Giant Meatball | Robert Weinstock

Giant Meatball | Robert Weinstock | an honest picture book

books:

Giant Meatball

	Giant Meatball Robert Weinstock Harcourt Children's Books, 2008 - 32 pages average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A merry meatball is rolling a path of destruction through a small town. He rolls over pets, petunias, and the library--where he refuses to shush. When he rolls over the mayor herself, the townspeople know it's time. Time to invite the meatball to dinner. . . Sly humor abounds in this charming, offbeat story that will appeal to anyone who's ever faced a bully--and, of course, to spaghetti fans of all ages.

Fun book

Spoiler:
The ending might be a little scary for some (the townsfolk eats the meatball on the last page with no warning). But, I had read the book before reading it to the kids - so I was prepared. We bought this book and the Violet the Pilot book at the same time. The kids now request them both each night.

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an honest picture book

As a seasoned teacher I like to tell the truth to my students. Many picture books give a gauzy, pretty message, often a lesson in disguise. Giant Meatball tells the story as it is. My kids appreciate that. They laugh every time I read it. I think it's because they know the truth when they hear it. Recommended highly.

We have a Ball reading this book!

My children all love this book. And as a parent who is reuqested to read it many times, I too enjoy this clever, witty and engaging children's book. The illustrations are expressive and capture the energy of the story. This entertaining book is a family favorite in our house.

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wonderful, whimsical book

Our three year old loves this book and so do we! It appeals to children and parents alike, both visually (our daughter loves the oddball, gorgeous, detailed illustrations-- every character seems to have a peculiar item on his head: bones, chickens, cupcakes; we love the strange Prussian architechture the book's "snoozy" town sports) and rhetorically (the book abounds with silly, clever puns, cobblers who want to give the sociopathic meatball the "boot" and so forth. Check out all the hilarious names of the town's stores). The ending, in which the put-upon, patient townspeople finally bail on diplomacy as a means of dealing with the meatball and resort to forks, is the funniest denouement of a children's book I've read in ages, and has our daughter cracking up. This is a truly terrific book. Consider pairing it with another story about dealing with bullies, like "Shrinking Violet."

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Book Review: Giant Meatball

Note to authors: if you're looking for a way to make your upcoming children's book appeal to kids who dig the absurd, make your main character a food. It worked for "Arnie the Doughnut". Honestly - is there a more surefire way to communicate that your story is out to have a good time? In the opinion of this simple librarian, no. "Giant Meatball" is an oddball of a book with a surprise ending that will score points with fans of silly.

The titular Meatball has been keeping to himself for years. He doesn't know where *ahem* "whence" he came from, but he doesn't seem to mind. Content bounding around the countryside, Meatball merrily destroys everything in his path. The townspeople try the polite approach to get him to stop, but when Meatball brings his brand of oblivious havoc-wreaking into the middle of town, they plead with the mayor to put an end to things. After the meeting between Meatball and the mayor doesn't go as planned (see: squashed), the townspeople kick politeness to the curb. They fix up a dinner with an unconventional main dish. One that is usually served in a supporting role. With spaghetti. Hint: it's round.

In other words, the ending has some guts.

The Adobe Illustrator and prismacolor pencil illustrations provide an appropriate element of breeziness to the tale. While it's not perfect (I'm talking about you "shushing librarian" stereotype), "Giant Meatball" will make a jovial addition to your library.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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