Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

 Review

Common Sense Media says

A gratifying, if lightweight, dish.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the rambling text may put off younger readers. This book is more successful as a read-alone, so kids can spend more time pondering the information-rich illustrations and silly story.

What's the story?

Hamburgers fall from the sky, as do scrambled eggs (with a side of toast) and cherry pie--plus, you guessed it, meatballs. When the weather turns nasty, down rains a deluge of stinky gorgonzola, overcooked broccoli, and thick tomato sauce. The lengthy text is often a problem for young listeners, but the humorous story and detailed illustrations may hold their interest.

 


Is it any good?

 

This story is a gratifying, if lightweight, dish of foolishness. Its aim is for laughs -- and it gets them, through sight gags for both kids and adults, humor presented in the deadpan tones of an old-style weather forecast ("Dinner one night consisted of lamb chops, becoming heavy at times, with occasional ketchup"), and the sheer preposterousness of events. Don't look for hidden depths here; the story lives on the surface, and as slapstick it works just fine.

The text rambles at times: Almost half of a class of 6-year-olds was looking out the window as a read-aloud neared its finish, and the librarian was delivering a bright reading at that. "Too long," groaned one child. The illustrations look like something found in a turn-of-the-century magazine, with their hectic line work and wealth of details. It has a bit of science fiction too: Those giant T-bones could easily have come from a spaceship.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about weird weather. What's the strangest weather you've ever experienced?

  • If weather really was food, what foods would you want to have appear?


This review was written by Peter Lewis
Kid, 13 years old
January 10, 2010
 
Good For Anyone
I might be too old for this book, but it always makes me hungry and it is my favorite childhood book.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
September 4, 2009
 
Love it!
Almost a classic and the very best thing for reading to a child when she/he wants a little humor. Also, a perfect book for kids who are just starting to read!!

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Teen, 17 years old
February 26, 2009
 
Food for thought.
This book will leave kids thinking about things. A must read for young kids.

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Kid, 13 years old
September 22, 2009
 
Amazing Book!
This was my mom and my favorite favorite favorite book when I was little. I love it!

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Teen, 16 years old
September 18, 2009
 
I remember being read this book when I was young
and thinking how creatively told it was. Great book for 5+.

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Parent of 5 and 7 year old
October 24, 2010
 
Silly fun!

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Educator
November 21, 2009
 
Sweet Story
A classic story, recently transformed into a 3-D animation by Sony Pictures, this story is quite unique. In the pleasant town of Chewandswallow, the story opens up with Grandpa in black and white, detailed pen sketch illustrations. While the town has been blessed with food raining from the sky to provide the residents of Chewandswallow with great meals, recently terrible things have occured. As each page progresses, the colors draw brighter and the food gets worse and worse, from the Spaghetti tie-up to a pea soup fog, the folks of Chewandswallow don't know what to think of this strange weather. A wall illustrated book and humorous storyline will connect with readers of all ages. As the residents leave Chewandswallow on a piece of dry bread, to a town where they now have to get used to buying food, more like today's world, young readers will wonder for a moment if this story could have been true. A "sweet" tale with a sure mystery as to what the community of Chewandswallow will do with their "sour" predicament.

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Kid, 13 years old
September 21, 2009
 
For Anyone!!
I don't know why this is rated 6+. Anyone can do it. It's my favorite book!! I know I'm old, but I still love it. I saw the movie, and it doesn't do the justice of the book. Read this, and to your kids, tweens, and teens!!

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Teen, 15 years old
September 16, 2009
 
Better than the movie
I read the book online. It starts with a grandfather telling a story, not a mad scientist! But the book is better than the film.

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This review was written by Peter Lewis
Author:Judi Barrett
Illustrator:Ron Barrett
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Humor
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Publication date:January 1, 1978
Number of pages:32
Paperback price:$6.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):4 - 7

This review was written by Peter Lewis
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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