It all started when Uncle Frank came for a visitand stayed, and stayed, and stayed. It seemed nothing would rouse him from his comfortable spot in front of the TV. That is, until the day he hung an old coat hanger on a stick and picked up some unusual signals emanating from the backyard. All at once Uncle Frank was bound and determined to find whatever was buried out there, no matter how long it took. So he started to dig a hole--this really big hole--and what happened next would make more than just family history. In this hip, off-the-wall story, Matthew McElligott pairs a child's-eye view of eccentric adult behavior with brightly-colored drawings for hilarious results. Matthew McElligott is the author and illustrator of The Truth about Cousin Ernie's Head (Simon & Schuster). This is his first book with Viking. Matthew McElligott lives in Albany, New York.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In this story of eccentricity run amok, a boy and his parents play host to the bespectacled title character, who moves in unexpectedly and begins digging a giant hole in their yard. With his bow tie, sweater vest and curly white hair, Uncle Frank looks the part of the nutty but harmless mock-scientist. He tells his nephew that he's looking for prehistoric relics, but "after two weeks of digging we hadn't found a single dinosaur bone. "'What's the rush?' said Uncle Frank." Frank evidently has ulterior motives; he furnishes the pit with a couch and sink, throws a party and receives letters addressed to a "lower apartment." McElligott, who examined family dynamics in The Truth About Cousin Ernie's Head, treats this volatile situation with peculiar humor. He contrasts the scheming and daydreaming Uncle Frank with the narrator's blond-haired, square mom and dad, who hem and haw but don't evict their freeloading relation from their tidy suburban plot. McElligott's skewed wit and deadpan delivery seem borrowed from a BBC comedy, but there is little hilarity?even when the yard yields a colossal, Olmec-style head. After the big payoff, Uncle Frank simply leaves town, and readers will share his ambivalence. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Eccentric Uncle Frank comes to visit and literally makes himself at home. He begins to dig a pit in his relatives' middle-class urban backyard, searching first for dinosaur bones, then for oil, and eventually for treasure. Oblivious to his family's disbelief (excluding the young boy who narrates the story), and later to intense media coverage, he ends up unearthing a huge ancient statue. Uncle Frank has the manic good cheer of an updated Monsieur Racine (Tomi Ungerer's The Beast of Monsieur Racine [Farrar, 1971]), but is revealed in contemporary, vivid, and thoroughly wacky full-color art. Surprises enliven the book as Uncle Frank moves furniture and amenities into the pit and has a hot tub installed. Emphatic characters are notable for their angular hairstyles, and the spot art is irresistibly apropos. Original and endearing, the text and illustrations support one another seamlessly. Best of all, the offbeat protagonist proves himself right against all logical odds. Children will regret his departure and hope he'll be back soon.
Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Matthew McElligott is the author and illustrator of many books for children including Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!, Even Monsters Need Haircuts, The Lion's Share, Bean Thirteen, and several books about Backbeard the pirate. Like Backbeard, he is big, smelly, messy, and not too bright.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uncle Frank's Pit...Great Fun!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Uncle Frank's Pit (Hardcover)
Uncle Frank's Pit is one of those books that you just can't keep to yourself! After I finished it, I had to share it with my family and friends....then they ran out and bought their own copies! (Honest!)The story is told from a young boy's point of view. When Uncle Frank shows up one day, he overstays his welcome. Why is he there? What is he looking for? When the boy and his family finally find out, everyone is in for a surprise...and I mean everyone! Matthew McElligott combines clever and colorful illustrations with a "what-will-he-do-next" storyline. The little details hidden in the background of his illustrations made me laugh out loud! But don't believe me; read it for yourself!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite book to read aloud to the kids,
This review is from: Uncle Frank's Pit (Hardcover)
Not your ordinary chilren's book, this one is well-written, intriguing, and above all, FUN. I love reading it to my kids, and the wonderful illustrations keep them engaged as Dad hams it up for them. Makes reading to your kids as much fun for you as it is for them. Highly recommended.
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