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Custard Surprise
First published 2007 · 48 pages
A delightfully chaotic romp through a bustling animal diner that serves up giggles and reading confidence in equal measure.
What it feels like
Reading this early chapter book feels like stepping into a wonderfully chaotic, sunlit kitchen where the orders are piling up and the chefs are in over their heads. The narrative moves at a brisk, bouncy clip, perfectly mirroring the escalating silliness of demanding animal customers asking for the impossible. It is a story steeped in a cheerful, bustling mood, wrapping its gentle slapstick in a cozy, reassuring atmosphere. The prose is intentionally crafted for newly independent readers, using rhythmic repetition and accessible vocabulary to build confidence without sacrificing the fun. It will thoroughly delight young readers transitioning to longer stories, offering them a satisfying, giggle-inducing journey from culinary disaster to a perfectly sweet, surprising triumph.
- Mood
- cheerful
- bustling
- chaotic
- cozy
- Tone
- humorous
- playful
- lighthearted
- silly
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- culinary chaos · problem solving · animal antics · hospitality
- The writing
- Simple, rhythmic, and highly accessible, utilizing repetition and clear vocabulary to empower developing readers.
- The arc
- Starts with the overwhelming stress of a bustling new business and resolves into a triumphant, giggle-inducing success.
- Who it's for
- Newly independent readers who delight in gentle slapstick, talking animals, and food-based humor.
About the book
Two chickens, Dinah and Rufus, find that running a diner is harder than they expected when every customer wants something that is not on the menu, until finally someone comes in for whom the Custard Surprise is just right.
"High interest stories for developing readers"--Page 2 of cover.
"This edition is available for distribution only through the school market"--Page 2 of cover.
Originally published: New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, ℗♭2007.
Description from Open Library.
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