Uncomplicated parenting in a complex world.

A Favorite Spring Picture Book Review: Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

by Emily on May 21, 2010

It may be spring, but it’s still cool where I live. Yesterday, I found myself wearing my brightest yellow shirt in an attempt to bring a little sunshine in. Today, I’m still pining for warmer days full of gardening, quiet reading in the afternoons, and relishing in the beauty and freshness of the season, so I’m going to share a review of our favorite spring picture book.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, is a garden-licious story about a man who is trying desperately to protect his ”Lettuce! Carrots! Peas! Tomatoes!” from some mischievous, yet rather charming, ”twitch-whiskers.”

When Mr. McGreely is done planting his garden he dreams of the “crisp, fresh veggies” that are growing. He can’t wait to fill his tummy with them. However, during the night three hungry bunnies come, “Tippy, Tippy, Tippy, Pat! Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!”

Mr. McGreely is angry when he sees his “gnawed sprouts” each morning…

“So he hammered and blocked, sawed and stocked,

drilled and filled, and trapped and locked.

And he built a huge, enormous thing

before the deep wet trench

outside the tall wooden wall

behind the small wire fence

all around the vegetable garden.”

Mr. McGreely is sure that he has outsmarted the bunnies this time but they are clever. You’ll have to read the book to find out who wins the battle, man or nature.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! is one of those books that is best read aloud because of its wonderful phrasing. Many of the lines are repeated throughout the book.

The best part, though, is the onomatopoeia. Do you remember learning about onomatopoeia when you where little? In my opinion, they are some of the most fun words. They are the words that sound like the sounds they represent – words like pop, smash, smack, and whoosh.

Reading this book aloud will leave you giggling right along with your children.

I actually first discovered this book in a box of cereal. It was a small, square paperback that was quickly loved to pieces…literally.

Shortly after, we bought it along with its sequel, Tippy, Tippy, Tippy, Hide!. You can learn more about these titles and author Candace Fleming at her website: www.candacefleming.com

Have fun gardening, and when you’re done, don’t forget to take some time to read together in the warm, afternoon sun.

What spring picture books are you enjoying right now? Do you have one that has been loved to pieces?

(top photo source)

Written by Emily Beeson

Emily Beeson studied Child Development at BYU, and then went on to develop three children of her very own. She is passionate about the importance of family and lifelong learning. At her blog, Homespun Light, you'll find hundreds of book reviews of good, clean books, as well as day-to-day ramblings about homeschooling, faith, and crafting.