PPBF: Journey Cake, Ho!

JCHcover Heading for the hills this weekend – will reply later!

Author: Ruth Sawyer Illustrator: Robert McCloskey Publisher: The Viking Press, 1953 Ages: 3+ Themes: farm/farmers, animals, run-away food Opening: There were three of them: the old woman, Merry; the old man, Grumble: and Johnny, the bound-out boy. They lived in a log cabin, t’other side of Tip Top Mountain. Summary: (from my library catalogue) Johnny is leaving the farm because of hard times when his Journey Cake leads him on a merry chase that results in a farm yard full of animals and the family all together again. JCHtitlepage I like this book because: I adore the flavor of dialect in this classic’s rhythmic text from Ruth Sawyer, with words like ‘this-wise’, ‘nettlesome’, and ‘all of a tucker’. The very simple use of just two contrasting tones from master book maker Robert McCloskey, of Make Way for Ducklings fame, make the pictures pop, but I really appreciate the bold line strokes used to create texture and infuse energy in these traditional illustrations (pssst -I plan to post more McCloskey favorites this year). JCHrunawayfood Resources/activities: Read about the history of America’s first pancakes, and make the recipe – HERE ; put on a play, like the kids from the Atlanta School – with music! – in the video below (17:30mins – play is over after 13 )

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

28 thoughts on “PPBF: Journey Cake, Ho!

  1. I looooove pancakes, so you got my attention, right there. Something else got my attention to and made me giggle to myself. “Tip Top Mountain”…. We have our famous Tip Top Ice cream…. hehehe… I am wondering where the author got that idea from… mmm
    Looks a lovely clean line illustrated fun story. Thanks, Julie.

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  2. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love McCloskey’s art! The dialect thing makes me think of Twain. And then I can’t help but think how interesting the books would be if Twain had written picture books. 🙂

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  3. Pingback: Day 7 (last) #picturebookpicnic giveaway | julie rowan-zoch

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