by John Burningham
London: Random House, 1982
22 pp.
Age: 2 +
Interests: food, babies
Also by this author: Mr. Gumpy’s Outing, Borka, Come Away from the Water Shirley, Edwardo: The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World
The Hargraves have a new baby who will not eat anything, until his mother mashes up an avocado for him one day. The baby eats avocados every day and soon becomes very strong. Really, really strong.
I realize I’m reviewing an inordinate number of John Burningham’s books – I’ve got Mr. Gumpy’s Outing to do next – but they’re just so good, and this one came home from the library recently and my five-year-old regards it as nothing less than Hilarious. So…
This is a very, very funny book about a baby who grows rather supernaturally strong and performs amazing feats, the most dramatic of which involve chasing off a burglar and tossing two bullies into a pond. Amusing for all, with an added bonus if your child becomes keen on eating avocados!
Story is simple and direct, so would be good for two-year-olds, though it’s definitely funny enough to appeal to older ages.
Avocado Baby leaps into action
Rarest Kind of Best 