More Pies! [Paperback]

Robert Munsch serves up more of his offbeat humour in More Pies, the story of a boy with an insatiable appetite. As with many of the bestselling author's picture books, the idea for More Pies! came from a young fan who, in this case, wrote him a "really nice letter" and consequently "got to be a character in this book." The concept is simple but rich in comic potential. Sam wakes up really hungry one morning. His accommodating mother permits him to devour three servings of breakfast, including a salad bowl full of cereal, four milkshakes, four stacks of pancakes, and a fried chicken. But when he demands seven more chickens, she orders him outdoors, exclaiming in the words of many a snacked-out parent, "Nothing more to eat until lunch!"

With the casual aplomb so typical of Munsch's child characters, Sam decides to appease his cravings by taking a bus downtown and entering a pie-eating contest in Vancouver's Stanley Park. Needless to say, he eats his three beefy competitors (a firefighter, a lumberjack, and a construction worker) under the table. But even Sam can get too much of a good thing as he discovers when he returns home to find his mother baking him--you guessed it--more pies.

Another of Munsch's collaborations with the zany illustrator Michael Martchenko, More Pies! offers all the predictable repetition, kid-pleasing exaggeration, and silly sound effects ("Chuka--Chuka--Chuka--CHOMP") that have made this Ontario storyteller a household name. Although the story is not nearly as satisfying as Munsch classics like The Paper Bag Princess or Thomas' Snowsuit, Munsch- hungry youngsters will undoubtedly lap this book up and beg for more. (Ages 3 to 7) --Lisa Alward

PreSchool-Grade 2-Samuel wakes up famished, as Martchenko humorously demonstrates in a colorful, cartoonlike illustration that shows the child's pillow, magazine, and teddy bear with big bites taken out of them. Although his indulgent mom seems willing to feed his enormous appetite, after three bowls of cereal, four milk shakes, four stacks of pancakes, and a fried chicken, she is fed up. Frustrated and "starving," the child jumps on his brother's suggestion that he enter a local pie-eating contest. Of course, he is victorious. Returning home with his prize, he is dismayed to find that his mother has baked him pies for lunch. Munsch's fast-moving plot and deadpan delivery combine with Martchenko's bright hues and outrageous exaggeration to create a typically zany whole. Fans of this author/illustrator team will enjoy their latest collaboration.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"Munsch's parade of bright funny picture books has been a sales phenomenon in children's book publishing . . . And as Munsch books are requested by kids over and over every day in countless homes and schools, at story time and bedtime, the distinctive storyteller's voice will undoubtedly continue to be echoed for years to come by parents, teachers, babysitters and whomever else young kids can get to read to them." (The Halifax Chronicle-Herald) “Fans of this author/illustrator team will enjoy their latest collaboration.” (School Library Journal) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Robert Munsch is Canada's best-selling author. His more than 30 books, including Love You Forever, Alligator Baby and We Share Everything, are beloved by all — children, parents, teachers and booksellers — for their hilarious treatment of real issues.

Michael Martchenko loves to draw. He has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch, including Andrew's Loose Tooth, The Paper Bag Princess and Makeup Mess. Michael lives in Toronto.