Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: the book before the movie

Barrett, Judi (1978). Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Chewandswallow is a tiny town where it rains orange juice, snows potatoes and peas, and blows in gusts of hamburgers. The weather brings in all kinds of treats, three times a day, and the townspeople look forward to each meal. Trouble begins, however, when the food is too big to eat and starts to destroy the town. Imagine a flood of spaghetti and giant pancakes that cover the school! The townspeople have to find a way to live and eat in peace.

This classic tall-tale brings weather and food together in an imaginative adventure that will leave you laughing, wondering, and maybe a little hungry.



** Did you see the movie? Send your review to the Children's Library and have it published on this blog!

Silly Picture Books

In Alethea Kontis’ Alpha Oops! The Day Z Went First, the alphabet is interrupted by the letter ‘Z’ and Zebra who are tired of going last. ‘Z’ gets his way and begins the alphabet, but he doesn’t get very far when ‘P’ interrupts him! Soon the middle letters want a change too and the alphabet is completely out of order with ‘D’ following ‘R’ and ‘B’ after ‘G’! Children who know their ABCs will find this book extremely funny.



Children will love Victoria Kann’s Pinkalicious in which a young girl has one too many pink cupcakes and becomes pink herself! At first she enjoys being pink, but when she turns red after eating sneaking one more cupcake she decides to take the doctor’s advice and eat her vegetables. This is a silly and imaginative lesson in what might happen if you over indulge in sweets.

Another silly book is David Shannon’s A Bad Case of Stripes in which Camilla Cream who worries about what others think of her begins to turn different colors until an older woman helps her discover her true colors.

In Alan Durant’s Burger Boy, Benny only eats hamburgers and when his mother warns him that he will turn into a burger if he does not eat his vegetables, the prediction comes true! It is then up to his mother to turn Benny back into a regular boy by feeding him vegetables. A perfect and very funny book for picky eaters!

Books from Baby Book Time

Fleming, Denise. Lunch. Join the mouse on his colorful eating adventure. Kids will enjoy the vivid pictures and story about a very hungry mouse.

Hubbell, Patricia. Pots and Pans. Baby explores the kitchen cupboards, pulling out pots and pans and other noisy things.

Offen, Hilda. As Quiet as a Mouse. Rhyming text describes animals making different noises, such as clapping, laughing, and snoring.

Tafuri, Nancy. Have You Seen My Duckling? A mother duck and her seven ducklings swim around the pond looking for the eighth duckling. Can you find the little duckling on each page?