Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast

by Philip C. Stead

Wild Man Jack isn't easy to please. Especially when Mama Jane serves him the one dish that he detests. Each day his children ask what he'll do if it arrives at the table, and each day he comes up with an even more colorful response. Not until Friday do things get really out of hand. Philip Christian Stead's call and response text and intricate collage art bring food and phobia to an entirely new level of hilarity in this sensational book for reading aloud.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Food, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Together with Erin, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book. Philip, also an artist, has written and illustrated several of his own books including Hello, My Name is Ruby, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, A Home for Bird, and his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast, which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.” Philip lives with Erin and their dog, Wednesday, in a 100-year-old barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Reviews

[Kelley]

Read to grades 2-3 during Summer Reading Program at our library

What's Wild Man Jack going to do if Mama June makes creamed tuna fish and peas on toast for him? It's his least favorite thing in the world to eat! Kids will laugh out loud as Wild Man does what must be done to creamed tuna fish and peas on toast!

[Mandy McHenry]

Cute pictures. Could be a good jumping off point for kids who are picky eaters. But I was seriously bugged that the kids call their parents by their first names. Too weird.

[Andrea]

Unusual story that wasn't terribly appealing after my first read through. Afterward, I found out this is a true story Philip Stead grew up with because it's about his Grandpa Jack.

[Holli Schoch]

One of those kids books that's nice and repetitive and funny from cover to cover

[Steph]

I completely LOVE this cover and title but when I read it... what?!?! And if that's what my hubby did when I cooked for him I'd be horrified!!!

[Nancy]

Creamed tuna fish and peas on toast SHOULD be buried...deeply buried!

[Caroline VanLandingham]

Silly read and great illustrations, but I think it may be too repetitive to maintain engagement during a group storytime.

[Alice]

3 stars
how very odd

[Kellie Deruwe]

Cute cute book! I always love books by Phillip Christian Stead. His books are so fun and creative. This book is about a man named Wild Man Jack who cannot stand creamed tuna fish and peas on toast. Several people throughout the book ask Wild Man Jack what he will do if Mama cooks creamed tuna fish and peas on toast and he replies with something like "I'll scream and complain 'cause I hate it the most!" All of Jacks responses in the book are funny and will make you laugh.

I think I found this book so funny because it is so relateable to ourselves or people we know. There is always that one food you just cant stand or you know someone who just hates one certain food. Several of the responses Wild Man Jack says in the story I have said the same thing or something very similar. I would recommend this to a younger audience, probably 3rd-4th grade and under.

[Nielson]

In this fun, country-feel book, Wild Man Jack's least favorite dish is creamed tuna fish and peas on toast. All of his kids are wondering what he will do if Mama Jane makes it for him....and in the end he does all that he says he will and more! The intricate collage artwork in this book is so unique but it is incredible! For parents out there who have kids with phobias to food, you will LOVE this book!

[Kelly]

I found this to be odd. Children would probably like it as much of the text repeats itself, so they could repeat along if one was reading this aloud. The title pulled me in - but the story well it was different.

[Samantha]

Wild Man Jack especially hates the dish creamed tuna fish and peas on toast so he makes a vow every day of the week explaining what he'd do if Mama Jane made that dish, and makes good on every promise.

I liked the mixed media artwork, but the story was just okay for me.

PreK-2.

[Benjamin Elliott]

I love the last few books this author has done so I was excited to go back and read this one when I found it. It feels smaller, like a first book, and he has definitely grown since this. Still, it was fun, and I enjoyed it.

[Megan]

What kind of story is this? And why are the kids always happy? And why doesn't his wife know it's the meal he hates the most after he's said it the whole week? And why does he do all those weird things? This book makes no sense.

[Marisa]

My daughter thought this book was really funny. The only thing I didn't like was the use of the word hate because it is a word I try to teach my children not to use.

[John]

Seemingly good read for K-2

[Gail]

Did not appeal to my three year old.

[Kelly]

I thought the pictures blended into each other too much and they were too messy. But the story is silly and kind of fun. Good repetition, too.

[Marina]

Odd story but cute illustrations.

[Martha]

I love these illustrations!

[Cathy]

I read about a new book by this author and found this early book as only okay.

[Tracy]

I can so identify with Wild Man Jack. I am not partial to any kind of creamed meat.

[Natalie Harvey]

LOVE the illustrations!

[M]

Yuck!

Can't wait to read this!