Quiet Night in

The Large Family #4

by Jill Murphy

A Quiet Night in (Little Favourites) Murphy, Jill

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Family, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 1994

About the author

Jill Murphy was a London-born English children's author, best known for The Worst Witch series and the Large Family picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land."

Jill Murphy was born in London and attended the Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon which, together with the boarding school stories she enjoyed reading, provided much of the material and inspiration Miss Cackle's Academy in the The Worst Witch, which she started when she was 15. She put the book on hold as she attended both Chelsea and Croydon Art Schools, but continued to write it whilst living in a village in Togo, West Africa for a year and then whilst working as a nanny back at home. The book was published when Jill turned 24 and proved an instant success. However, Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of The Worst Witch Strikes Again prompted her to devote herself to full-time writing. The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. They were also made into a major ITV series. She was also well known for her picture books and was commended in the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for Peace at Last. A Quiet Night In was shortlisted for the same medal in 1994. She was perhaps best known for the very popular Mr and Mrs Large picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. Five Minute's Peace won the 1987 Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 1986 Children's Book Award. All in One Piece was highly commended for the 1987 Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the 1987 Children's Book Award. The Last Noo-noo won the 0-5 category of the 1995 Smarties Book Prize and in the same year was shortlisted for the English 4-11 Outstanding Children's Book of the Year, going on to win the 1996 Sheffield Children's Book Award. It won the 1996 Gateshead Gold Award. In the same year it was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London.

Reviews

[Maritina Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Λοιπόν, ακούστε ιστορία: Μια μέρα, στο σχολείο, την ώρα της χαλάρωσης, ζήτησαν τα παιδιά να τους διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο. Διάλεξα τότε στην τύχη ένα παιδί, κι αφού όλα τα υπόλοιπα που δεν επιλέχθηκαν σταμάτησαν το κλάμα και τις τσιρίδες, πήγε στη βιβλιοθήκη και μού έφερε αυτό.

Ξεκινάω λοιπόν, το διάβασμα (παρά τη φασαρία που γινόταν, αφού δεν έκαναν όλα τους ξεκούραση) και διαπιστώνω, ότι τα παιδάκια στο βιβλίο, έχουν μερικά κοινά με τα παιδιά της τάξης!

Όταν τους το είπα αυτό, η μικρή που είχε διαλέξει το βιβλίο, έβαλε τα γέλια και είπε πως για αυτό το διάλεξε, επειδή της άρεσε που τα παιδιά του βιβλίου, έκαναν τις ίδιες σκανταλιές και γκρίνιαζαν για τον ίδιο λόγο που γκρίνιαζαν και τα ίδια.

Το τελειώσαμε τελικά το παραμύθι πριν περάσει ο χρόνος της χαλάρωσης και τα παιδιά που το άκουγαν, είπαν πως τους άρεσε πολύ!

Πάμε όμως στην υπόθεση, για να πούμε και δυο λόγια για το ίδιο το βιβλίο.

Οι κεντρικοί μας ήρωες, είναι μια οικογένεια ελεφάντων, με δυο γονείς και τέσσερα παιδιά. Η ιστορία, ξεκινάει με τον μπαμπά ελέφαντα να έχει τα γενέθλιά του και τη μαμά ελεφαντίνα να θέλει να του κάνει δώρο, μια ήσυχη νύχτα, όπου θα δειπνίσουν οι δυο τους μόνοι χωρίς τα παιδιά. Για να γίνει όμως αυτό, τα παιδιά πρέπει να είναι απολύτως συνεργάσιμα και να είναι ήδη έτοιμα για ύπνο όταν γυρίσει ο μπαμπάς από τη δουλειά.

Κάτι τέτοιο, προφανώς και δεν γίνεται, χώρια που ο μπαμπάς είναι πάρα πολύ κουρασμένος μετά τη δουλειά. Άκυρο λοιπόν το ακριβό δείπνο που είχε ετοιμάσει η μαμά, όμως της προτείνει να καθίσουν να φάνε μαζί μπροστά από την τηλεόραση.

Βέβαια, και αυτό τους το σχέδιο ανατρέπεται, καθώς τα παιδιά, επιμένουν να μείνουν κι αυτά μαζί τους, κι όχι μόνο αυτό, αλλά ζητούν ξανά και ξανά, να τους διαβάσουν ένα βιβλίο.
Έτσι, για να σταματήσουν τα μικρά να γκρινιάζουν, οι γονείς τους, τους κάνουν το χατίρι. Έλα όμως, που μετά από τέτοια κούραση, πέφτουν οι ίδιοι για ύπνο αντί να πέσουν τα παιδιά!
Και κάπως έτσι, τελειώνει η ιστορία.

Το συγκεκριμένο, το βρήκα πολύ χαριτωμένο, με χιούμορ και θεωρώ επίσης ότι απεικονίζει μια κατάσταση που λίγο πολύ, όλοι την έχουν βιώσει, είτε σαν παιδιά, είτε σαν γονείς.
Βρήκα επίσης, πολύ χαριτωμένη και την εικονογράφηση.

Αν είστε γονείς, κηδεμόνες, δάσκαλοι κλπ, πιστεύω ότι διαβάζοντας αυτό εδώ στα παιδιά, θα περάσετε μερικά ευχάριστα λεπτά.
Και πού ξέρετε, μπορεί να πετύχετε αυτό που δεν πέτυχε η μαμά ελεφαντίνα, και να τα κάνετε να κοιμηθούν!

If you made it this far, congratulations!
'Til next time, take care :) :) :)

[Rachel Pinkney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hit the spot today before lunchtime.

[Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quiet Night In, by Jill Murphy, is a story from The Large Family series. In this story it is Mr Large’s birthday. Mrs Large decides to prepare a meal and to send their children to bed. However, Mr Large is very tired, so he eats his dinner on the sofa. The children insist on being read a bedtime story. Both Mr Large and Mrs Large fall asleep whilst reading to them. At the end of the story the children tidy up and put themselves to bed. The first thing I noticed about this book was the pictures, which are both vibrant and detailed. They support the words of the story well. The actual telling of the story is entertaining; the repetitions of the children’s speech through the book would engage a class well and help to give impressions about their characters. Fundamentally though, the main thing which I liked about this story is the positive message at the end, encouraging children to look after their parents and when necessary be independent with doable tasks. I think this story would be ideal for key stage 1, particularly for younger groups. It could be used during PSHE to demonstrate positive behaviour and family values.

[Fameeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute story of the Large family. Mrs Large prepares a birthday dinner for Mr Large and wants to put the children to sleep so they can have a 'quiet night in'. Mr Large is exhausted after coming home from work and the children persuade him to read them a story before bed. While reading the book, he falls asleep just as the children become so drawn to the story! So the children ask Mrs Large to finish the story for them, not long after she falls asleep too! So the children decide to help themselves with the food Mrs Large had made and take it upstairs with them to bed.

Another book which is a childhood memory with superior illustrations using a whole page for children to have a greater imagination of the story. The use of large font also makes it easier for children to read and is an excellent picture book for reading to children as a whole class or even as a bedtime story!

[Amal Nassir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations of these books!

The story is quite simple and feels familiar. It's daddy's birthday, mum wants the kids to go to bed early so she can have a quiet night in with dad, kids free. Obviously they're not very happy about that and grumble about it a lot.

When dad comes home, he's too tired for celebrations and just wants to eat on the sofa. The kids ask for a story. Poor dad goes ahead and starts the story but falls asleep half way through.

The kids ask mum to continue with the story. She does until she falls asleep too.

They are typical tired parents.

2 things I didn't really like;

1. Why would a story about trucks be a boy story? I mean, it wasn't too much of a problem as I used it as a discussion point with my son, but I remember feeling disappointed about that part as a young girl.

2. Poor kids just wanted to celebrate dad's birthday as a family and mum did a good job of making them feel unwanted and like a nuisance and was getting them ready for bed from like 4.30 and practically told them that they were a bother and mum and dad wanted a peaceful night without them! My son thought that was pretty mean!

I mean the story is very old and has some pretty old fashioned ideas about it. But I did like the illustrations a lot.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

With it being their Daddy's birthday, Mrs Large tells her four young elephants that she wants them in bed early as she and her husband want a quiet night together. The youngsters are not happy and ask if they can stay up and be there with them. Amusingly Mrs Large tells them, 'No. It wouldn't be quiet with you lot all charging around like a herd of elephants.'

That evening Mrs Large has them all bathed and ready for bed by half past four, which prompts young Lester to remark, 'It's not even dark yet.' After having tea the youngsters are allowed to play for a while then Mr Large returns home from work, Lester, Laura, Luke and the baby announce that they are having to go to bed early so that he and his wife can have that quiet night they want.

Mr Large requests tea on a tray so they can sit on the sofa before the children request a story before they go to sleep. Ironically though it is not the children who doze off and this changes the whole range of plans that Mrs Large had made. And the situation gets worse ... how? Well this delightfully illustrated book tells the whole happy story ... Good night!

[Martha Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As it is Mr Large’s birthday, Mrs Large decides to cook him a lovely meal and send the children to bed early. Unfortunately, despite all of Mrs Larges plans, Mr Large is tired and eats his dinner on the sofa. The children don't want to go to bed without a bedtime story, and so the Large parents read to them. However, both Mr. Large and Mrs Large fall asleep while reading to them. Seeing this, the children tidy up for their parents and put themselves to bed.

Like other Large family stories, the repetitions of the children’s speech and 'catchphrases' through the book would be excellent in engaging a class in 'shout out' and provide them with an understanding of their characterisation. Unlike other Large family stories, the message of the story is positive. The children were kind, helping their parents and displayed their independence by doing the tasks, and they did so without being prompted. This story could be used during PSCHE or RE to demonstrate and good values philosophically or religiously.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The large family are planning a birthday party for Mr large. Mrs large asks the children to help prepare a birthday tea for their dad before they go to bed , but Mr Large is very tired and falls asleep. Mrs large then ends up falling asleep leaving the children to put themselves to bed.


The story is told as a narrative with lots of speech and a descriptive text.

The word and pictures work together because the pictures link to the text which would help children to picture what the large family look like.

The experiences of the world that the reader may need to bring to the text may be what they do for birthdays in their family. If adults are reading this they will understand that looking after a family and work can be hard and exhausting.

The illustrations are very simple and they help the reader to see exactly what is happening in the story.

[Frances Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic opening line “I want you all in bed early tonight”. Children must know this well and instantly be able to make a connection. Really beautiful scenes of the family having a story together. Lots of laughable moments and plenty of sweet gestures. A proper feel good story

[Ida P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this 5-minute story to my 3-year-old. It perfectly portrays a real life scenario of how an evening might indeed end up with tired parents. It's heartwarming and funny with wonderful illustrations.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. And it's going to be a wonderful application story talking about rests in music class!

[Gemma Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are very tired

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my life!

[Caitlyn Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

good kids book

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and funny

[Indika de Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very delightful book.

A must-read for both kids as well as tired grownups...

[Darline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorably cute and fun! A wonderful bedtime story.

[Poppy Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely book in the Large Family series. I like the idea of the children taking themselves to bed! We've been reading it for a while but for some reason forgot to log it!

[Big Book Little Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com

We love Jill Murphy’s elephant books in our house. In this story Mrs Large is trying to celebrate Mr Large’s birthday with a lovely meal for two, she gets the kids ready for bed early ( a bath at 4 o’clock, they are not impressed!) and prepares the dinner. Mr Large comes home from work tired and feels he wants his supper in front of the telly. The children persuade him to just read them a story and Mr Large obliges but falls asleep over the book. Mrs Large is imposed upon to finish the tale and makes the same mistake. The children decide they’ll leave their parents to have their quiet night in and make off to bed with the dinner.

This has all the charm and humour of the other stories and it is so easy to relate to. I am sure all parents have tried to get the children off to bed quickly for some special occasion, there is much for parents to smile at here, as the children moan and grumble through the bedtime routine and make plenty of mess. It’s nice to read books that make fun out of family life and that are as easy to appreciate as adults as well as for the children. My children like the details of the mess in the pictures as the soap is on the floor and the toothpaste tube is trodden on and so on. They laugh at the parents falling asleep on the sofa and the added mess the young elephants make taking the food off to bed with them.

The pictures are wonderful, full page, clearly drawn, plenty of colour and lots of details. The ones on the end papers and on the pages with the writing add to the fun.

Verdict: The perfect bedtime story, we wouldn’t be without it.

[Nyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The small herd of baby elehants are angry. Mr and Mrs large attempt to put there children into bed early as they want a quiet night in together without the children. Mr Large is so tired that he requests to have dinner in front of the TV! Mr Large is persuaded by the children to read them a quick story before they fall asleep. The story chosen is not liked by the Laura as she felt is was a story for boy's- however Mr Large gives them a ultimatum as he is in no mood to entertain their antics and so they continue reading. Finally, the children are engrossed into what is being said until Mr Large falls asleep. This is where Mrs Large steps in and continue, however, not for long as she falls asleep on the sofa aswell! The children then are left with no one to read a story and they tuck Mr and Mrs Large on the sofa with a blanket. They then go off with the trays prepared for Mr and Mrs Large to enjoy themselves.

This story is humourous as it is contradictory as the children tuck their parents into bed and this gave me the giggles as from a childs point of view, this is not supposed to happen. 'A quiet night in' written by Jill Murphy has a chunk of writing on one page spaced out making it easier to read, the page on the side has big illustrations to stimulate childrens mind to what is being said. This book would be great to read as a whole class as it a fairly large paperback book with big pictures that would keep children entertained whilst listening. This book also comes with a CD so it could also be used as a different approach and learning resource.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a lovely book.

This is part of a series - beginning with Five Minutes' Peace. I haven't read any of the other books in the series. I'd say that as a stand-alone book this book requires more character introduction at the start. Ther is Mr and Mrs Large and four kids - which is a relatively large number in such a short book. The first page of my book is a double page spread with pictures of all four kids - all the introductions really need to be is a name below each of these pictures. In this way Luke will be introduced at the start of the book - rather than 1/2 way through!

I dislike the portrayal of Mr Large. Like every picture book I've read Dad goes to work, while Mum stays home with the kids - as a stay-at-home Dad I would one day like to see my life reflected in a story! Also it seems pretty poor to me that Mr Large comes home and flops on the sofa, even after all the effort Mrs Large and the kids have made in making a lovely dinner. I do like that Mr Large read to the kids - but only after some pleading from the kids.

The introduction of dinner in front of the TV is something I could have done without. My son is still young, so I can afford to be idealistic!

Overall I think the plot represents a vain hope by worn out parents - an early night, with the kids putting themselves to sleep!

[Marion Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a five star because it just brought back fond memories of when I read this book as a child. The first thing I noticed upon opening the book was the pictures, which are both vibrant and detailed. The imagery supports the words of the story well. I also really love how the elephants are portrayed as a normal human like family and deal with simple every day family issues, such as the children leaving a mess or not going to bed on time.

This short story is based around Mr and Mrs Large wanting a quiet night in, just the two of them, to celebrate Mr Large's birthday. As the story progresses you soon realise this is not going to happen. The story ends with both Mr and Mrs Large falling asleep on the sofa after reading the children a short story, the children then take themselves up to bed. I love the simplicity of the story and how it is quite relatable. This book would definitely keep the class engaged due to the entertaining nature of the writing and imagery. The story has an overall positive message in that it encourages children to look after their parents and when necessary to be independent with doable tasks. This book would be good as either an independent read or read aloud to the class and would be most suitable for KS1.

[Majeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Mr Large's birthday and Mrs Large has prepared him a meal, as they're going to celebrate with a quiet night in. But as usual in the Large household, things don't go to plan, and Mr and Mrs Large fall asleep on the sofa! So the little Larges sneak off to bed with all the lovingly prepared food.

This is a great resource for Early Years teachers and in KS1. Pupils enjoy books particularly those they may be familiar with. The 'Large Family' books are very popular amongst youngsters and loved by many because the family are easy to relate to.

[Emma Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have children, you know how rare a quite night in actually in. . and what the reality looks like. These books are an accurate look into normally family life and how the simplest things are the hardest to achieve - especially when your own children are like a herd of elephants!!! I do think these books are aimed at harressed parents and in that sense I feel I got more out of this than my own littlest elephant! !

[Peggy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's dad's birthday and mom plans a celebration. But dad gets home, he's too tired to enjoy the nice meal and ends up falling asleep on the couch reading a book to the children. You have to love these elephant parents.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would use this book for Pre-K or Kindergarten (based on if they takes naps) or with my own children but doesn't really work as a read aloud. Very cute story and parents can appreciate it, but not much of a main idea or theme.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Daddy Elephant's birthday and the children are being sent to bed early so that he can have a "quiet night in". Now if the parents get just get them into bed before they (the parents) fall asleep!

[s e n t i m e n t a l i t i e s olittlebear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull! Read for my preschooler as a bedtime story and what a bore! Lots of words but no fun. Depressing looking images of either angry elephants or tired elephants and the parents always referred to as Mr and Mrs Large. Not my cup of tea, thankyou.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

We read it a couple times, but then my daughter stopped requesting it. She has never had this experience of having my husband and I fall asleep on her!

[Sandybear76]

This one was a little longer than I usually read to the preschoolers but they still enjoyed it. Mrs. Large is planning a special birthday dinner for Mr. Large, who comes home form work very tired.