Now I Will Never Leave the Dinner Table

by Jane Read Martin, Patricia Marx, Roz Chast (Illustrator)

After refusing to eat her spinach, Patty Jane Pepper begins to feel as though she will live the rest of her life at the dinner table since her baby-sitter sister won't excuse her until she gives it a taste. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Food

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin takes a familiar trope - a child not allowed to leave the dinner table until the last bite of a dreaded foodstuff (usually a vegetable) has been eaten - and puts a fun spin on it: this time it's an older sister/babysitter who is doling out the punishment, while Patty Jane fantasizes about ways to get rid of her tormentor. A fun tale, though I probably wouldn't have picked it off the library shelf had it not been for Roz Chast's illustrations.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patty Jane will never leave the dinner table as long as her older sister (and babysitter) insist that she eat all her spinach. She plans on growing old at the table. Turning into a statue. And forcing her sister to live next door with the old couple who have no children.

[Kelli Poward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up for Ali at the library and this must be one of the best children's books for fun rhyme and repetition. Ali loved it and I loved it.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little kids' picture book. Meh.

[Helyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.5 stars, rounded up] Look, Roz Chast combined with girls who are picky eaters should be a sweet spot for me. The illustrations are bomb and there are a few good one-liners but this story and the characters didn't quite hold together well enough.

[Julie Grace Immink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grab a number, stand in line for a peek at Joy's diary.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounds up to four stars for me.