Pamela Allen (1) (1934–)

I bought this book for my nieces. They've asked me to read it about twice a week since then - and we have so many books, that's quite significant!

What I loved about it, more than the fact that the kid can really see how *everybody* sank the boat (very clearly illustrated), is the fact that it clearly presents a common narrative form - the most unlikely person is the one who sinks the boat.

The first time I read it, I paused to ask the older niece if she knew who sank the boat (the question is show more repeated several times throughout the book), and she answered it correctly, without even thinking - of *course* it's the teeny tiny mouse who sank the boat! Who else would it be?

To me, that's more important at the age of four than understanding about buoyancy, or understanding the idea of the last straw. show less

A cute read that encourages perception and discernment from children. Who sank the boat? Supposedly a tiny mouse....but, children delight in realizing the half ounce mouse isn't the real culprit!

This is one of my favorite children's picture books. It is a very creative story about a king who loves to eat. After indulging all too often he finds himself way overweight and unable to do what he loves to do anymore. After overindulging one dinner time he gets sick and sacks his team of chefs. When he gets better, he gets hungry again and cannot find anyone to prepare his food. The stable boy takes pity on him and shares his simple lunch of brown bread and honey.

These basic details do show more not do justice to Pamela Allen's charming way of telling the story. It is full of clever alliteration and is an absolute joy to read aloud. show less

Pamela Allen created a couple of the very favourite picture books of my early parenting years -- Who Sank the Boat? and Mr Archimedes Bath -- so it seemed a fair bet to buy one of her books for a relative who is currently in the early years of her life. Having stolen a read, I think it's a good choice: a cat chases a mouse, which runs into a jar; the cat gets its head caught in the jar and spends most of the book trying to shake the jar off and catch the mouse, filling page after page with show more its acrobatic contortions. It's far too repetitive for my taste, but I expect it will be a source of sustained joy for my great niece. show less