"The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau", "The Runaway dinner" and "Bringing Rain to Kapiti Plain"

Legends and fantasy made an interesting week.

The Runaway Dinner
3 stars
Author: Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: Bruce Ingman

Banjo is a hungry little boy. One day his dinner decides to leave along with the tableware and the table with Banjo in hot pursuit.
The illustrations carry the tale almost without needing the text.
My problem with the book is that every bit of food is given a name. Small children are often finicky about eating and this might make it worse as now their food is alive with names and doesn't want to be eaten.

The Incredible Paintint of Felix Clousseau
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jon Agee

All the famous painters are entering a big exhibition in Paris. They laugh as Felix Clousseau brings in a painting of a duck. They laugh until the duck quacks. It seems that Clousseau's paintings come to life. Can this be a problem?
The illustrations are bold, reflecting the setting and the fantasy of the paintings.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
5 stars
Author: Verna Aardema
Illustrator: Beatriz Vidal

A retelling of an African folktale, this reflects the wet/dry climate of southern Africa. As the dry season ends, everything is desperate for rain. This tale gives man a way to trigger the rain to end the drought.
The illustrations are stylized and fit the tale very well.