Escape of Marvin the Ape (Picture Puffins) [Mass Market Paperback]

Caralyn Buehner (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Picture Puffins

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Marvin the ape slips out of the zoo and finds he likes it on the outside, where he easily blends into city life.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On the lam from the zoo, an ape tours New York City; PW's starred review especially praised the "wry wit" and "kinetic energy" of the illustrations. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- One day `` . . . when the zookeeper wasn't looking, Marvin . . . slipped out.'' The adventuresome ape proceeds to sample the delights of the city, going to the art museum, the movies, and a ball game. In the thickly painted caricatures of New York, Marvin, riding the subway or ordering the jungle fruit platter in a restaurant, is both amusing and surprisingly at home. The humor turns on the fact that big city dwellers rarely look at one another. Children will be in on the joke, which makes them smarter than the police, the zookeeper, and the other people. However, the minimal text does not make the most of the idea. Usually one line placed in the center of a blank page facing the picture, the narrative tends to define the illustration rather than enhance or extend it. These pictures are lively enough to need no definition. In a not unexpected twist to the end, back at the zoo, Helvetica the hippo dashes out when the keeper's head is turned. While Marvin is a sly blend of ape and human, the purple hippo is not as immediately believable, but who knows . . . if she buys a nice flowered dress, she will probably fit right in with the other ladies out for an afternoon of shopping. While not a necessary purchase, this will nevertheless produce a few chuckles. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140565035
• ISBN-13: 978-0140565034
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 9.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The husband-and-wife team behind the best-selling Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Christmas, Caralyn and Mark Buehner are also the creators of the award-winning Fanny's Dream. Upcoming collaborations include an original fairy tale about a lonely princess who decides to become a hairdresser. They live in Utah with their nine children.

You can find more information about Mark and Caralyn's books and upcoming signings by visiting their website at www.buehnerbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A young New Yorker's favorite, January 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Escape of Marvin the Ape (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

My 2 year old daughter loves this book. If we read it once, we read it five times in response to her demand of "Again!" and "Again!" She loves spotting Marvin in some places that are familiar to her, like the subway and the park. But she really loves when Helvetica Hippo dashes out! No matter how many times we read this book, the anticipation of the last page makes her wiggle and giggle until the end.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have., July 17, 2003

By 

D. Schlott (Sound Beach, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Escape of Marvin the Ape (Hardcover)

What a cute tale. An ape that escapes from the zoo takes a little journey through New York City. The illustrations are great. My 10mo. old son seems to enjoy looking at the pictures. I am sure when he gets older this will be a nice beginner book for him to learn to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My ONE year old can't get enough of this book!, November 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Escape of Marvin the Ape (Hardcover)

The short text and the lively illustrations have made this my one year olds favorite. We found it in a used book store and it was the best purchase we've made! He brings it to me at least 5 times a day and we love to play "where's Marvin?" Finding surprises in each picture keeps him entranced....which is hard for a 1 year old! I hope I can find more books like this one.