Peanut Butter and Homework Sandwiches

by Lisa Broadie Cook, Jack E. Davis

Martin MacGregor is having one rotten week! First, his substitute teacher, Mrs. Payne, gives out mountains of homework. And when Martin's dog literally eats his homework, little does he know it's only the beginning of his troubles. Martin's homework ends up in the washing machine, goes to kindergarten with his little sister, and blows onto the roof of the school. Martin just can't catch a break!

But with some creativity and a positive attitude, Martin finds his own way to turn homework into fun-and turn it in on time!

New York Times bestselling illustrator Jack E. Davis's vibrant and detailed artwork gives life to a funny, lively story that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt what it's like to show up unprepared- even when it's not your fault.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction, Storytime, Back To School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2011

Reviews

[Brooke Hickerson]

The genre I would put this book under is realistic fiction. The reason I would put this under realistic fiction is how Martin loses his homework; spilling peanut butter and jelly on it, the dog eating it, it getting washed in his pants pocket, grabbing the wrong backpack, or it was blown away. And that his substitute teacher has a different teaching method; strict on homework and rules versus his teacher that assigns fun homework.
Throughout the book, Martin's substitute teacher throws challenges at him left and right. His homework is not up to par, is faded, or is ripped up. He struggles with trying to get his homework to school and disagreements with his teacher. He tells his father that he is struggling with the homework and his substitute teacher. Martin's father suggests he does his own homework. Martin does all the research he can on tarantulas and has a blast!
I would recommend this book to an elementary class at the beginning of the year as a fun story. While this story is fun, it does help teach responsibility. Martin is responsible for his homework and so everyone else should be responsible.

[Molly Daybert]

"This gives new meaning to 'the dog ate my homework'" (p. 7). As I read this book I found myself feeling conflicted. While this is a great book for teaching responsibility and cause and effect to students, I felt as though it made the substitute teacher into a villain. She was the one who was being mean and unfair- not Martin's lack of caring for his belongings. Overall, I appreciated the lesson of the book, but I felt Cook's representation of the teacher was off-putting.

[Karen GoatKeeper]

Martin is a rather casual student, but loves his teacher. Then the teacher is injured and a no nonsense substitute appears. Martin is in trouble. Somehow he finds a new way every day for a week to lose his homework.
The illustrations are like cartoon drawings. They are colorful and fun, adding a lot to the story.

[Donna Mork]

A substitute teacher goes head to head with a boy who has several mishaps with his homework. He is thrilled when his regular teacher returns, and even happier when he sees the pet tarantula the teacher brought to the class.

[Jourdan]

Martin loved going to school because he loved his teacher, Mr. Elliott. When he shows up to school on Monday, he finds that he has a substitute, Mrs. Payne. She gives them so much homework and Martin is not very happy. He completes his homework every night, but something always goes wrong. Monday night his dog ate it. Tuesday night he accidentally left his homework in his shorts and they went in the washer! Each time he returned to class without his homework, he was forced to do it during recess! This trend finally breaks when he shows up to class to find a surprise!

I love how relatable this story is for children. There comes a time when something goes wrong with their homework. Whether they lose it or the dog eats it! The tone of this story is very childish and I think that makes it even more enjoyable. The author did a very nice job at executing her intentions. It was very easy to follow and also humorous at times. I enjoy stories like this that are light hearted and funny. I would recommend this for teachers to read to their students because it could definitely lead into some sort of lesson.

The illustrations in this story were also well executed. They provided lots of color and were interesting to look at. They go along so well with the text. This shows that the author and illustrator really had to communicate in order to make it exactly how they wanted it. There is tons of detail in the illustrations which makes it more enjoyable as a reader.

[Angie]

Martin really likes his teacher but finds a substitute in his place. The substitute loves giving homework. Martin is having a really bad week with his homework. He drops peanut butter and jelly on it one day and the dog eats it. Another day he forgets to take his homework out of his pocket and his mom washes it. Another day he brings his sisters bag to school instead of his. And finally the wind blows his homework away and it lands on the school roof. Martin can't catch a break!

Poor Martin! I really enjoyed his homework saga. This is a fun, quirky book that I am sure kids will really enjoy.

[Amanda]

My son's first response after reading this book together was that it wasn't really about peanut butter and homework sandwiches. So we had to talk about titles and why authors choose certain titles, which was hopefully instructive in itself. He probably has a point though. I liked the story and thought it was pretty funny, but he had different expectations I guess. Kind of runs along the line of Alexander's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, but lasts about a week and is more specifically about homework than Alexander was.

[Terrie Andrews]

Description: Martin, who is a really good student, has a hard time getting his homework turned into the substitute while his teacher is recovering from a broken arm. Three hilarious things happen to his homework over the course of a week and he has to deal with the consequences. In the end, all of his extra work is not for nothing and he is rewarded for his efforts and being a good student.
Implementation ideas: This would be a great book to read at the beginning of school to help students get organized and be responsible with their homework.

[Dolly]

This is a very humorous tale about school. It would be a terrific book to read with children to help them prepare for going back to school and it helps to emphasize the child's responsibility in doing and turning in homework. The illustrations are terrific and since we just read Would I Ever Lie to You?, I expected them to be just as funny as the story.

[Jasmine]

Peanut Butter and Homework sandwhich is a great story about a little boy who has trouble keeping up with his homework. On different days different things happen to his homework like his dog eats his homework one day, his homework is lost in the washer and his little sister accidently switches her bookbag with her brother. This is a great book to share with student just to have a great read along day.

[Sydney Conrad]

I loved this book! It highlights the importance of being responsible for your homework no matter what happens to you and the consequences when you aren't responsible. It is so funny the thing that happen to the poor main character. I also like how the book dealt with having to do homework you don't find interesting and thinking outside the box to creat your own assignment that you like, and then being rewarded for that initiative.

[Heidi-Marie]

I'm not really sure what to think of this book. The story interested me. I felt bad for the guy--couldn't catch a break. A nice ending that he'd already managed to do what the teacher asked. But all that "bad luck" with the sub somehow felt unresolved to me. Not what I was looking for in my storytime search. Not really sure who I would recommend this to. I suppose the kids who have troubles (of whatever kind) with homework even though they like school and/or learning.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S.]

Martin's substitute teacher assigns "mountains of homework" and does not accept excuses for no homework. Martin has a homework blunder everyday, leading to not-so-fun consequences, he eagerly awaits his teacher's return to school.

Davis' illustrations are fun and cartoon-like.

Nice book to open a discussion about homework expectations.

[Tam]

My 8-year-old liked this book. He thought it was really funny to see all the ways Martin's homework was ruined (dripping peanut butter sandwich on it so the dog ate it, left it in his pocket so mom washed it, he left it in his backpack but his sister took it by mistake, and a gust of wind snatched it from his hands).

[Sheri]

Picture book about substitute teachers and all the things that can happen to
your homework and this poor m.c. has them all. The substitute loves to assign
large amounts of homework (odd). And the boy is so happy when his teacher returns
and he has down his own research on the teacher's pet. Will interest most
elementary school children as a read aloud or one they try to read by themselves.

[Judy Desetti]

Humorous tale about a boy whose teacher is absent for a week and gets a substitute who loads on the homework. Sadly each day there is a sad event to ruin his homework so he loses recess. Boy is he glad when his teacher finally comes back.

All kids will like this one. It will make a good read aloud.
Recommend.

[SamZ]

I probably would have liked this story better if two things would have been different: first, substitute teachers work off of plans left by the teacher, so the sub may have been different in her teaching tactics, but the homework situation wouldn't likely be so drastically different; secondly, I just didn't like the illustrations, at all.

[Shelli]

Poor Martin is having the worst homework week of his young academic career! His favorite teacher is out on sick leave all week and the substitute loves to give lots of homework each night. Being the good student that he is, Martin begrudgingly does the nightly work only to have something happen to it before safely turning it in the next day. A humorous read aloud which students will love.

[Joan Arbogast]

Martin MacGregor discovers his substitute teacher gives mountains of homework. Too bad something always happens to his homework before it's turned in. He misses recess and can't wait for his favorite teacher, Mr. Elliott to return. And he does with his favorite pet, the tarantula. Martin's favorite, too!

[Alexis Munk]

I did not like the illustrations. I did like how easy it was to read. I think children could relate to this book very easy. "The dog ate my homework" is a classical excuse. I also think it is humorous how the sub gives out mountains of homework because usually subs are known for how laid back and relaxed the day is.

[Stefani]

Martin just can't catch a break! His homework is destroyed every single day, but the substitute will not accept his excuses! Good example of things being out of your control, although kids will focus more on the humor than the moral.

[Charlyn]

When Martin MacGregor's teacher breaks his arm, the substitute teacher vies Viola Swamp for the worst susbstitute ever. And the scenario worsens when Martin loses or destroys his homework daily. When will Martin's luck change?

[Heather]

28 months - we all have bad weeks at school and this poor kid was having a never-ending bad week. Ok story and ok illustrations. Not going to be a hit with the educational reviewer.

[Lisa D]

hated it

[Megan]

nothing great

[Tricia]

While the illustrations are very cool, the text and storyline were just okay. Not one that I would do for storytime in my role as librarian.

[Molly]

I am going to pair this with the Miss Nelson books for a little back to school reading with my 7 year old.

[Amy]

It was ok.

[Luann Schindler]

Unnatural-sounding dialogue, but the theme would be good discussion between parent/child or teacher/students.
Great illustrations.

[Kim Patton]

Adorable book about a kid that has terrible luck with getting his homework turned in t his substitute teacher. A book kids will love!