The Man Who Wore All His Clothes (Hardcover)

by Allan Ahlberg (Author), Katharine McEwen (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
An appealingly madcap plot, dialogue that verges on slapstick and sprightly pictures keep this early chapter book rolling along at a snappy clip. Ahlberg (The Snail House) introduces Mr. and Mrs. Gaskitt and their nine-year-old twins, Gus and Gloria. One December morning, Mr. Gaskitt gets dressed, donning multiple layers of clothing: "He put on his tee shirt and underwear and socks, and his socks and tee shirt and underwear, and his underwear and socks and tee shirt." While he drives off in his car to an undisclosed location, Mrs. Gaskitt zooms off in her taxi to pick up a passenger whom kids will immediately recognize as a bank robber. The culprit eventually flees the taxi and boards a school bus carrying Gus and Gloria and their classmates, precipitating a farcical chase scene involving the bus, both Gaskitt parents' vehicles, a police car and the van of a camera-toting news reporter. Ahlberg adds to the mayhem with some absurd asides: the radio in Mr. Gaskitt's car bungles the news reports and the twins' teacher barks such instructions as "Fingers on lips! Elbows on knees!" McEwen's (Cows in the Kitchen) watercolor and crayon art comically captures the lighthearted tone of the tale, topped off by the revelation of the well-padded pater's profession: playing Santa. This is good silly fun. Ages 7-9.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-Why is skinny Mr. Gaskitt putting on all his clothes? How does Mrs. Gaskitt's taxi become a getaway vehicle for some bank robbers? How does the children's school bus get involved in the heist? And, most importantly, what do all these madcap activities have to do with the newspaper headline, "Father Christmas Saves the Day"? This is only tangentially a Christmas tale, but independent readers will zip through the easy-reading, 10-chapter story. Watercolor-and-crayon illustrations on pages beautifully designed to include lots of white space result in an inviting look. Numerous funny touches in text and illustrations and a surprise ending will lure many readers back for a second pleasurable run through the mayhem.-S. P.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763614327
• ISBN-13: 978-0763614324
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #338,646 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rollicking, Madcap Adventure....., November 25, 2001

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Meet the Gaskitt family. First there's Mr Gaskitt, a slim, loving father who gets up one winter morning and puts on all his clothes, layers and layers of underwear, shirts, pants, sweaters, jackets, coats, scarves, gloves, hats, and his plastic raincoat. Then there's Mrs Gaskitt, an attractive mother who also drives a taxi. There's the twins, nine year old Gus and Gloria, and Horace, the cat. On the same morning that Mr Gaskitt put on all his clothes, Mrs Gaskitt got a call to pick up a gentleman at the bank, "In half an hour - on the dot", the twins had a substitute teacher who piled them all into a school bus for a field trip, and Horace curled up in his favorite armchair to watch TV. And as they all hit the road, to begin their day, the entire family's raucous, madcap adventure begins..... Allan Ahlberg has written a delightful short chapter book that will have early readers laughing out loud and rolling in the aisles, as they watch this action-packed story unfold. His easy to read, hilarious text is full of entertaining details, and asides from the cat, car radio, and even the refrigerator, and is complemented by Katharine McEwen's charming watercolor and crayon illustrations. Together this dynamic duo have authored an engaging little tale that's full of twists, turns, and more than a few surprises. Perfect for youngsters 7-10, The Man Who Wore All His Clothes is a silly, fun-filled, manic romp kids will love.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fun Gaskitt book!, August 1, 2005

By	Slatternly Jones "Authority on boys up to age... (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This book was my son's second Gaskitt book, and was very helpful on a long car trip. Another chapter book with a sense of humor, it again fits the bill for kids looking for a cross between a picture book and a chapter book which doesn't preach! My 6 year old son was pleased when he understood the jokes, like the radio which greets Mr. Gaskitt personally, but always gets the news a little bit wrong, and the refrigerator that writes messages to the family.

4.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and clever bridge to chapter books, January 18, 2009

By	Marynna L. Kerce (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Man Who Wore All His Clothes (Paperback)

Adorable! Cleverly illustrated with delightful text -- a funny romp through a silly mystery. This series provides a nice bridge to chapter books and will be especially appealing to children who have a sophisticated appreciation for word play and visual puzzles.