Five Minutes' Peace

I really like this book. I think it's a fun and funny little book. Mrs. Large (the mama elephant) just wants five minutes in peace without her three children bothering her, but no matter where she goes, they always find her and join in on her activity. I think the book very accurately represents a mother of young children who is tired and just wants to read the newspaper in silence. The book made me feel like I needed to apologize to my mom for never leaving her alone when I was little.

This is one of my favorite books from my childhood so I love reading it to my class and they find it just as silly as I did! A mama elephant just wants five minutes of peace from her little ones but can't seem to get it. Whatever she is doing, her children always find a way to join in.

Mrs. Large has 3 rambunctious elephant children who are quite a handful. So she makes herself a tray of breakfast and tries to sneak out the kitchen door, but the kids want to know where she’s going. Mrs. Large says she just wants 5 minutes’ peace from them to take a bath. The kids decide their mom can’t possibly want that much time away from them and one by one they invade the bathroom, reading stories, playing music, and bringing bath toys. Before she knows it, the kids have joined her splashing about in the tub. Mrs. Large gets out of the bath and manages to get 3 minutes and 45 seconds of peace in the kitchen before the kids come trooping down the stairs to find her.

The illustrations are delightful, full of exasperated looks show more from Mrs. Large and messy abandon from the kids. I especially love the baby elephant, who spends quite a few pages with a cereal bowl on his head and is so excited he forgets to take his clothes off before jumping into the tub. The text is short and printed in a large font, making it easy for a child who’s learning to read to follow along.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-45-five-minutes-peace-by-jill.h... show less

This book is sure to humor the tired mom who knows what it is like to "just want five minutes peace!!". Her rambunctious children have other ideas, however.

How can you not love (and identify with) this mother elephant? She just wants five minutes alone in the bath, but her family just doesn't understand.

I love this book series. This is a funny book that kids can relate to with their parents asking for a break.

Roll Around Floor Laughing! But is it for the child or the parent?