Manny’s review of The Very Hungry Caterpillar > Likes and Comments
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Your mother must be a brave, brave woman. An expert on Austen and Joyce, and she reads this to you, not once but many times, risking permanent brain damage just to give pleasure to her daughter. It's actually quite moving. The maternal instinct is truly the most powerful force in the world.
But if she likes gardening, surely she'd think of caterpillars as nasty things that are trying to eat her flowers?
I begin to see how she avoided the brain damage. She read the story sweetly to you, but all the time she was thinking: when I get to the end of the book, I'll SQUASH it! That would introduce some much-needed dramatic tension as well.
Well, I'm assuming you were young enough that it wasn't dangerous for you. Your mother sounds like a very responsible person. I understand that it's quite safe to read it if your mental age is under six. That's why George W. Bush was able to indulge as much as he wanted.
Well, they are the only kind W. can read, so it often happens.
Unless you really believe his claim that he read L'Etranger. Personally, I am sure that was one of Laura's better jokes. He asked her for advice on what he should tell the press that he'd read, and she just couldn't stop herself, it was too funny.
I have. And I completely believe his story that he took some very strong cough medication, followed by a single glass of wine. He wouldn't lie to us, would he?
You're right. He looks a lot more like a slug. I'm told they're very fond of beer.
Aaaaargh! All that discussion and you give it 5 stars! My debating skills are even weaker than I imagined :(
I think you dont like it because your a older man and dont care for childrens books and thats fine cause lots of people think that. peace
Abby wrote: "I think you dont like it because your a older man and dont care for childrens books and thats fine cause lots of people think that. peace"
Abby, I love children's books! Look at my children's shelf. I just don't like this one.
cause lots of people think that
That's why the children's book industry is so underground these days. You really have to know the right people at B&N to find Pigeon Wants a Puppy.
Take no guff from the Midwichians, Manny.
Montambo wrote: ""In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf."
Have you read that out loud, Manny? It feels so good."
Well, if the rest of the book were that brilliant, I'd feel differently about it!
Most Eric Carle I find pretty uninspired, but THIS one, this is the one that the kids loved at storytime.
It's all in relating to the actions of the caterpillar, Manny. Have you never eaten way too much food you shouldn't have (or perhaps just fantasized about it), and then had a stomachache?
Share this with a kid, and then see how you feel about it, that's my advice.
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "Most Eric Carle I find pretty uninspired, but THIS one, this is the one that the kids loved at storytime.
It's all in relating to the actions of the caterpillar, Manny. Have you never eaten way..."
Sure, sure, I get it, but just doesn't impress me. There's no depth, no twist.
My own kids thought it was OK when they were very small, but it wasn't a favorite. They preferred Swedish books. I've reviewed a bunch of them on my "children" shelf.
What?! This is a childhood treasure!
your judging a childhood treasure for 3 year olds on character development?
I judge everything on character development! Why should this be an exception?
Sawan, I'm glad to find that Dubya jokes still get the odd laugh.
Jamie, this is hardly a joking matter. Shakespeare at three leaves time for the slower kids to catch up (leave no child behind), and you're pretty much on track for A la recherche du temps perdu by six. In that context, may I be so bold as to recommend La madeleine de Proust?
It most definitely is in French - I would have thought that went without saying. Check it out, Jamie, check it out!
Manny wrote: "Well, they are the only kind W. can read, so it often happens.
Unless you really believe his claim that he read L'Etranger. Personally, I am sure that was one of Laura's better jokes. He asked her for advice on what he should tell the press that he'd read, and she just couldn't stop herself, it was too funny."
You slay me.
I actually think this is true! It's Laura's joke, not mine.
Wait! what about the part where he enters the apple and encounters James.
"This is my apple BITCH! Get the fuck back to your giant peach, the apples mine."
There follows a three round smackdown.
Aaaand do not forget the epic sex scene with the three plumbed mutant, oh yeah. lest we forget the imoportance of evolution at the end, that bit ain't no joke.
Including the part with the princess with the nice pair.. Sorry, nice pear.
Yes I was immensely bored one evening and wrote an epic version where he brings forth the sword of destiny and the poisoned feast at the end.
Damn you copyright. Maybe a blog is in order.
Dang me Manny, you can trash talk Tolstoy, Melville, Proust and other alleged "literary giants" all you want ... but don't you go shooting down the "real deal" with Eric Carle and "The Very Hungry Catepillar." Don't you do it! No Sah, that ain't right AT ALL.
I love it the picture's and the holes look like the food is actually eaten so funny and at the end it turns into a butterfly
Manny, I believe you are missing some nuances. Don't forget that Caterpillar is a manufacturing giant. Once you add the word hungry to it, the metaphorical possibilities are enormous.
Nandakishore wrote: "Manny, I believe you are missing some nuances. Don't forget that Caterpillar is a manufacturing giant. Once you add the word hungry to it, the metaphorical possibilities are enormous."
See, Manny? Eric Carle is much more po-mo than you thought.
But why does this obscenely voracious multinational turn into a beautiful butterfly at the end? Is it, uh, some kind of Marxist metaphor symbolizing the transformation of capitalism into the socialist state?
Manny wrote: "But why does this obscenely voracious multinational turn into a beautiful butterfly at the end? Is it, uh, some kind of Marxist metaphor symbolizing the transformation of capitalism into the social..."
I think you've hit nail on the head, Manny. But then why does George W. Bush like it? He might not be seeing the socialist angle, maybe.
I have long suspected that Dubya was really a Chinese mole. I think he may finally have blown his cover.
Manny wrote: "I have long suspected that Dubya was really a Chinese mole. I think he may finally have blown his cover."
Quite possible. Why don't write a book about it? This is compelling evidence.
You may not be thrilled by the artwork, but you can poke your little finger through the holes!
Hur gick det sen
has holes you can poke your finger through, and the writing is so much better that it's plain insulting to Tove Jansson even to make the comparison. So there!
And if you want to branch away from children's books, there's a whole series of Wicked Willie Does Stand Up books!
Lol can't believe you don't like the hungry caterpillar. Avoid Captain Underpants at all costs. It'll make you frightened for the future. :)
Manny wrote: "I've even reviewed one of them."
So you have. And I'd already commented on it!
Sorobai wrote: "Maybe you are missing G. W. Bush!?"
It's frightening that I had to stop and think about that.
better not think too much about that! I guess...
Sorobal, I have thought about it and decided I am not missing Dubya. I will miss Warren Harding instead.
always a difficult thing to decide, when you have to choose!
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Manny
(last edited Feb 18, 2009 01:47PM)
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Feb 18, 2009 01:46PM
Your mother must be a brave, brave woman. An expert on Austen and Joyce, and she reads this to you, not once but many times, risking permanent brain damage just to give pleasure to her daughter. It's actually quite moving. The maternal instinct is truly the most powerful force in the world.
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But if she likes gardening, surely she'd think of caterpillars as nasty things that are trying to eat her flowers?I begin to see how she avoided the brain damage. She read the story sweetly to you, but all the time she was thinking: when I get to the end of the book, I'll SQUASH it! That would introduce some much-needed dramatic tension as well.
Well, I'm assuming you were young enough that it wasn't dangerous for you. Your mother sounds like a very responsible person. I understand that it's quite safe to read it if your mental age is under six. That's why George W. Bush was able to indulge as much as he wanted.
Well, they are the only kind W. can read, so it often happens. Unless you really believe his claim that he read L'Etranger. Personally, I am sure that was one of Laura's better jokes. He asked her for advice on what he should tell the press that he'd read, and she just couldn't stop herself, it was too funny.
I have. And I completely believe his story that he took some very strong cough medication, followed by a single glass of wine. He wouldn't lie to us, would he?
You're right. He looks a lot more like a slug. I'm told they're very fond of beer.
Aaaaargh! All that discussion and you give it 5 stars! My debating skills are even weaker than I imagined :(
I think you dont like it because your a older man and dont care for childrens books and thats fine cause lots of people think that. peace
Abby wrote: "I think you dont like it because your a older man and dont care for childrens books and thats fine cause lots of people think that. peace"Abby, I love children's books! Look at my children's shelf. I just don't like this one.
cause lots of people think thatThat's why the children's book industry is so underground these days. You really have to know the right people at B&N to find Pigeon Wants a Puppy.
Take no guff from the Midwichians, Manny.
"In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf."
Have you read that out loud, Manny? It feels so good.
Have you read that out loud, Manny? It feels so good.
Montambo wrote: ""In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf."Have you read that out loud, Manny? It feels so good."
Well, if the rest of the book were that brilliant, I'd feel differently about it!
Most Eric Carle I find pretty uninspired, but THIS one, this is the one that the kids loved at storytime. It's all in relating to the actions of the caterpillar, Manny. Have you never eaten way too much food you shouldn't have (or perhaps just fantasized about it), and then had a stomachache?
Share this with a kid, and then see how you feel about it, that's my advice.
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "Most Eric Carle I find pretty uninspired, but THIS one, this is the one that the kids loved at storytime. It's all in relating to the actions of the caterpillar, Manny. Have you never eaten way..."
Sure, sure, I get it, but just doesn't impress me. There's no depth, no twist.
My own kids thought it was OK when they were very small, but it wasn't a favorite. They preferred Swedish books. I've reviewed a bunch of them on my "children" shelf.
What?! This is a childhood treasure!
your judging a childhood treasure for 3 year olds on character development?
I judge everything on character development! Why should this be an exception?
Sawan, I'm glad to find that Dubya jokes still get the odd laugh.
Jamie, this is hardly a joking matter. Shakespeare at three leaves time for the slower kids to catch up (leave no child behind), and you're pretty much on track for A la recherche du temps perdu by six. In that context, may I be so bold as to recommend La madeleine de Proust?
It most definitely is in French - I would have thought that went without saying. Check it out, Jamie, check it out!
Manny wrote: "Well, they are the only kind W. can read, so it often happens. Unless you really believe his claim that he read L'Etranger. Personally, I am sure that was one of Laura's better jokes. He asked her for advice on what he should tell the press that he'd read, and she just couldn't stop herself, it was too funny."
You slay me.
I actually think this is true! It's Laura's joke, not mine.
Wait! what about the part where he enters the apple and encounters James."This is my apple BITCH! Get the fuck back to your giant peach, the apples mine."
There follows a three round smackdown.
Aaaand do not forget the epic sex scene with the three plumbed mutant, oh yeah. lest we forget the imoportance of evolution at the end, that bit ain't no joke.
Including the part with the princess with the nice pair.. Sorry, nice pear.Yes I was immensely bored one evening and wrote an epic version where he brings forth the sword of destiny and the poisoned feast at the end.
Damn you copyright. Maybe a blog is in order.
Dang me Manny, you can trash talk Tolstoy, Melville, Proust and other alleged "literary giants" all you want ... but don't you go shooting down the "real deal" with Eric Carle and "The Very Hungry Catepillar." Don't you do it! No Sah, that ain't right AT ALL.
I love it the picture's and the holes look like the food is actually eaten so funny and at the end it turns into a butterfly
Manny, I believe you are missing some nuances. Don't forget that Caterpillar is a manufacturing giant. Once you add the word hungry to it, the metaphorical possibilities are enormous.
Nandakishore wrote: "Manny, I believe you are missing some nuances. Don't forget that Caterpillar is a manufacturing giant. Once you add the word hungry to it, the metaphorical possibilities are enormous."See, Manny? Eric Carle is much more po-mo than you thought.
But why does this obscenely voracious multinational turn into a beautiful butterfly at the end? Is it, uh, some kind of Marxist metaphor symbolizing the transformation of capitalism into the socialist state?
Manny wrote: "But why does this obscenely voracious multinational turn into a beautiful butterfly at the end? Is it, uh, some kind of Marxist metaphor symbolizing the transformation of capitalism into the social..."I think you've hit nail on the head, Manny. But then why does George W. Bush like it? He might not be seeing the socialist angle, maybe.
I have long suspected that Dubya was really a Chinese mole. I think he may finally have blown his cover.
Manny wrote: "I have long suspected that Dubya was really a Chinese mole. I think he may finally have blown his cover."Quite possible. Why don't write a book about it? This is compelling evidence.
You may not be thrilled by the artwork, but you can poke your little finger through the holes!
Hur gick det sen
has holes you can poke your finger through, and the writing is so much better that it's plain insulting to Tove Jansson even to make the comparison. So there!
And if you want to branch away from children's books, there's a whole series of Wicked Willie Does Stand Up books!
Lol can't believe you don't like the hungry caterpillar. Avoid Captain Underpants at all costs. It'll make you frightened for the future. :)
Manny wrote: "I've even reviewed one of them."So you have. And I'd already commented on it!
Sorobai wrote: "Maybe you are missing G. W. Bush!?"It's frightening that I had to stop and think about that.
better not think too much about that! I guess...
Sorobal, I have thought about it and decided I am not missing Dubya. I will miss Warren Harding instead.
always a difficult thing to decide, when you have to choose!
