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The Smelly Sprout
A charming best-selling picture book by author and illustrator Allan Plenderleith. Thrown out into the snow on Christmas day, the smelly sprout comes up against a terribly rude Christmas tree, an awfully impolite snowman and, worst of all...a greedy fox. But will a chance encounter with someone as small as the sprout change everything? "The Smelly Sprout" is a Christmas classic. With deliciously witty illustrations and a story to touch the heart, this is a tale children and their parents will love. And one thing's for sure, love them or loathe them, you'll never look at a sprout in the same way again!
"For an offbeat seasonal story, beautifully drawn and full of sly humour, The Smelly Sprout by Allan Plenderleith is warmly recommended. It is a charming picture book about a neurotic, self-centred sprout that simply cannot understand why nobody likes it." --Telegraph (Weekend) - Max Davidson
"For an offbeat seasonal story, beautifully drawn and full of sly humour, The Smelly Sprout by Allan Plenderleith is warmly recommended. It is a charming picture book about a neurotic, self-centred sprout that simply cannot understand why nobody likes it." --Telegraph (Weekend) - Max Davidson
- GenresChildrens
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 26, 2019
As a young boy I did not like sprouts and often refused to eat them. What is more when my Mum cooked them I did not like the smell so when I saw 'The Smelly Sprout' I just had to buy it to see what it was about.
Thrown out into the snow on Christmas day when Mum and Dad had prepared the Christmas dinner and one solitary sprout was left at the bottom of the vegetable basket. The sprout decided to make himself known. But Mum and Dad don't like sprouts so they jointly shout, 'Out, smelly sprout!'
The sprout steps out into the big, wide world and immediately feels very lonely. Then he espies a Christmas tree but it is a terribly rude Christmas tree and one of the baubles sees it climbing the branches and shouts, 'Out, smelly sprout!' And off goes the sprout again.
He next encounters a snowman without a nose, so he decides that he will be that nose. But the snowman is awfully impolite snowman and shouts,'Out, smelly sprout!' So he sets off once more!
He ventures into a wood where he meets a mouse that chats with him before a greedy fox decides that he will eat the two of them. They try to rush away to safety but the fox catches the sprout, which jumps into his mouth. When the fox realises it is a smelly sprout he spits it out with the immortal words, 'Out, smelly sprout!'
But everything changes when the mouse and the sprout reunite and a happy and touching ending follows. Can you guess what it is? I suspect perhaps not … I wouldn't have done!
Thrown out into the snow on Christmas day when Mum and Dad had prepared the Christmas dinner and one solitary sprout was left at the bottom of the vegetable basket. The sprout decided to make himself known. But Mum and Dad don't like sprouts so they jointly shout, 'Out, smelly sprout!'
The sprout steps out into the big, wide world and immediately feels very lonely. Then he espies a Christmas tree but it is a terribly rude Christmas tree and one of the baubles sees it climbing the branches and shouts, 'Out, smelly sprout!' And off goes the sprout again.
He next encounters a snowman without a nose, so he decides that he will be that nose. But the snowman is awfully impolite snowman and shouts,'Out, smelly sprout!' So he sets off once more!
He ventures into a wood where he meets a mouse that chats with him before a greedy fox decides that he will eat the two of them. They try to rush away to safety but the fox catches the sprout, which jumps into his mouth. When the fox realises it is a smelly sprout he spits it out with the immortal words, 'Out, smelly sprout!'
But everything changes when the mouse and the sprout reunite and a happy and touching ending follows. Can you guess what it is? I suspect perhaps not … I wouldn't have done!
December 11, 2015
Sometimes I think there's something wrong with me. Sprouts do not have feelings..... do they ???.?
December 28, 2014
A lovely, Christmassy children's book. I bought it for my little brother who absolutely hates sprouts and could not help but have a sneak peak before I wrapped it. The ending was a little disturbing, but it was fun to read.
March 18, 2020
A very belated workplace Secret Santa gift, I probably wouldn't have bothered counting this book, had I not been left puzzling at the questions raised by the ending for longer than I spent reflecting on supposedly incomparable classic "literature" in days and years past.
It's exactly what it says on the tin. It's like a childrens' story. And yet the ending haunts me.
Why, I do not know.
It's exactly what it says on the tin. It's like a childrens' story. And yet the ending haunts me.
Why, I do not know.
September 30, 2017
The smelly sprout
This book is really good for young children.
It, and others from this particular author has supplied great enthusiasm for reading among my family.
This book is really good for young children.
It, and others from this particular author has supplied great enthusiasm for reading among my family.
April 23, 2020
My daughter loves this book and does all the sounds for it too hehe 😊
August 17, 2015
Do you remember those Carphone Warehouse ads*, with Mobli (sp?)? The Smelly Sprout is like those... a story that will have you crying at the fate of an inanimate object. I mean, let's be honest - a mobile phone doesn't know if it's lost and alone and a brussel sprout can't feel rejected, hurt and unwanted. Not that this will stop saps like me from feeling the little things using their heart strings for tug of war! I'm surprised that the other two reviewers didn't like the ending, which to me was the best bit - sprouts are meant to be eaten, and he is. He's happy to be wanted and about his new home in his new friend's tummy and the mouse survives the winter - and the fox - with his help. What's not to like?
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrGJE...
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrGJE...
April 6, 2015
Read this little book while I was waiting to pay for other books! It gave me a little giggle although the ending wasn't very nice! Poor sprout!
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December 27, 2016Amazing very funny
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews