Ding Dong, Ding Dong [Hardcover]

Margie Palatini (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Despite repeated difficulties, a large ape tries various approaches to selling Ape-On Cosmetics and his persistence pays off in an unexpected way.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this exercise in absurdity, Palatini and Fine (Piggie Pie; Zoom Broom) imagine the unlikely combination of a movie monster and a frustrated freelance salesman. The cryptic title, which rhymes with "King Kong" and mimes an insistently ringing doorbell, primes readers for a whopper of a pun: an oversize gorilla who sells "Ape-On" cosmetics. "It's a jungle out there!" moans the huge and hairy protagonist. Although he dresses to impress in khakis, a white shirt and a red bow tie, he cannot "get his foot in the door" (frankly, even his toes are too big). Taking his sample case in hand, he leaves the tropical forest forAwhere else?ANew York City. After putting blush and lipstick on the Statue of Liberty, he scales the Empire State Building to hawk his wares from window to window. Palatini has a ball with product names; her sales-gorilla recommends Da-Vine perfume and Monkey See, Monkey Dew lotion. In dexterous pastel spreads, Fine presents the gorilla as hulking but congenial to all, with inky black fur that offsets the golden-pink and brick-red facades of city buildings. Never does the gentle hero abandon his chummy ad-man persona, and his schmoozy nature pays off in the predictable conclusion, which finds him in Hollywood. Provided that young readers have heard of Kong and pesky door-to-door salespeople, this wordplayful tale offers corny jokes galore. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3 The pair who dreamed up Piggie Pie (Clarion, 1995) are back with a pun-filled adventure involving an oversized, hapless ape trying to find his niche in the world. The Big Guy can't seem to get a break as a door-to-door salesbeast for Ape-On Cosmetics. Moving to the Big Apple is a step in the right direction. Adults will get the humor more than kids Ape-On is a takeoff of Avon, the training manual is reminiscent of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and the ape is shown demonstrating his wares on a mascara-ed Statue of Liberty. Yet, youngsters should have no problem identifying him with King Kong. The puns tend to wear a tad thin, but the creative use of typesetting goes along with the humorous, right-on illustrations to keep the story moving, maintaining a larger-than-life feel. All in all, it's hard not to like this gigantic, bespectacled, dweebish primate. Readers and storytime attendees will cheer when he finally finds his place in life on a Hollywood set, no less. Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1ST edition (August 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786823674
• ISBN-13: 978-0786823673
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,920,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wow. My very first picture book -- PIGGIE PIE!, is celebrating
it's fifteenth anniversary this year! It tickles me to know that
'Gritch' is still giving giggles.
Visit her and my other characters on my website: www.margiepalatini.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfectly planned picture book of puns and parody!, October 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ding Dong, Ding Dong (Hardcover)

Our two fourth classes were lucky enough to have our principal read Ding Dong Ding Dong aloud to us. We found the book to be very entertaining and inspiring to us as future authors. Margie Palatini's writing style has become a favorite of ours since Piggie Pie and Zoom Broom. In fact, we feel this is her best book yet! Our class would recommend this book to children and adults of all ages!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about a ape selling makeup but then he gets a new job., October 7, 1999

By 

Louise Ho ([e-mail]) (New Jersey, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ding Dong, Ding Dong (Hardcover)

I think it is extremely funny and is great book for all ages.It even has some jokes for adults.The author always makes it a big laugh.I hope you will read it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun-to-read book for children and adults., September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ding Dong, Ding Dong (Hardcover)

Ding Dong Ding Dong is a very funny book. We like the way Margie Palatini put lots of jokes in the book using plays on words and puns. She also uses lots of alliteration to make it a fun book to read and listen to. Howard Fine's illustrations are terrific. We especially liked the part when the ape climbed the Empire State Building. We won't tell what happened next, but we loved it! Our class recommends this book to children and adults of all ages.