The Stupids Die [Paperback]

Harry G. Allard Jr. (Author), James Marshall (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 1985 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Stupids

The Stupid family thinks they are dead when the lights go out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent pacing, concise, witty prose, and artwork perfectly suited to the text." School Library Journal, Starred

About the Author

Allard is the author of several hilarious books for children. He currently lives in Oaxaca, Mexio.

James Marshall (1942-1992) created dozens of exuberant and captivating books for children, including The Stupids, Miss Nelson Is Missing!, and the ever-popular George and Martha books. Before creating his canon of classic, hilarious children's books, James Marshall played the viola, studied French, and received a master's degree from Trinity College. He also doodled. It was the doodles, and the unforgettable characters that emerged from them, that led him to his life's work as one of the finest creators of children's books of the twentieth century. In 2007, James Marshall was posthumously awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal for his lasting contribution to literature for children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (April 29, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395383641
• ISBN-13: 978-0395383643
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Marshall, James

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Funny!!, June 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stupids Die (Paperback)

I read this book to my daughter 15 years ago. We both laughed till we cried. She's getting married in one year, and wants her own copy of the book for her wedding present, along with any other Harry Allard's I can find!! I hope the others that I found at Amazon.com aren't even funnier because we might die from laughter!!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Innocent, laugh-out-loud favourite..., October 19, 2001

By 

Jennifer M. Macleod "yiddishe supermama" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stupids Die (Paperback)

We recently discovered this book and, given the word "die" in the title, I wasn't so sure it would be appropriate. I was quickly reassured by the good-natured tone of Allard's prose, and the kids (5 and 7, both reading) had a great time hunting for quirky "in-jokes" in the background on each page (like a picture, hanging in the Stupids' home, of three beach balls with the caption "The Pyramids").

This book was originally published in the 1977, and it's amazing to see how innocent its prose is in contrast to kids' books today. But this book is never dull or didactic, and it will delight the entire family over and over, while its simple dialogue will thrill early readers (when the lights go out, the Stupids simply declare, "We must be dead."!!!). I'm thrilled this book has been reprinted; we will definitely be hunting down other "Stupids" books in future.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All About Context, September 21, 2004

By 

Avid Reader "Kristi" (Fort Collins, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stupids Die (Paperback)

I think the controversy surrounding "The Supids" childrens books all boils down to context. My parents read all of this series of books to my siblings and I as children and we NEVER thought it was acceptable to call each other stupid, nor did we take that away from these stories. I feel that, when read to children in the correct context, these books are fun, silly, and help teach us to be able to laugh at ourselves. I think those that are getting so upset about the word "stupid" in these books are not seeing the big picture. They can be presented in the context of the fun adventures that this family has together, and not their last name.