Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! [Hardcover]

Candace Fleming (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2002 | Age Range: 3 and up | Series: Anne Schwartz Books | Lexile Measure: 560L (What's this?)

Tippy, tippy, tippy, Pat!

That's the sound three hungry bunnies make when the sun goes down and the moon comes up and Mr. McGreely's garden smells yum, yum, yummy. While he's dreaming of his mouth-watering carrots, the bunnies are diving over fences and swimming trenches to get the veggies first!

Hammer, hammer, hammer, Saw!

That's the sound Mr. McGreely makes when the sun comes up and the moon goes down and he sees what those twitch-whiskers have done....Nibbled leaves! Empty stalks! Mr. McGreely will build something bigger and better, sure to keep even pesky puff-tails away.

Children will cheer for the bunnies -- or for Mr. McGreely -- as they delight in Candace Fleming's clever sound effects and G. Brian Karas's vibrant, funny illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After years of dreaming of planting a garden, Mr. McGreely finally takes hoe and watering can in hand and makes his dream come true. Unfortunately for him (but luckily for readers), this is not the happily-ever-after part of the story. Late one night, three hungry bunnies appear: "Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat! Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The next morning finds our farmer gnashing his teeth over the gnawed sprouts. So he builds a small wire fence. That night... "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" So Mr. McGreely builds a tall wooden wall. You get the idea. Young readers will hang on every word until they find out, once and for all, who will win the battle of the broccoli.

Packed with repetitive and onomatopoeic phrases, Candace Fleming's tale of man against nature will keep kids giggling--it may even inspire them to chomp on a few carrots themselves! G. Brian Karas's lively illustrations in gouache and pencil are full of visual wit, as the audacious "twitch-whiskers" patiently watch Mr. McGreely at his seemingly futile endeavors. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

This onomatopoeic romp opens calmly, with a hopeful gardener planting a vegetable patch behind his brownstone house. Bright green leaves sprout from the rich soil. " `Yum! Yum! Yummy!' said Mr. McGreeley. `I'll soon fill my tummy with crisp, fresh veggies.' " He doesn't notice a cottontail trio watching expectantly from the garden wall. "And the sun went down. And the moon came up. And / Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat!/ Spring-hurdle,/ Dash! Dash! Dash!/ Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The brazen "twitch-whiskers" hop and dig their way to a fresh-picked salad, and Mr. McGreeley awakens to a row of gnawed stems. Karas (Saving Sweetness), who works in chalky gray pencil with brick-red, kale-green and creamy-yellow gouache, pictures the bunnies waiting patiently as the incensed Mr. McGreeley builds a wire fence, a moat and an enormous cinderblock tower with searchlights. Fleming (Gabriella's Song) demonstrates an ear for language as the suburban farmer battles his furry foes, night after night. The ritual culminates in the "gotcha" finale, in which the rabbits seem defeated, only to burst into view with a vigorous repeat of the title. Fleming and Karas demonstrate great comic timing in this high-spirited tale of one-upmanship. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689831528
• ISBN-13: 978-0689831522
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Rabbits

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kid's don't like veggies?? October 10, 2005

By Tina Bear

Format:Hardcover

This is our sons' favorite book right now!! I read it to their pre-school class one day and had the kids act out the MUNCHA MUNCHA MUNCHA with me. We all loved it! It is an interesting tale with great illustrations. It's a great way to get kids excited about eating vegetables that they might not like to try otherwise. Highly recomended by our 6 year old, and our two four year olds. Awesome!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is our favorite book February 3, 2003

By Cathe Fein Olson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Both my 1 1/2 year old and 4 year old love this book. The love to yell "muncha, muncha, muncha" as the bunnies raid Mr. McGreeley's garden. We laugh as each method he tries becomes more elaborate. The easy words and repetition makes this fun for toddlers too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Three hungry bunnies. May 10, 2002

By MLPlayfair VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

How does Mr. McGreely keep three hungry bunnies away from his garden? Well, in MUNCHA MUNCHA MUNCHA he finds an answer -- or does he? This book is just meant to be read aloud, as the repetitive words become fun sound effects. The colorful illustrations of the three bunnies are consistently drawn throughout, letting you follow them one at a time if you want. It's a short, oversized book. And it's really funny. Kids (recommended for ages 3-7 but you'll have just as much fun as they do) will want to hear it again and again for the sounds. Ham it up!