The Rattlebang Picnic [Hardcover]

Margaret Mahy (Author), Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994 | Age Level: 3 and up

On the way home from a picnic in their rattlebang car, the McTavishes, with their seven children, cat and dog, the wind-up hippo and inflatable tadpole, and Granny McTavish find that Granny's rock-hard, homemade pizzas come in handy when a tire blows near an exploding volcano. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The distinguished duo behind the droll The Boy Who Was Followed Home offer another absurdly amusing but less satisfying tale. The newlywed MacTavishes forgo the purchase of a reliable new car in favor of "an old rattlebang" so that they can also afford to have seven children. The whole family, including Granny MacTavish, piles in the rattlebang on picnic adventures. Granny is known for baked goods that are "tougher than old boots," and at Shark Park her picnic pizzas are more useful as Frisbees than food. Kellogg's boisterous, detailed illustratons underscore just how tough the pizzas are by showing a shark whose teeth fly out of his mouth after one bite. (Discerning fans will also chuckle over subtle cameo appearances from players in other Kellogg works.) When the family picnics at Mt. Fogg, the hot springs and geysers provide hours of fun--until Mt. Fogg erupts, and the rattlebang loses one of its wheels. As the "sinister hiss of red-hot lava" moves threateningly close, the children rally to the rescue by proposing that one of Granny's pizzas be used as a tire. While many will enjoy Mahy's spirited family, abrupt transitions may prevent the reader from forming more than a superficial connection to the story. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-An original tall tale with an outrageously bizarre plot. When Jack and Marion McTavish get married, they have to decide between a "wonderful, speedy car that never breaks down" or a large family. They opt for children-seven of them-and an old rattlebang car. Meanwhile, Granny McTavish makes pizzas and pancakes that are so tough they can break sharks' teeth. One day, the entire family takes a picnic to the top of Mount Fogg, where they are caught by an erupting volcano. One of the inedible pizzas fills in for a wheel that has fallen off the old car, and the story ends happily. Only Mahy could concoct a story about an overcooked pizza saving a family from rivers of hot lava. Her writing is vivid, funny, and full of details that will be dear to a child's heart. And Kellogg's watercolors are a perfect match, adding to the air of deadpan chaos. For the lava, he has let his paints run together in an artful way, a departure from his usual contained look. Take children on this picnic, and you'll all enjoy the ride. A terrific picture book.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803713185
• ISBN-13: 978-0803713185
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,796,242 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun!, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rattlebang Picnic (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)

Anyone who grew up in a large family can relate to crazy family outings and the inevitable trade-off between fancy things and more children. We love this great book, especially the wonderful Steven Kellogg illustrations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking good time for all!, August 10, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rattlebang Picnic (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)

Margaret Mahy's exuberant "Rattlebang Picnic" is fun for everyone--parents and kids alike. The tale of an energetic family who likes to rattle around in an old automobile on trips hither and yon (to Shark Park, for instance!), this particular picnic turns into an adventure none of them will ever forget.

The kids turn out to save the day--I won't tell you how--when they hit on an ingenious way to escape the danger threatening their bucolic meal.

Steve Kellogg's rollicking, movement-filled illustrations perfectly suit the high-energy mix of the text, and there are lots of fun semi-hidden goodies for wee tots to find if they look closely enough. All in all, lots of good fun!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A big lava experience on a family picnic., June 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rattlebang Picnic (Hardcover)

This is a really cool book. You can learn a lot from it because you learn not to picnic near a volcano. The McTavish family was very smart and lucky to have seven kids and their old rattlebang car and a grandma who always overcooked the food. We recommend this book for all young readers.