A Thump from Upstairs: Starring Mr. Boo and Max [Hardcover]

Richard Keep (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A delightful mystery for young children featuring appealing characters, bold digital illustrations, and a surprise ending!

AFTER DINNER, mild-mannered collector Mr. Boo and his wise cat, Max, settle down together in a big comfy chair to watch a scary movie. Suddenly they hear a loud THUMP! from upstairs. Mr. Boo b-bravely sets out alone to investigate.

As Mr. Boo searches room by room, he hears more bumps and thumps and even a creak. He finds the balcony doors wide open. Then WHIZZ! ZIPP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! Something furry with many eyes and many tails flies past Mr. Boo. Meanwhile, Max is up to something downstairs in the kitchen...and Mr. Boo is in for another surprise!

Author-illustrator Richard Keep's fascinating, brightly-colored illustrations perfectly complement this lighthearted story. Young children will particularly enjoy the special elements of mystery and surprise as they follow Mr. Boo through his extraordinary, curio-packed Victorian abode.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–Mr. Boo and his cat are watching a scary movie on TV when they hear a noise upstairs. The nervous man investigates one thump after another while nonplussed Max sets the table for a party. When Mr. Boo thinks he's been attacked by a flying furry monster, he rushes downstairs to save his pet, only to discover a table full of cats waiting to wish him a happy birthday, complete with birthday tuna and carrot cake. All ends happily as Mr. Boo and the cats settle down in his comfy chair in front of the TV. The collage-style illustrations show a big cluttered house with lots of places for monsters to hide. The visuals carry this book and compensate for a predictable story. However, despite the effort to create some drama as Mr. Boo investigates the source of the mysterious sounds, aided by a spooky-looking font, the tension is undercut by the repeated return to Max and his activities in the kitchen. This may help to reassure any children who frighten easily, but most readers will immediately guess what's up.–Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

RICHARD KEEP is the author-illustrator of A Thump from Upstairs: Starring Mr. Boo and Max and Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration. He has collaborated with his wife, Linda Lowery, on three books for children: Who Wants a Valentine?, Merry Christmas, Everyone!, and The New York Times Children's Paperback best-seller Trick or Treat, It's Halloween! He lives in Mexico.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 31 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156145348X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561453481
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 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: #2,936,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Daily Favorite, December 14, 2008

By 

Lorinda (Buffalo Grove, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Thump from Upstairs: Starring Mr. Boo and Max (Hardcover)

A friend recommended this book for my 2 year old. It has not disappointed. We read it regularly. My son asks for it by name and won't go to bed until we read it. My son loves to make the faces of Mr. Boo (surprised, happy, scared) and point out all the details on the pages. I am looking forward to reading this with my other children when they are old enough.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book! Great bedtime story, June 10, 2008

By 

Bruce Kelly (Berwyn, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thump from Upstairs: Starring Mr. Boo and Max (Hardcover)

My two and a half year old daughter loves this book and asks for it by name every night at bedtime. The story is great and has provided this dad with a daily chance to practice his funny voices. But what really has been the winner with my daughter is the art work. The pages are a wonderful combination of colorful drawings and vivid clipart that contain a vast assortment of unusual items, "hidden" cat silhouettes and even a robot that goes for a swim (my daughter caught on to that one before me). All of these different images not only give the child something to look at, but my daughter has learned that names of no less than twenty objects during our nightly reading. I certainly hope that we see more of Mr. Boo and Max. Thanks Richard!

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, August 8, 2005

By 

David D. Lowery - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thump from Upstairs: Starring Mr. Boo and Max (Hardcover)

This is a book that the kids will want you to read over and over again, and each time find a new discovery on the wonderful decorated walls and shelves of Boo and Max's warm little house.

A real pleasurable read and journey for the kids - and for the kid inside all of us. I highly recommend it - looks like a series to me.