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  • Charlie Cook's Favorite Book

Charlie Cook's Favorite Book

Illustrator
Axel Scheffler
Publication Date
August 01, 2008
Genre / Grade Band
Fiction /  2nd − 3rd
Language
English
Format
Picture Book
Charlie Cook's Favorite Book

Description

A clever and funny ode to reading and books from the creators of The Gruffalo.

Charlie Cook has a favorite book. It's about a pirate, who also has a favorite book . . . about Goldilocks, who also has a favorite book . . . about a knight, who also has a favorite book. . . . This hilarious pattern continues throughout the story, right to the surprising conclusion.

Told in rollicking rhyme, this tale is sure to please the read-aloud crowd.

 

 

 

Publication date
August 01, 2008
Genre
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780142411384
Lexile Measure
830
Guided Reading Level
L
Publisher
Puffin Books
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review
Another charmer from the duo behind "The Gruffalo", this circular tale begins and ends with young Charlie Cook sitting in a brightly-colored armchair reading his favorite book about a pirate. At each turn of the page, one book effortlessly leads to another. Each new narrative tells just enough of its story to intrigue and not enough to entangle, and the tale always ends with yet another book. Thus, Charlie's favorite book ("Shiver Me Timbers"), for instance, stars a pirate who finds a book in a treasure chest ("Fairy Tales from a Forgotten Island"). The pirate's favorite book features a story about Goldilocks lying in baby bear's bed reading "his" favorite book ("The Bearo Annual"), which includes a story about Sir Percy, who reads a book ("Joust Joking!") to a dragon and so on. The story ends by circling back to a book "about a cozy armchair, / and a boy called Charlie Cook." Scheffler's endpapers cleverly feature all 11 titles cited, plunked on a shelf guarded by bookend knights, and in the final image, Charlie is surrounded by the characters who appear in the previous stories. Preschoolers may find the post-modern touches difficult to grasp, but for older readers, this comical and entertaining book is bound to become a read-aloud favorite. Ages 3-5. "(June)" Copyright 2006 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2 -A boy curls up in a cozy chair to enjoy his favorite book, whereupon readers are whisked away on a trip through different types of literature. The story assumes a -book within a book - format, as a turn of the page takes youngsters inside Charlie -s pirate adventure. Here the layout resembles an open novel, with the title "Shiver Me Timbers" emblazoned across the top. A pirate digs up a treasure chest that contains -you guessed it -a book. Another page turn reveals that it is a collection of fairy tales, as Baby Bear finds Goldilocks in his bed reading his favorite story about a knight and a dragon. This pattern continues until the action returns to Charlie, still in his armchair, now surrounded by all of the characters. The spreads cleverly reflect the featured tales, and the endpapers show all of the volumes lined up on a shelf. Unfortunately, the loosely rhyming text is awkward to read aloud and the transitions often seem forced. Youngsters are ultimately left looking for more substance to accompany Scheffler -s humorous, brightly colored cartoons. For a story that celebrates reading, try Michael Garland -s "Miss Smith -s Incredible Storybook" (Dutton, 2003), which deftly delivers hilarious, quirky tales." -Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC" Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Another charmer from the duo behind The Gruffalo, this circular tale begins and ends with young Charlie Cook sitting in a brightly-colored armchair reading his favorite book about a pirate. At each turn of the page, one book effortlessly leads to another. Each new narrative tells just enough of its story to intrigue and not enough to entangle, and the tale always ends with yet another book. Thus, Charlie's favorite book (Shiver Me Timbers ), for instance, stars a pirate who finds a book in a treasure chest (Fairy Tales from a Forgotten Island ). The pirate's favorite book features a story about Goldilocks lying in baby bear's bed reading his favorite book (The Bearo Annual), which includes a story about Sir Percy, who reads a book (Joust Joking!) to a dragon and so on. The story ends by circling back to a book "about a cozy armchair,/ and a boy called Charlie Cook." Scheffler's endpapers cleverly feature all 11 titles cited, plunked on a shelf guarded by bookend knights, and in the final image, Charlie is surrounded by the characters who appear in the previous stories. Preschoolers may find the post-modern touches difficult to grasp, but for older readers, this comical and entertaining book is bound to become a read-aloud favorite. Ages 3-5. (June)

Copyright 2005 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson served as the UK Children's Laureate from 2011 to 2013 and has written many bestselling and beloved children's books, including The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, and Stick Man. She lives in West Sussex in the south of the UK.


Axel Scheffler's award-winning books include Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, and The Gruffalo. His illustrations have been published in more than 30 countries. He lives in London, England.
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