Mod 2: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett

Summary:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tells the story of a family enjoying breakfast when the grandfather flips a pancake onto his grandsons head.  That evening the Grandfather tells a wacky tale about a town known as Chewandswallow where it rains food.  The town residents eat whatever comes with the weather, and everything was gray until the weather got weirder.  Unappetizing foods rained first, such as overcooked broccoli or brussels sprouts with mayo.  Eventually the weather became violent with tomato soup tornadoes and giant meatballs crushing homes and cars.  The towns folk were forced to leave and start a new life in a new town, never to return to Chewandswallow.  The book ends with the children enjoying a snowy day with their grandfather that they swear smells and looks like mashed potatoes.  

Barrett, J. (1978). Cloud with a chance of meatballs. New York, NY: Antheneum Books.

My Impressions:

A classic story that is showing its age a little, especially in the artwork.  If you compare this story based just on look alone to most modern picture books and even the movie that was (very loosely) based on this story you can easily tell that the artwork is no longer in style.  The story is still fun, however.

Professional Review:

Gr 1-3-In the town of Chewandswallow, the citizens enjoy the bounties of the skies, and open-roofed restaurants allow diners to catch their dinner. Unfortunately, the weather takes a turn for the worse, and there is no choice but to flee from the falling food. The detailed pen-and-ink illustrations begin in black and white, but as the tale progresses, colors join the black line details. A savory story to share over and over again.

Gallagher, G. (2006). Cloudy with a chance of meatballs [a review of the book Cloudy with a chance of meatballs by Judi Barrett]. School Library Journal, 52(7), 45. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/211815981?accountid=7113

Usage in a Library Setting:

Maybe this book could be read before a screening of the movie that was based upon it and discussion could be had as to how different the two stories really are and what, if anything about them is the same.