And a dog walker.
"This is awful," cried Jim
as he ran.
"It's big. It's bad. It's truly
the worst."
Jim's stomach only growled
louder."
It's Tuesday. Mom offers pancakes for breakfast. For Jim, it's not a pancake type of day. He's too hungry - and beastly - for pancakes. In fact, when he gets to the kitchen, it's his mother who holds appeal for soothing his hunger. When the deed is done, Jim suffers regret; but he's still hungry. He runs off. His path is filled with numerous tidbits. None assuage his hunger. He continues running until he comes to a stop in a gloomy forest, at the edge of a cliff.
There, he accuses his stomach of persistent growling only to discover the growling is coming from an angry, miserable bear. That bear is hungry. Jim is its preferred food. Jim turns the tables, eats the bear and finally suffers from bloat. Back home he goes, leaving each of his victims where he found them, including his mother. He returns to his room, resolves his problems, and is finally ready for pancakes.
Filled with humor and the feelings that hide inside every child at one time or another, this is a book that will delight and entertain young listeners. It is dedicated to Maurice Sendak, and rightly so. The illustrations capture the beastly behaviors of children, and embrace those feelings. They match the mood in landscapes, expression, and imagination.
Children experiencing a bad day of their own will find solace in knowing they are not alone. Emotions are powerful things. It's hard being a kid. This terrific tale honors that.
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