Jennifer Huget

While the clay images, at first glance, tend to be spooky looking, the accompanying story is fun.

As the middle child notes, if you are planning to run away, you better have a reason. He has three reasons -- a baby sister who gets all the attention because she never, never stops crying, a brother who loudly plays his music in the basement. The run away calls him a "big, warty slug."

It seems they get all the attention. And, worse than anything, his mother threw away his collection of candy wrappers saved for a long, long time in order to be used as wall paper for his bedroom.

That is it!!!! He is leaving. Looking round his bedroom, he chooses the favorite toy to put on the top of the wagon along with the box of snacks of graham crackers, and a large box of gummy worms. Then he packs gum so he does not have to brush his teeth. A pillow and blanket is included, but no pjs because he will sleep in what he wears.

He buries his face in his pets and tells them he is sorry to leave them because, after all, it is not their fault his family is so darn mean.

Off he goes, taping the note where he knows the parents will find it, right where the bratty, cry baby is! As he piles his wagon, travels down the hill, away from all those pesky things he wants to put far behind, he discovers that home isn't all that bad. And, he returns into the waiting arms of his mother!… (más)

Although the title doesn’t sound like it, this book is a great fun story that’s shows the importance of family and home. In this book, the main character is angry with his family from his baby sibling getting all the attention, his older sibling getting to stay up later, and his mom throwing out his candy wrapper collection. After leaving a note and leaving, the boy reflects on all the good times he has had with his family like his dad teaching him how to swim, his mom’s spaghetti and his warm cozy bed at home. The nice message is complemented with pictures that look like they are photographs of clay figures designed specifically for this book. The pictures fill up the entire page and go into detail, making you spend time on every page soaking it all in. I really enjoyed this book!… (más)