Don't Step on the Crack!

by Colin McNaughton

When a young boy decides to challenge the popular old saying about stepping on cracks in the sidewalk, he comes to find out that it is a valid warning as a number of weird and strange things suddenly begin to happen in his life.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Picture Books, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

Growing up in his native England, the young Colin McNaughton had little indication that he would one day become an author-illustrator. There were no books at all in his parents' home, he recalls, but there were always comics. These were his formative literature, and their slapstick humor has been a lasting influence. "I've been talking about the comic format for years," he says. "It's the modern way of telling stories for today's children; it's about movement, the step between film and the book."


Colin McNaughton says he "hated school. The word 'school' still gives me nightmares." Opting for technical college, he admits he even "made a mess of getting in there -- I'd filled out the application wrong, and when I turned up for registration they'd never heard of me!" So he worked at odd jobs for the next year before entering art school. Although his first book was published while he was still in school, Colin McNaughton did not immediately become a full-time artist. He first tried editorial and advertising work, but did not find the satisfaction that he got out of creating children's books. "At the end of it, there it is, a book on the shelf, not like a newspaper in the gutter. In fact, once you start thinking about it, it's a smashing job!" If the response to his books is any indication, children and adults seem to agree that Colin McNaughton is doing a "smashing job."


Colin McNaughton lives in London with his wife.

Reviews

[Ruby Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous book about the superstition of stepping on cracks on the pavement. I really like the way that some of the pages are split so that you can see the narration at the top, and then the boy’s thoughts and dialogue in the speech bubbles underneath. This is a useful model for children when thinking about how characters in a given text are feeling, and how they might portray this through speech.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at one of the oldest superstitions in a child's world. A young lad is reminded not to step on any cracks in the pavement on a sidewalk, unless he's ready to endure the mishaps that await him, and none of them involves the breaking of his mother's back.

[Ayush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hella funny

[Apoorva Srinivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I found this book silly as an adult, every time we read this book to my child, it used to Crack him up 😂

[Sara Lemonade · Rating 3 out of 5]

They won't tell you which crack is the crack you shouldn't step on, or if there even is a crack you shouldn't step on. It could be any crack, so don't step on any crack. It could be no crack, but you don't want to chance something bad happening. What could happen? They won't tell you that either; it could be anything. Anything bad. Or it could be nothing.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny stuff! It was a good reminder of just how silly some superstitions can be.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

read at library to my sons special needs class. it was a favourite with the other kids in my sons class, but did not grab my son's attention.

[Jessica Jernigan · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was not well written and a little scary for a children's book. my daughter enjoys the scary books usually but the author and illustrations took this a bit far.

[Sandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids liked this book because they are currently obsessed with the game. I found the book to be a bit weird--so maybe I am too grown up for it. We liked the illustrations though.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

We absolutly love this one at our house.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes we've done it as a child. I think this book goes too far. The boy is afraid to move by the end.