Centerburg Tales

by Robert McCloskey, Robert mccloskey (Author)

Homer Price (2)

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Further adventures of Homer Price, including those in which a juke box sets the whole town singing against its will and in which a mad scientist develops weeds that overrun the town.

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8 reviews
We read Homer Price as a family a while back, and when I heard about Centerburg Tales, I decided we ought to read this one, too—it sounded just as fun. This collection of stories feels a lot more off-the-wall than the first one, but still delightfully playful and engaging. I doubt I’ll ever forget Sparrow Courthouse or the giant ragweeds. We had a lot of laughs as we read these tall tales. It made for a fun read-aloud.
Further adventures of Homer Price, including those in which a juke box sets the whole town singing against its will and in which a mad scientist develops weeds that overrun the town.
Great collection of feel-good stories - including the old favorites, "Ever So Much More So", "The Gravitty-Bitties", and "Pie and Punch and You-Know-Whats" (about the song you just can't get out of your head).
It's been decades since I read Centerburg Tales, but the three stories included here are apparently taken from that larger book... which I do plan to reread soonish. ?áHere we enjoy the antics of the simple folks of this tiny mid-century town in Experiment 13," "Ever So Much More So," and "Pie and Punch and You-Know-Whats." ?áDelightful, but I'll reserve the higher rating for the full collection of stories."
½
A collection of short stories surrounding the strange citizens of the town of Centerburg.
Grandpa Hercules ?á(tall tales)
?á ?á ?áThe Hide-a-Ride (too silly to be racist against Indian braves")
?á ?á ?áSparrow Courthouse (clock hands subject to weight of birds)
?á ?á ?áLooking for Gold (Hopper adds his nuggets to pouches tied to his waist... then takes of his clothes to bathe....)
?á ?á ?áThe Gravitty-Bitties (a cereal salesman is inspired by the previous story)
Experiment 13 (a tax on ragweed seeds?)
Ever So Much More So (a 'snake oil' salesman)
Pie and Punch and You-Know-Whats (oh that poor library)"

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Robert McCloskey was born in Hamilton, Ohio on September 14, 1914. In 1932, he won a scholarship to the Vesper George Art School in Boston. Two years later he was commissioned to execute bas-reliefs for the municipal building in his hometown. Then he moved to New York to study at the National Academy of Design. He painted for two summers on Cape show more Cod, but only sold a few water colors during that time. After meeting with a children's book editor, he moved back Ohio and began to draw and paint the things around him in everyday life. The result was Lentil, the story of a boy and his harmonica in a typical Midwestern town. He returned to New York, where Viking Press acquired the book. He then got a job in Boston, assisting Francis Scott Bradford in making an enormous mural of famous people of Beacon Hill. It was there that he got the idea for Make Way for Ducklings, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1942. During World War II, he was a sergeant in the Army. Stationed in Alabama, he was assigned to draw training pictures. After the war, he continued to write and illustrate children's books including Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder, and Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man. Time of Wonder was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1958, making McCloskey the first artist to receive this honor twice. In 1974, he was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association for continued distinguished contribution to children's literature. He died on June 30, 2003 at the age of 88. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Centerburg Tales: More Adventures of Homer Price; Centerburg Tales
Original publication date
1951
People/Characters
Homer Price
First words
The Centerburg Courthouse clock was just striking eight as Homer rode into the town square.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Then, as the music coming from the jukebox ended with a spasmodic chord, Homer turned to the sheriff and said, "Sheriff, here's your piece of hip pie."

Classifications

Genres
Children's Books, Fiction and Literature
DDC/MDS
823.91Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-1999
LCC
PZ7 .M1336 .CLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresJuvenile belles lettres
BISAC

Statistics

Members
1,467
Popularity
15,831
Reviews
7
Rating
½ (4.27)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
16
ASINs
22