The Ravenous Beast [Hardcover]

Niamh Sharkey (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Ravenous little readers will eat up this deliciously illustrated read-aloud and be hungry, hungry, hungry for more!


The Ravenous Beast is hungry, hungry, hungry! He’s so hungry he could eat a whole house. Gobble it up! Swallow it down! But all the other animals are claiming that they’re the hungriest of all. What can the Ravenous Beast do to prove them wrong? Niamh Sharkey’s droll, strikingly stylized illustrations lend a fanciful flair to this comical tale of beastly competition - and insatiable appetite.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-The Ravenous Beast, an orange-and-blue creature resembling a dinosaur, claims to be "the hungriest animal of all." Seven others, ranging in size from a tiny white mouse to a huge whale, challenge the statement by demonstrating their eating prowess. They consume many items, including a boat, a trampoline, and a bus. As each animal finishes its unlikely meal, the Beast eyes the competitors, then settles the question by eating them all. Versions of "The Fat Cat" by Jack Kent (Parent's Magazine, 1971; o.p.) and Margaret Read MacDonald (August House, 2001), and Lensey Namioka's The Hungriest Boy in the World (Holiday, 2001) also feature inveterate eaters but end with the thwarting of the hungry protagonist. The last spread of Sharkey's book shows that the hillside has been cleared of everything but the Beast. However, the cartoon style of the illustrations and the absurdity of the animals' claims plant the narrative firmly in fantasy and help alleviate potential fears. The oversized pages and hand lettering add to the effectiveness of the design and will facilitate group sharing. Repetitive aspects of the tale, such as the boast "Now THAT's what I call hungry," add to the read-aloud potential. Children will eat this up.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Review

"* "This is a lavish picture book in every way. Sharkey matches her striking illustrations to a text rich in imagery." School Librarian * "One of the most exciting new artists published in Britain today." The Times Educational Supplement" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1 edition (August 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076362182X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763621827
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.4 x 11.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,721,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Niamh Sharkey is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's picture books.
She has won the Mother Goose Award (UK) and the Bisto Book of the Year (Ireland) for her picture books.
Her titles include The Ravenous Beast, Santasaurus, I'm a Happy Hugglewug and Cinderella, all published by Walker Books. I'm a Happy Hugglewug is currently being developed into an animation series by Brown Bag Films. Niamh lives in Dublin, Ireland. Check out her website at www.niamhsharkey.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story, July 30, 2008

By 

K. Marr "Children's book lover" (Folsom, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ravenous Beast (Hardcover)

This is a great story and a lot of fun to read. My four year old loves it and it is one I never get tired of reading to him. I think all kids will enjoy this fun story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, February 20, 2007

By 

A. Horn "neat freak" (Naperville, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ravenous Beast (Hardcover)

This book is one of my four-year old daughters' top five books, and mine too. We checked this out at the library, then had to buy it because it became a favorite. We love this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST 4-5 BOOK EVER!, December 26, 2010

By 

OD (Earth) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ravenous Beast (Hardcover)

My boy from 4-5 years old loves this book. And my husband and I never tire of reading it several times a month. We first got it from the library, and then bought it for our collection.

Wonderful illustrations, and a charming, rhyming story of beasts in successive size bragging about how much they can eat (first a mouse, then a cat, dog, lion, . . . whale, etcetera). The Ravenous Beast himself ends up eating everything, but it's the most delightful book ever, and not at all scary.

Get it from the library first if you don't trust me, and I guarentee you will end up buying it.