? What about idioms?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The most successful of Fred Gwynne's several collections of confusing expressions, homonyms, and idioms can lead to some interesting discussions about the curiosities of language. Gwynne draws with a literal goofiness that makes the comparisons good and funny.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This is one of the more successful of author Fred Gwynne's books on homonyms and idioms because the selections are not so obvious. Shoe tree, for example, is a silly concoction, and so is the expression on the lam, which deserves to be pictured as a gent riding on the back of a baby sheep. But while the former is self-evident, the latter will have you scurrying to the dictionary to check up on word origins.

The only stumbler? "Mom says her favorite painter is Dolly." Depending on which part of the country you're from, that one may take some time to decipher. Then try explaining surrealism to a 4-year-old. "But why does the clock melt?" one wanted to know. Your serve.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Fred Gwynne
Illustrator: Fred Gwynne
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: January 1, 2000
Number of pages: 48
Paperback price: $6.99
This review was written by Peter Lewis
 
 

Review It

 

Review A Chocolate Moose for Dinner

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

ROCHA
kid, 11 years old
2
 
RO
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you read A Chocolate Moose for Dinner?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already read it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more books
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines