Hungry Jim

by Laurel Snyder, Chuck Groenink (Artist)

When Jim wakes up one Tuesday morning, he doesn't feel like eating his pancakes. In fact, Jim doesn't feel like Jim. He feels rather, well, beastly. But he is hungry. Very hungry....This tale of moods from Laurel Snyder and Chuck Groenink offers a depiction of the beastliness that lives inside all of us—and the power we have to put it in its place.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Food, Emotion, Fiction

56 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2019

About the author

Laurel Snyder is the author of six children's novels, "Orphan Island," "Seven Stories Up," "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as many picture books, including "Charlie & Mouse," "The Forever Garden," "Swan, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova," and "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher."

A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).

Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this is supposed to be about hunger... but I don't like the way it's handled. The child learns nothing, other than to give in to his hunger. Even if that means that others have to be eaten.

I suppose Jim is so hungry that he feels like a beast (so he envisions himself as a lion). His mother offers him pancakes, but Jim is too hungry for those. So he eats his mother instead. (Yikes.) Then he goes on a rampage through town, eating a dog and dog-walker, an old lady, a little girl, and the entire contents of a butcher shop. But he's still hungry. So he runs into the woods to grouse at his still-growling stomach. There, he meets a bear who threatens to eat him. But Jim eats the bear first. Finally sated, he returns home, barfing out the various people he consumed along the way. When he gets back to his room, he pukes up the bear. But the bear's pissed, so Jim has to eat him again. Then he's hungry for pancakes.

I don't even know what to make of this. On the surface, it's silly and kids might like it. But I bet psychologists could have a field day with this one. What's the symbolism behind devouring and then regurgitating one's own mother?

This one just isn't for me. I'm sure it will tickle some readers, but I found it a little disturbing. Jim doesn't even try to control himself. What other types of hunger will he give in to as he grows older?

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect to use when talking, "what is this book really about?"

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd. Creepy. Kind of funny at the end. Just not my cup of tea and neither of my kids loved it.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious story about the hungry beast we sometimes wake up as and a wonderful tribute to Maurice Sendak who first understood about the wild beast inside all of us.

Laurel Snyder's text is pitch perfect with an opening sentence that will grab the attention of every kid in the room! Chuck Groenink's illustrations are equally terrific using lots of 2-page spreads, warm tones and different perspectives. There is definitely a wild-things feel to the book but it is also very definitely it's own creation.

Wonderful to use with a group or as a lap book, to use as a discussion starter or writing prompt or simply to enjoy!

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually found this book rather strange. I presume it's supposed to be whimsical, and the illustrations certainly hearken back to early European fairy tales (replete with [unexpected] imagery of people getting eaten), but the lines between reality and imagination are never demarcated (is the whole thing a dream??), we know nothing about Jim or why he wakes up as an angry lion (although we see from the photos on the wall that it's just he and his mother...is that significant??), the whole bear issue confused me (does the bear represent someone/thing??), and I'm not convinced many of the children I have known and do know would be any less confused.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a twist of humor, the beastly nature comes out in all of its horribleness and breaks the normal mold of picture book material often seen today.

When Jim wakes up and hears his mother calling for breakfast, pancakes is the last thing he wants to eat. He feels beastly, and his stomach agrees. With a desire to devour far more than just a usual breakfast, Jim finds that no matter how much he tries to satisfy his beastly tummy, it demands more.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this one, and I'll admit that it left me a little surprised. It wasn't because I didn't like the tale...it is a treat!...but it doesn't follow the sweet, innocent, heavy, lovely message norms of modern picture books. In other words, it breaks past a few barriers and might even offend some adults. And it's good so! For what 'beastly' attitude sticks with prim-and-proper? The message is a little hidden but doesn't take much to realize what's being said. It does open up for discussions on how to deal with those more terrible feelings we might have—if the caretaker would like to do this.

When Jim devours his mother before heading out of the door, it's clear he's having an inner battle. Young listeners will feel his struggle and still gasp and giggle as he eats one thing/person after the next. The illustrations are well done and flow right with the story. Jim comes across as sweet despite his horrible urges. The twist at the end holds a little tension and more than a little surprise. It's sure to grab young listeners attention and have them demanding to hear the tale again.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just the cutest book, I loved it! Hungry Jim just keeps eating and eating and still wants more! Sadly, I can relate.....

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those that ever wake up feeling not quite themselves, but quite wild and crazy, will definitely be able to see themselves in this clever picture book. Jim wakes up to discover that he's a lion and he is very, very hungry. So hungry that he goes downstairs and eats his mother and everyone else that he encounters in his neighborhood. Thankfully, as he thinks it all over, he decides to put everyone back where they belong and go about his day. In a note at the end of the story, the authors dedicate the book to the memory of Maurice Sendak. If you look closely at the artwork in Jim's bedroom, you can see another nod to Sendak's award-winning book, Where The Wild Things Are. This would be a fun book to share with young readers and also young writers who are looking for ways to describe their own wild days.

[Carol V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children are going to love this book! It is a storyteller's dream! A real read-aloud book! Little Jim is so hungry when he wakes up. Mom calls him down for breakfast, but wait, he has grown a tail! A real adventure awaits. Will the pancakes wait? The illustrations and story line work well in telling this delicious tale!

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely tribute to Maurice Sendak, but I'm not sure about the subtitle above. I liked it, but it was interesting how my sister did not because of the child eating the little girl (and it was the illustration that bothered her the most). Led to a lovely discussion and chance to look at lots of Maurice Sendak. It might be interesting to see how older kids (who loved or never saw Where the Wild Things are) react to Hungry Jim. Probably won't have time for a while at Mesa so if anyone reads this with 4th or 5th graders I'd love to hear their reactions.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim wakes up one morning not feeling quite himself, after all he doesn’t usually have a tail to swish. His mother calls that she’s made pancakes for breakfast, but Jim isn’t in the mood for pancakes. He’s feeling beastly, so he heads downstairs for something delicious to eat, his mother! Jim is still hungry after that and heads out into the small town, munching on person after person. It’s not until he meets a hungry bear in the woods and Jim himself may be eaten that he manages to stop. On the way back, he spits out each of the people he ate. But he may not quite be done devouring things after all.

Everyone has some beasty part of their nature. This picture book captures that with a great sense of humor. It has connections to classic stories of gorging, but doesn’t end in quite the expected way, which is delightful. The creators mention Maurice Sendak in their dedication, and one immediately can connect this story with his. There is a great moment towards the end of the book where Jim returns to being human, but not entirely. It’s a reminder that even if we appear human, that beast still lingers and is hungry.

The art by Groenink has a distinct Sendak feel in its lines and color palette. The woods takes on a Wild Things vibe in its drama. The devouring is done in a very fairy tale style with no gore, just gulping, which takes the scariness away and also ties this nicely to classic stories like Little Red Riding Hood.

A book that is sure to appeal to your little beast. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Jim wakes up and his tail is asleep. Wait, Jim doesn't have a tail. Or does he? His mother calls up the stairs to announce that there are pancakes for breakfast. He doesn't feel like pancakes; he feels like a beast!

Jim proceeds down the stairs and finds his mother in the kitchen. Jim finds her quite delicious. As he leaves his house and walks down the street he also finds a delicious woman walking her dog, a woman sweeping the street, a little girl and her donut the butcher and... a BEAR! Finally he is stuffed full and heads home. Along the way home he regurgitates everything. The bear comes out last at home. Finally jim is back to feeling like a little boy. But what about the bear in his bedroom? Yum!

So many people read children's books with far too much literalness! This book is about imagination! And to those of you who said your children didn't like it? Did you read it to them as if you didn't like it? Then that's why they don't! I've read this in storytime with the sense of play and adventure intended and the kids LOVED it. So get over yourselves and let your imagination take over!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems to have a different effect on everyone... My take: I feel like Jim sometimes... get up and feel like a lion, treat people badly, have regrets, must make penance... if only it was so easy as putting the people back where they came from (once you've eaten them... hmm... sometimes it's too late to go back with digestion and all, but this is a picture book, it doesn't have to go by real life rules). Saying sorry can go an awful long long way. Definitely see the Sendak influence on words and images.

Hungry Jim will certainly find fans in the right age group that love to be shocked and surprised. Reminds me a bit of That Is Not a Good Idea! and Tadpole's Promise.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the most easygoing individual cannot maintain such a demeanor consistently and constantly. For there resides in each being a wildness. Although it usually waits to be called, sometimes it bursts forth unbidden. It has a craving; a craving needing to be satisfied.

At the appearance of this ferocity, there are usually two choices. You can either succumb or decide to fight back the urge. Hungry Jim (Chronicle Books, September 3, 2019) written by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by Chuck Groenink portrays a young boy whose morning begins not exactly as planned.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim considers his breakfast option and goes on a jaunt as a lion.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC. . .

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! cutest book ever

[Mollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sendak influence is palpable, and the creators acknowledge this at the end. I thought it was really fun!

[Cyril · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author & illustrator dedicate this book to Maurice Sendak, and you can really feel his wild, anarchic spirit in the story. Our two-year-old LOVED it.

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful picbook is a new classic. I love the dark themes, presented in a whimsical way, in the vein of Maurice Sendak.

[Jessie Sima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I would have LOVED to read as a kid. I also loved reading it now. The art is beautiful, the writing is great, and both parts work so well together to create visual humor. The story is also emotionally resonant. One of my favorite bits reads:

Jim ran.
He ran some more.
He ran fast and away.
But wherever Jim ran, there he was.

So good.

[Lauren- The Smile Lines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to kidlitexchange for a free review copy of this picture book.
.
The illustrations are nicely done in Hungry Jim. The story is very interesting. I cannot say that I really loved it. It was a little confusing and for my kids. The use of Shut Up and I hate you were a little hard for me to say as a read aloud.

I know there is a deeper meaning, as people discussed, but it just did not work for me. The humor and idea of everyone having a beastly side might work for older children rather than the recommended 3-5year old audience.

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delicious.

The illustrations are magnificent.

[Sarah Hoppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird and wonderful! I love it.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do we handle the beasts inside us? (Fun nods to Maurice Sendak!)

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tasty homage to Sendak and Where the Wild things Are with just a hint of Pfeiffer's Bark, George. The art too balances nicely between new and familiar. I loved it.

Library copy

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim wakes up terribly hungry on a Tuesday morning, and when his mother calls him to come down for his breakfast of pancakes, he gives in to his beastly nature and gobbles her up. Although Jim doesn't feel good about what he's done--after all, she was his mother--he's still hungry, and he goes on a rampage. As he heads down the street and into town, his hunger consumes him, and he eats just about everyone with whom he comes in contact. Feeling guilty, he heads into the woods where he eats a bear that is threatening him. Then, he retraces his steps and expels all those individuals he has eaten. He has one more challenge to face when he goes to his room. The influence of Maurice Sendak is present in the book as the author and illustrator acknowledge, and readers will clearly see that there is a beastly or a wild side to each of us. How far we go in following those wilder urges is up to us, of course, but there are consequences for our actions. The pencil and Photoshop illustrations leave much to the imagination of readers, eschewing the violence but instead showing and empty dog leash and shoes and a poop bag and a broom and a doughnut, the things left behind by those individuals devoured by Jim in his beastly form. This picture book might be a good one to share before discussing behavior and urges to act out or behave impulsively with youngsters or it might be fun to pair it with Where the Wild Things Are to note the similarities and differences as well as that Sendak influence.

[Bonnie Lambourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an almost 5... and if it was not an homage, it could be a 5, or if we knew why Jim was hungry [translate to angry - or feeling like an animal] then I'd give it a 5. Because the absurdity and actions made me laugh, the artwork is perfect through most of the book. [I personally did not love the last few pictures as much as the rest.] And well, though I love visual metaphor, I am still a bit confused about the final eating of the bear.

But for those of us who know and love Sendak, and by the author and illustrator's own dedication after the story, this is a clear homage to Sendak -whom they mention as unrivaled. It references from the wild things "We ate him up. We loved him so." But this story reminds me more of the story of Pierre, or even bits of Sendak's Higglety Pigglety Pop.

As a loving tribute to Sendak, it is fun and funny. But the story is less clear than Sendak's books. An excellent job for someone trying to honor without redo, and worth reading for the sheer fun of the ideas. Maybe let the kids tell you what it means.

But Maurice, I still miss - so don't forget to go back and share some of his books you may have missed or missed sharing with your own kids.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like confusing story lines and unsatisfying endings, then this is the book for you! Jim wakes up one morning feeling rather beastly, which makes sense since he has somehow morphed into a lion. He pads down the stairs for breakfast and decides to devour his mother instead of the pancakes she has whipped up. Unfortunately, Jim is still hungry. Famished in fact. He heads out the door and ends up chomping down several more people and a dog, but he still can’t satisfy his stomach. Standing on the edge of the cliff, Jim becomes contemplative, wondering how he will ever soothe his grumbling stomach, when a bear comes out of nowhere and attacks. In a rather frightening spread, Jim leaps toward the bear with his claws out and mouth open. After gobbling up the bear Jim heads home, vomiting up all of the people he had swallowed earlier, including his dazed mother. Back in his bedroom Jim transforms back into a boy who is unsure what to do with the bear he brought home. He ends up eating the bear and doesn’t feel bad about it at all. The theme of this picture book is unclear and some of the language and imagery may be a bit strong for young readers.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a really weird book and I don't really understand it.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

It's basically about a little boy who wakes up to find out he has turned into a very hungry lion. So he gobbles up his mom in the kitchen after some debate whether to eat her or not then goes into town and eats everyone he meets on the street, but he's still hungry. In the end he meets a bear and the bear wants to eat the lion. The lion asks the bear if he has to eat him in which the bear replies with, "Yes because i'm a bear". The lion says "Oh." and then eats the bear and is finally stuffed. So he goes home and ends up spitting up everyone he ate, including his mom in the kitchen at home. When he got to his room he spit up the bear and turned back into a boy (we see the transition through the illustrations). Well, now there's a problem because it's a little boy and a big bear in the room. But no worries because the boy eats the bear. Um, what? and then the boy goes downstairs and is finally ready for his pancakes.

Such a weird story. I have many questions.