Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe Book & Cassette [Audiobook] [Paperback]

Tim Egan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Hodges the elephant runs a cafe with the help of a crazy duck. One night, despite the sign outside that reads No Tigers, Please, three menacing tigers walk in - and they're hungry!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Egan's quirky debut relies on a cautious balance of understatement and zaniness. At first glance, the muted autumnal palette, sleepy small-town setting and quaintly garbed animals radiate cordiality. "Hodges is considered by many to be the finest pastry chef in the city," remarks an unseen narrator. But then comes the twist: "Too bad his duck is so crazy." In the next spread Hodges, a mild-mannered elephant, scowls slightly as a white duck tosses a scoop of ice cream on the floor "just to watch it smoosh." The back-talking duck's behavior worsens when a trio of snappily dressed, mobster-like tigers-disregarding Hodges's "No Tigers Please" sign-stalk in and threaten to order "Elephant Schnitzel" or even "Sauteed Duck in an orange glaze." A food fight ensues, with Hodges, his duck and the uninvited patrons reaching an understanding over a well-aimed, tasty chocolate souffle. Later, Hodges quietly removes the "No Tigers" sign. Egan's characters communicate in small gestures, from raised eyebrows to squinted eyes, that effectively complement the wry narration. And although readers may need help with some words here-"raspberry torte," for instance-such highfalutin terms, pronounced in the hardboiled voice Egan's story requires, sound just ridiculous enough to inspire giddiness. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3-6. Hodges the elephant's caf{‚}e is renowned for its tasty pastries, but the "no tigers, please" policy is challenged one evening when three tigers enter the caf{‚}e and request elephant schnitzel and pigs benedict. Hodges' pet duck uses his glib tongue to start a rumpus. But when a food fight ensues, and the tigers are revealed to be sophisticated gourmands, Hodges quietly reverses the "no tigers" policy. Muted colors and soft watercolor-and-ink illustrations and an understated text play counterpoint to the slapstick plot action. For instance, the text accompanying a double-page spread in which the food fight reduces the caf{‚}e to chaos reads, "Things got a little out of control." Whether taken as a cautionary tale on xenophobia or as the story of a zany pie fight, Egan's book is an appealing offering. Linda Ward Callaghan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Pap/Cas edition (April 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395857570
• ISBN-13: 978-0395857571
• Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,097,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tim Egan is the author and illustrator of several offbeat and humorous tales for children. Born in New Jersey, Tim moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He still lives in southern California with his wife, Ann, and their two sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A reader in Toccoa, GA, March 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe (Hardcover)

A very offbeat and funny little story. My girls (ages 5 & 3) thought it was a hoot - as did their parents. Defintely a book we'll be reading again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favorite children's book!, October 2, 2003

By 

Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books) (Paperback)

I just picked it up today to read it to my twins and while they're entertained by me reading it, I totally love reading it to them! This is a beautifully illustrated book with a cute story ~~ we all should accept one another even if we are different.

Hodges' duck is annoying but one Friday night, when three Tigers came in, the duck counter them with his own challenge after every insult that the Tigers give out. Then a food fight melee breaks out ~~ and that is when the Tigers realized that hey, food doesn't have to be pigs or elephants or even ducks! Hodges' cooking and his duck save the day.

It is a very entertaining book and very cute. It is going to be a definite bedtime story for these guys from now on!

10-2-03

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, October 6, 2010

By 

Erika K. Mccombs "English Grad Student" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books) (Paperback)

Tom Eagan might just be my favorite children's author currently writing. I love this book; I adore his Dodsworth series; I am looking forward to good things coming from him in the future.