The Great Pasta Escape

by Miranda Paul

Join a ragtag group of pasta as they complete the greatest escape of their lives in this hilarious new book by Miranda Paul!

Since the beginning of their lives (which was earlier that morning), the pasta at the factory followed the rules.

They stuck to their own kind.

They stayed still in their packaging.

And they never spoke to humans.

That is, until they discover what it really means to be They will eventually be eaten by humans! Fettuccine is scared, Ramen is outraged, and Mac is just trying to keep the peace among all the pasta. Will they be able to work together to use their noodles and concoct a great escape?

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Humor, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy

40 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2017

About the author

Miranda Paul has worked as a teacher, volunteer zookeeper, and freelance writer--among other things. She is passionate about creating stories for young readers that inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons. Miranda is also a thrill-seeker, and one of her bravest moments involved reciting poetry from inside a crocodile pit. (Yikes!)

In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.

Reviews

[Chance Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like a kids version of Sausage Party but with pasta. The illustrations have a gentle vulgarity to them. Even though everything turns out al dente for the pasta in the end, I found the story to be a little undercooked.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pasta at the factory were well-behaved, believing that if they followed the rules - sticking with their own kind, staying in their packages - they would be sent to a good place. Imagine their surprise and horror when they discovered that they were destined to be eaten! After much debate and a bit of fighting, they banded together to plot their escape...

Although I can imagine that many young children will find The Great Pasta Escape quite entertaining, for me it fell a little flat. The artwork by Argentine illustrator Javier Joaquin was colorful and appealing, with plenty of humorous detail, but the story itself just didn't amuse me. Maybe anthropomorphic food items just aren't for me? Tastes vary, of course (pun intended!), so other readers might feel differently.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of puns and silly humor!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't love this. It was cute, I just thought it would be more?
I'm not sure. All the different pastas are fun and there are some particularly cute parts like the tortellini fighting the ravioli, lol. But, this one just kind of fell flat for me. Now, that's not to say that children won't love it. It just wasn't my bowl of noodles.

...

Do you like what I did there? Ok, I'll see myself out.

-probably 3 for kids / 2 for me

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. The author personified each type of noodle. When they find that they are made to be eaten, they plan their great escape. Good dialogue.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn the different types of pasta in this silly picture book that is filled with verbal humor.

[Grant Hohlbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

But why is everyone sleeping on cavatappi?! Wild that cavatappi didn’t make an appearance, but the book is so good that it still manages to overcome this peccadillo.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It starts with the line Since the Beginning of Their Lives (which was earlier that morning). I was cracking up laughing. The story is so funny.

[Maria Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when pastas discover their ultimate destination?

The pasta believed that if they behaved and remained strictly separated and properly packaged, they would be rewarded by being sent to a magnificent place. Until, they overhear the plant workers talking about pasta lunches. An investigation of their packaging proves that they are "toast." 

Javier Joaquin's sense of humor is evident in the personalities he gives to the pasta. For instance, a formal, professorial bowtie pasta just screams to be read in with an English accent. In addition, Javier's images of each pasta's dreams of a special place are hysterical and sure to entertain the kids and adults. Who knew we had so much in common with pasta?

Filled with cooking and noodle puns, a heavenly helper, and ingenuity, Miranda and Javier have created a wonderful adventure with an enchanting ending.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming soon...another humorous picture book from Miranda Paul and illustrated by Javier Joaquin. You may or may not be hungry after you finish reading this book. If your pasta could talk? This story tells you what it would say and think. Like spaghetti and meatballs, you will find the text and illustrations perfectly paired in this delightful and entertaining pasta saga. The pasta personalities jump out in the dialogue and the illustrations enhance the story with even more hilarious undertones. Older picture book readers will appreciate the story within the story. Very funny and definitely a book to be read using a variety of voices. Loved it!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pasta behave themselves in the factory, sticking together and not speaking to humans. They figure if they behave themselves they'll go to a wonderful place. Then one day they hear workers say that they're hungry for pasta the pasta panics. Suddenly, they see lots of evidence that they're going such as the illustration of the woman eating pasta on the spaghetti box and the cooking instructions. They have to make a plan, but can the pasta successfully make their escape? This book is full of humor and I love the expressions on the pasta faces. What a fun read aloud that might make you hungry (sorry, pasta!) for your own pasta dinner!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often does a picture make me LOL... not just during the first sentence? But when I was reading the first half of the first sentence. Here it is:

Since the beginning of their lives
(which was earlier that morning),
the pasta at the factory
followed the rules.

Also worth a shout-out, even without any context:
They were very good noodles.

I loved this book. It was funny, funny, surprising, and funny.
(Especially pleasing as an outcome to this Goodreads reviewer because, in real life, when eating... I don't like any kind of pasta. Yet I still loved this book.)

Thank you, clever author Miranda Paul, and versatile artist Javier Joaquin.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-1st grade

All the pasta shapes are happy in the factory, all tucked tight in their boxes and ready to be shipped to their dream destination. That is until the noodles overhear the employees talking about eating their pasta lunches. Soon, the noodles are terrified and must come together to find a way to escape.

Delightful concept with lovely characters that would be fun to read-aloud but the story length felt too short for the intended audience. Maybe it is intended to be an early reader since the words are in bold and aren't too complex?

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

All varieties of pasta are worried about being cooked and eaten. They had been very good noodles staying with their own kind and planning to go to a super place. So macaroni and angel hair try to calm them down with a plan. They are all ready to run away or sacrifice one of the pastas. Their plan of escape is worth reading this clever picture book to find out what happens to all the pasta and what Angel hair's plan was for them to save themselves and close the factory.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids voted to give this book 5 stars.

It’s a funny book which reminds me of the clever picture book Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller. The pasta shapes think they’re heading off for vacation - but then realize they are going to be eaten. Yikes!

The artwork by Javier Joaquin pairs well with the text.

The kids enjoyed looking at the “Guide to Pasta Shapes” at the end of the book and matching them to the various characters in the story.

Another great book by Miranda Paul.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pasta stick to themselves. They don't mingle with other pastas, they don't speak to humans and they don't explore outside of the packaging. They are all waiting for the wonderful day when the are shipped to wonderful places, such as Average Joe's Supermarket.

But one day Fettuccine overhears two of the humans talking about eating pasta! Gasp!

All of the pastas come together to devise an escape plan. When they finally learn to work together they are able to figure out how to stay safe.

[Heather Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I really loved this book. We've now read it quite a few times and enjoy picking out the puns and naming the different types of pasta. This is a creative story about how different perspectives can come together and create a fantastic plan - all in the accessible kid-world of pasta. We cheer for the escape artists.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pasta have been obediently still in their packages, sticking to their own kind, not talking to humans...until they realize their reason for being is to be eaten! They plan a revolt to save themselves. Funny puns and an introduction to pasta in all its crazy forms. I can think of a bunch of craft projects go along with this wacky book.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The packages of pasta always stayed with their own kind, and never mixed. They dreamed of the wonderful places they were sent to when the humans shipped them from the factory. But after overhearing a conversation that told the truth, the pasta took action to make their escape. Provided a divine plan by an Angel they put their plan into action.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a dumb story. It didn't make sense, was contradictory and insulting in its preposterousness to both the adults who will be reading it AND the children who will be listening to it!!!

The Great Pasta Escape is the perfect example of how difficult it can be to write a really good picture book!!!

[Jenna Guggenmos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very entertaining, and sounded like almost every lesson in history. I think this book could be an intro to a history lesson, using a compare and contrast method. This book can also introduce different types of pasta, and used as a more lighter lesson on foods. I think this is a really fun book for kids to read and also makes a great read-aloud book!

[Madeline Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Great Pasta Escape" by Miranda Paul is a whimsical tale full of humor and adventure. The story, told from the perspective of pasta striving to avoid being eaten, is both creative and engaging. Paul's playful narrative and witty prose make this book a delightful read for children, sparking imagination and laughter.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful cast of characters! Teachers would be able to use this to teach humor and plot. Pay close attention to the illustrations which tells part of the funny story. Wonderful challenging vocabulary, first and second graders would love this.

[Saba N Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tickle your funny bone with this humorous tale of escape. While filled with puns and hilarious antics, the illustrations add to this delicious setup of various pasta having to work together to avoid the dinner plate. Kids are sure to devour this fun book, pun intended!

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

For young cooks who would love to see their favourite pastas come to life. Cute illustrations have all the different kind of pastas collaborating to get out of hot water. Finally they come up with a plan to escape all the hungry humans.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hilarious story finds all kinds of pasta, the main characters, learning that they are destined to be eaten unless they can escape the factory where they were originally made.

A fun food story.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like another reviewer, I felt that this was a watered down version of Sausage Party, so no points for creativity or originality. However, I think that kids will like that the pasta is trying to outwit the humans and the ending was cute,

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with laugh out loud moments and many pasta puns. My children and I enjoyed reading it together. The hilarious illustrations complement the text perfectly. I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers everywhere!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very punny. Cute story when pastas discover they are going to be eaten. They hatch a plan to get themselves out of there and to their island paradise. Out of Order signs in the factory seems to work well.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who doesn't really like to eat pasta, I was definitly cheering for them to make it out. This story might upset sensitive readers with talk of being eaten, but overall is pretty hilarious and would pair perfectly with a pasta craft!