Five Minutes' Peace [Paperback]

Jill Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 5, 1999 | Age Range: 2 - 6 years | Series: Picture Books

All Mrs. Large wants is five minutes' peace from her energetic children, but chaos follows her all the way from the kitchen to the bath and back again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mrs. Large just wants five minutes' peace from her three rambunctious elephant children, that's all. But what meets her eyes one morning when she enters the kitchen? "The children were having breakfast. This was not a pleasant sight." Pure understatement for a mealtime mess that includes an overturned cereal box, a dripping jar of honey, crushed soft-boiled eggs and on the littlest one, the wearing of a once-full bowl of corn flakes. So Mrs. Large lumbers off to the bathroom, tea on tray, newspapers in bathrobe pocket. But her bubble bath isn't soothing for long; she's soon joined by three visitors. Lester wants to play a tune for her on the flute. "Must you?" Mrs. Large asks. Laura wishes to read out loud. "Just one page," says Mrs. Large. The toddler offersand he will not be refusedall his bathtoys. Then they hop into the tub. Mrs. Large heads for the kitchen and finds exactly three minutes and 45 seconds of peace. This book is pure joy, one that parents, not just children, will want to keep on hand; Murphy's frazzled mom will find a soft spot in every reader.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 Mrs. Large determines to have just five minutes' peace from the mess and confusion of her beloved children. She fixes herself a tray, runs a tub of lovely warm water, fills it with bubble bath, and hopes for those precious moments alone before facing the day's activities. The ``activities'' follow her to the bathroom, where, one by one, they present her with their special talents of playing the recorder, reading aloud, and dumping favorite toys from the toy box into the tub with her. When all three children climb in, Mrs. Large decides, with a groan and resignation, that she will try for five minutes' peace in the kitchen. Cheerfully bright watercolor illustrations depict this endearing elephant family with distinctive humor and expression, totally complementing the text on companion pages. However, while the text is simplistic enough for primary readers, the humorous depiction of a beleaguered mother is adult-oriented. Some children may wonder why Mrs. Large wants to get away from her children. Nevertheless, a hearty chuckle can be experienced during a shared reading time between a mother and her childrenperhaps eliciting a bit of understanding. Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, Ohio
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 - 6 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (April 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698117875
• ISBN-13: 978-0698117877
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 9.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Elephants

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Have you ever just wanted some quiet, alone time? June 18, 2004

By ...Loggie...

Format:Paperback

All mothers will easily be able to relate to Mrs. Large. Mrs. Large just wants five minutes of peace away from her three children, so she decides to take a bath. Minutes later her children join her, one by one, and end up in the bathtub with her. Finally she has had enough, and goes downstairs "where she had three minutes and forty-five seconds of peace before they all came to join her."

Mrs. Large and her family are all elephants, which causes for some absolutely wonderful drawings. My favorite is probably when she is sitting in the bathtub, sipping tea, while wearing a yellow flowered shower cap. The pictures in general are really cute, colorful and expressive. The story is told in a very straightforward, endearing manner. In my opinion, this is a great book.

Loggie-log-log-log

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious "Mom-tries-to-get-peace-from-kids" tale May 16, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Perfect Paperback

Has a plot that EVERY mother will know all too well. Mrs. Elephant futilely tries to relax in the bath; this is impossible with her three active kids. Illustrations are colorful and funny, so is the story. Great gift for ages 3-5 years; older siblings will enjoy listening to it as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Empathy for Moms May 24, 2007

By Manhattan Mom of Twins

Format:Paperback

After ranting on the phone to a friend about my life with twin toddlers, she sent this book to me as a gift. What a gift! It was a huge hit for the whole family! It made me laugh because it captured my exasperation with mothering toddlers in an honest and humorous way. My girls loved Jill Murphy's amusing illustrations and the funny chaos that the Large kids create. And most importantly, they were able to empathize with Mrs. Large. Woo hoo! It gave us the perfect set up to teach our kids that parents need breaks too (and that even a shortened break of 3 minutes and 45 seconds is a welcome respite to refuel the zapped energy!)