Mr. Parkin is a pumpkin man. He tenderly nurtures his squashes and grows nothing else. So he's rather taken aback when a sprawling vine asks him to take it home. He's even more surprised when the crafty creeper demands entertainment--music and dancing and poetry. Mr. Parkin thought his was saving a wilting violet. Now it's Mr. Parkin who needs to be saved. A zany, clever comedy for young readers. Full-color illustrations.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Mahy ( The Seven Chinese Brothers ; The Great White Man-Eating Shark ) writes with considerable verve about a most unusual houseguest. A blue-flowered plant begs mild-mannered Mr. Parkin to take her home and tend to her--"I will be your humble little potted plant, though I am actually a rare and valuable species." When the plant becomes increasingly demanding ("I must have entertainment. I need the finer things of life.") it becomes apparent that poor Mr. Parkin is out of his depth. Luckily for him help appears from an unexpected source, and Mr. P. can return to the quiet obedience of his pumpkins. Mahy's droll, inventive tale possesses her trademark exuberance, and Craig's ( Angelina Ballerina ) illustrations perfectly capture the sense of fun. Though her palette is not vibrant, the humorous expressions on both people and plants are thoroughly engaging. A botanical beauty. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-- A humorous and intriguing story that is both gentle and satisfying. Mr. Parkin grows pumpkins; that's all he wants to grow. So he is surprised to find himself carting home a plaintive blue creeper that has insinuated itself into his wheelbarrow full of potting mix. The vine, a former resident of the mysterious garden of Lily Rose Willowherb, declares it was being mistreated, but by the time its horrifying tantrums have reduced Mr. Parkin to renting a full symphony orchestra to entertain it, it is clear who is being abused. The appearance of Lily Rose, who looks as exotic as her creeper, and her summary handling of the ungrateful creature are quite a relief. Mr. Parkin returns to the silence of his pumpkins, which all display gentle smiles as the crafty creeper exits stage right. Craig's watercolors are restrained but expressive. Her reserved, balding Mr. Parkin is just the sort of person who would be henpecked by a plant, and seven flower faces show a wide range of emotions, from contentment, to irritation, to a feigned swoon. They provide a fitting complement to this tongue-in-cheek cautionary tale, which will leave young readers wondering just what else might be behind Lily Rose's garden walls. --Ann Welton, University Child Development School, Seattle
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
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.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
book review,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper (Hardcover)
This book is very funny and creative about a gardener to ends up finding ways to entertain a plant from a neighbor's yard.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
