A Porcupine Named Fluffy [Hardcover]

Helen Lester (Author), Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A porcupine named Fluffy is happier with his name after he meets a similarly misnamed rhinoceros.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Should Mr. and Mrs. Porcupine name their baby Lance? Needleroozer? Quillian? Perhaps they should, but they don't. Instead they decide on the unlikely name of Fluffy. Fluffy's name is a source of sorrow to the sharp-quilled youngster, until he meets and befriends a rhinoceros named . . . Hippo! Munsinger's bright, cheery pictures are as whimsical as Lester's delightfully silly text. Together, they create nicely absurd images, such as a scene in which Fluffy and Hippo roll on the ground, laughing so hard that they start to cry. Lester and Munsingerwho have collaborated on other picture bookstell a sweet story with joyful exuberance.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 A rather slight story that is elevated by Munsinger's very funny full-color illustrations. After a singularly unfluffy porcupine named Fluffy fails to become what his name describes, he meets a fierce rhinoceros who sees the humor in his own name, Hippo. Of course, the two become fast friends and discover the truth in the saying, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Munsinger's porcupines are as spiney and prickly as ever seen in a picture book to date, and Fluffy's unsuccessful guest for fluffiness is a spine-tickling way for young readers to learn that there are things about each of us that we cannot change no matter how hard we try. A solid addition to any picture book collection and one that will enliven a story hour. Patricia Homer, Lowville School Library, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 24, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395368952
• ISBN-13: 978-0395368954
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Helen Lester has published The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken in 1983, in collabroation with Lynn Munsinger. They have also worked together on the hilarious Tacky the Penguin series and many other wildly funny and popular titles, including the award-winning Hooway for Wodney Wat. Helen Lester is a full-time writer who makes her home in Pawling, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's in a name?, December 21, 1999

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Porcupine Named Fluffy (Hardcover)

What's in a name? If you're a porcupine with back full of cowlick-ey quills, "Fluffy" sure ain't it. When Mr. & Mrs. Porcupine had their first child, they were thrilled to pieces, but needed a name for their progeny. Lance, Prickles, Quillan and Needleroozer are all summarily rejected when suddenly inspiration strikes: "Let's call him Fluffy. It's such a pretty name. Fluffy!"

Well, suffice it to say Fluffy is anything but. He manages to get stuck in a door by backing into it (his dad hangs his hat on Fluffy's nose), poke holes in his umbrella and stick himself to his mattress... Definitely UN-fluffy things to do.

Like anyone who has been burdened with a less-than-optimal title (and who HASN'T disliked their own name sometime? ), Fluffy decides to try to live up to his handle. The power of positive thinking doesn't work that well--trying to be a fluffy cloud or pillow only produces a not-so-pleased mother who sits on him by accident, and the tree won't support his weight. Similarly, attempts to fluff up his quills by soaking in the tub for 45 minutes, covering himself with whipped cream and eating fluffy marshmallows only manages to make him soggy, gooey and stuffed. "The truth remained. Fluffy wasn't."

However, solidarity and a new perspective on life suddenly arrive when Fluffy meets a grumpy rhinoceros. At first, the rhino promises to give Fluffy a hard time, but soon is rolling on the ground in gales of laughter when he finds that he's just met a porcupine named Fluffy. An embarrassed but polite Fluffy the porcupine asks the rhino what HIS name is. It's "Hippo." The book ends with the two, now friends, rolling around in hysterics at the fun absurdity of a porcupine called Fluffy and a rhino called Hippo.

Ms. Lester and Ms. Munsinger have collaborated to produce a wonderful, bright and amusing book on a subject that will affect practically every child at some point--their name. Most children will endure some sort of taunt about their name sometime in their early life, and in an age long before the pressures of day-to-day life settle in, having a name you feel doesn't really fit you can be devastating. I personally remember constantly inventing new and flashy names for myself to avoid the dreaded moniker of my first name, which was usually half-whined, half-yelled at me by my mother when she was trying to triangulate my position within the house.

The illustrations are fantastic and really very funny despite the levity of the subject matter--Fluffy with his striped mattress impaled half on his head as he gets out of bed is one of my personal favorites. In addition to being simply fun to read, it is a most worthwhile book for children of all ages who feel that perhaps their parents could have tried a LITTLE harder to come up with a title that would fit them better.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my son's favorite bedtime books, February 26, 2005

By 

Rob Houser (Suwanee, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Porcupine Named Fluffy (Paperback)

I'll admit that I like this book as much as my son does. It's cleverly written and beautifully illustrated.

The story is about a Porcupine given the unusual name of Fluffy. Early on in his life, Fluffy starts to realize that he isn't really fluffy. He sticks to the back of the door, pokes holes in his mattress, and destroys his umbrella. He tries to become fluffier by pretending to be a cloud and a pillow (until his mother sits on him). He takes a long bubble bath, but only becomes soggy. He covers himself in whipped cream, eats a lot of marshmallows, and rolls himself in shaving cream and feathers. One day, Fluffy runs into a rhinoceros who says he's going to give Fluffy a hard time. When he asks Fluffy his name, the Rhino starts laughing. When Fluffy asks the Rhino what his name is, the Rhino tells him that his name is Hippo. They both laugh a lot and end up friends.

Lynn Munsinger's watercolor drawings are simple but rich with expression. Each page is like a painting that you'd love to have in your child's room. Kids can read this book even before they know the words because the images support the story so well.

I guarantee that you and your kids will laugh while reading this story. It's one of my all-time favorites.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book full of laughs with a good message, December 6, 1999

By 

a mom in New England (Medford, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Porcupine Named Fluffy (Paperback)

I first read this story to my 2 year old son when he was playing at a friend's house. I really exaggerated the descriptions and ever since this has been one of my son's favorite books. It's got fun lines that sound great when read aloud to kids. And it's got enough cleverness to be interesting to adults as well. On top of all that, it's got a great message about accepting yourself for who you are and finding friends who can appreciate you. I highly recommend this book and know that we'll be reading it for years to come.