The Horrendous Hullabaloo (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Margaret Mahy (Author), Patricia MacCarthy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Picture Puffins

In this "treasure of a tale" (School Library Journal), Peregrin the pirate is off to another party, leaving his aunt and parrot at home. Bored to tears, they decide to throw their own horrendous hullabaloo! Soon the whole neighborhood is dancing and feasting on rumblebumpkins. American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW enjoyed both text ("spiced with alliterative amusements") and art ("brilliantly colored batik paintings [that] celebrate... joyful noise") in this larky tale of a young pirate, his aunt and his parrot. Ages 3-8.-- celebrate... joyful noise") in this larky tale of a young pirate, his aunt and his parrot. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The illustrator of Mahy's 17 Kings and 42 Elephants (1987) joins the author for another ebullient story. Peregrine, a pirate, depends on an accommodating aunt who not only keeps his house but pours his rum and pets his parrot. Peregrine goes to parties but never invites his aunt (``You wouldn't enjoy pirate parties...The hullabaloo is horrendous!''). Undeterred, she mixes up a batch of ``rumblebumpkins'' and sends out invitations. Her friends don't come (it's a pirate's house, after all), but the parrots do, which attracts the neighbors; after a grand hullabaloo, his aunt leaves the mess to Peregrine and sails away on his ship with the parrots. The wordplay here is delightfully perky (lots of the words start with ``p''); the subtext, also typical Mahy, is witty, wise, and a bit wicked. McCarthy's batik- style, white-bordered art glows appropriately with the bright colors of the sea and of tropical birds. An entertaining tale, perfect for sharing. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140553223
• ISBN-13: 978-0140553222
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,655,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Mahy lives in New Zealand and is internationally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding children's writers today. She is the author of more than two hundred books for children of all ages, two of which have received England's Carnegie Medal and others of which have garnered numerous citations from the American Library Association. She is also the recipient of An Order of New Zealand, the highest honor a citizen can receive. In 2006 she received the Hans Christian Andersen award for her contributions to international children's literature.