MORTIMER

MORTIMER

Written by Robert Munsch & Illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Annick Press

• Paperback: 32 pages

• Ages: 3 and up

My Granddaughters love this story so much that I am asked to read this story over and over - sometimes twice on one night.

We loved Murmel, Murmel Murmel by Robert Munsch so much that we decided to read more of his books starting with this one.

The cover makes me laugh because I imagine my Granddaughter's face as she sings-shouts with Mortimer. She is too cute for words.

In my opinion this story starts off a little strange. Mortimer's mother opened the door to his room and throws him into bed and says, "MORTIMER BE QUIET." 

How rude! Mortimer looks so small in his big fluffed up bed. What kind of mother is she?

But as soon as the mother gets downstairs, Mortimer (and my Granddaughter) sing at the top of their lungs,

Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang

Gonna make my noise all day.

Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang

Gonna make my noise all day.

Just look at Mortimer on the book cover singing his heart out just as my little angels sing.

Well Mortimer makes so much noise that his father goes into Mortimer's room and yells, "MORTIMER BE QUIET." 

Mortimer is compliant and shakes his head, yes. But as soon as father gets downstairs Mortimer sings his song again. And once again my little Hunny Bunny sings too.

Mortimer's seventeen brothers and sisters tell Mortimer to be quiet.  Then the police do the same. But every time he is left alone in his room, Mortimer sings his song at the top of his lungs.

No one knew what to do about Mortimer. Everyone starts to fight with each other. It's their turn to make a lot of noise. 

In the meantime, Upstairs, Mortimer got so tired waiting for someone to come up that he fell asleep.

MURMEL MURMEL MURMEL Written by Robert Munsch

MURMEL MURMEL MURMEL Written by Robert Munsch & Illustrated by Michael Martchenko


Publisher: Annick Press Ltd.
Pages: 32
Ages: 2 and up

This is another one of those books that I do not remember where it came from. I do know that it has been here for a long time. I wonder if my daughters remember?

This story begins when Robin goes out to her backyard and finds a huge hole in her sandbox. She yells down the hole, " ANYBODY DOWN THERE?" Something calls back to her, "Murmel, Murmel, Murmel." She pulls out an adorable baby.

Robin quickly decides to find someone to take care of the baby because she is only five years old.

Off Robin goes on her quest to find someone to take care of this  little baby. Unfortunately she has trouble as she comes across one unlikely candidate after the other. She meets a women who is being chased by seventeen diaper sales men, an old woman with seventeen cats, a business woman surrounded by seventeen secretaries, nine messengers and a pizza delivery man.

Exasperated Robin sits down on the curb. She doesn't know what to do. She can't find the right person to take care of the baby. 

Then a truck driver walks up to Robin and looks at the baby. She asks him if needs a baby. The baby says, "Murmel, Murmel, Murmel." The truck driver decides he does need the baby and he walks off down the street with the baby in his arms.

Robin yells out to the truck driver - you forgot your truck. He replies that he already has seventeen trucks. "What I need is a baby . . . "

My granddaughters think the baby is so cute. They think the different characters in the story are silly and they are glad Robin finds a home for the baby. They also think Robin looks silly driving the great big truck.