Playhouse [Paperback]

Robert Munsch (Author), Michael Martchenko (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Best-selling author and illustrator Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko's latest collaboration is a humorous story about a girl named Rene whose many additions to her growing playhouse cause chaos.

Rene loves to play "pretend." After convincing her dad to build her a playhouse, a play barn, and play farm animals, Rene feels something is missing--people! She wants a play mommy and a play daddy to go along with her new playhouse. But Rene's parents don't like the idea, and so she creates cutout-parents from cardboard instead. Her parents cleverly put a stop to Rene's bossiness when a playdaughter takes Rene's place at the dinner table!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly Recommended" (CM Magazine) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Canada's popular storyteller Robert Munsch is the best-selling author of more than 30 books for children, including Love You Forever, Mmm, Cookies!, and most recently, Makeup Mess. He lives in Guelph, Ontario. Michael Martchenko has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch. Recent books for Scholastic include Alligator Baby, Up, Up, Down, and Makeup Mess. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439436907
• ISBN-13: 978-0439436908
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,489,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie's Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A funny story, February 22, 2009

By 

mrgrinch09 (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playhouse (Paperback)

This is a funny book that your children will enjoy. It's as simple as that. The book is meant to entertain your child and encourage them to enjoy reading. There's no life lessons or moral message in this book. It's just what it should be....a funny story.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book but creepy conclusion, December 4, 2003

By 

Maddi Hausmann Sojourner "madhaus" (Silicon Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Playhouse (Paperback)

Robert Munsch is a fantastic childrens' author. His books with illustrator Michael Martchenko are some of the most creative and enjoyable picture books out there. Unfortunately, this one starts well but doesn't succeed like their other joint productions.

In this book, a little girl asks her dad to build her a playhouse, and he does so in grand style. This playhouse looks like a guest cottage. But instead of revelling in her storybook wonderland, the girl gets more and more demanding. Most kids would assume she's going to get a come-uppance for her bratty behavior, but the way it's handled isn't going to make your kids comfortable.

Among the "more, more" things she demands are a play dad and mom for her playhouse. When her parents finally balk at her suggestion, she just makes them herself. Her parents do the same thing back to her. Maybe some kids might find that funny, but I think this is somewhat creepy. Kids don't want to feel they'll be replaced with a similacrum, even if they started it. Classic fairy tales of changelings usually had some sort of resolution; this story ends with a swapping rather than having it lead to the adventure attempting to put things right.

If a child gets a come-uppance in a kids' book, it shouldn't come at the hands of their own parents, and that's probably why this one just doesn't work. There's just too much of a moral to this one, and it's not done with his usual light touch.

Don't buy this one blind. Usually you can rely on Munsch and Martchenko, but this one is one of their rare misses.