All in One Piece' by Jill Murphy is a really fun read for little children and parents alike. Jill Murphy is quite a prolific children's writer and is well known for her 'Worst Witch' series of books. She has also written a number of books about a family of elephants, called the Large family,and ... Read review
Advantages: Good story and illustrations Disadvantages: none
All in One Piece' by Jill Murphy is a really fun read for little children and parents alike. Jill Murphy is quite a prolific children's writer and is well known for her 'Worst Witch' series of books. She has also written a number of books about a family of elephants, called the Large family,and this book is part of that series. This particular one was written in 1987 and has certainly stood the test of time!
Although they are elephants, ... ...are ready for bed - all Granny needs to do is entertain them!
But of course, things don't run as smoothly as Mum would like! Within minutes the young elephants are upstairs trying to help Dad shave, putting on Mum's make up and trying on the clothes she has put out ready to wear! Mrs Large shouts at the children to go down stairs and wonders whether it is possible to have just one night to herself in the year when she is not covered ... more
All in One Piece' by Jill Murphy is a really fun read for little children and parents alike. Jill Murphy is quite a prolific children's writer and is well known for her 'Worst Witch' series of books. She has also written a number of books about a family of elephants, called the Large family,and this book is part of that series. This particular one was written in 1987 and has certainly stood the test of time!
Although they are elephants, the Large family take on all the characteristics and traits of any normal family. There are six members of the family - Mum, Dad, Luke, Laura, Lester and the baby. In this story Mum is desperately looking forward to a well earned night out with her husband - I know the feeling! - they certainly don't come round often enough when you have small children! Granny has arrived early to babysit so that Mum can get ready in peace!The children have already been bathed and are ready for bed - all Granny needs to do is entertain them!
But of course, things don't run as smoothly as Mum would like! Within minutes the young elephants are upstairs trying to help Dad shave, putting on Mum's make up and trying on the clothes she has put out ready to wear! Mrs Large shouts at the children to go down stairs and wonders whether it is possible to have just one night to herself in the year when she is not covered in mucky fingerprints and can walk out the door 'all in one piece'! I'm really with her at this stage when I am reading this with my daughter and know just how she feels! When I tell my daughter this though she just laughs!
Eventually Mum and Dad are ready for the dinner dance and parade downstairs in their finery! Everyone says Mum looks lovely but sensibly she doesn't let them anywhere near her! Mum and Dad leave and she says to her husband how glad she is to still be all in one piece! Dad says that it wouldn't matter to him even if she were covered in paint.....which is a good thing as the final picture in the book shows the rear view of them walking away and ... you've guessed it - Mum IS covered in paint!! I fully sympethise at this point, having lost count of the number of times I have discovered mucky paw marks on my clothes when I am out!
I think that this book works well in many ways. Jill Murphy is very good at making a story out of everyday happenings and this is definitely the case in this book. She also picks up on little things that it is easy to relate to. I wouldn't imagine that there is a mum of young children out there that hasn't experienced something similar! It helps you laugh at these things too!
All the Large family are delightful and they are all illustrated very well. The expressions on the young elephants' faces are great especially when they are being told off! I assume that it is Jill Murphy who illustrates as well as writes the story, as no one else is acknowledged.
It's also a good book to share with young children because you can discuss the antics of the young elephants and talk about why Mum and Dad get annoyed with them. This helps to discuss their own behaviour as well.
My book is quite an old copy but I have looked on Amazon and it is available as a paperback for £4.99, published by Walker Books. There is also a board edition for £4.99 and a little favourites version, which is pocket sized, for £1.99.
Overall, I'd say that this is a really good book for little children - a fun storyline and excellent illustrations. I haven't read any others in the series with my daughter, but will be on the look out for more, and I think that she will enjoy meeting the same characters in different stories.
Advantages: Fun to read humorous story with an element of real life to it! Disadvantages: None
All In One Piece by Jill Murphy
*I thought that I would review this children's book, as a tribute to all those parents who understand just how difficult it is, to get ready for a rare night out.*
***What's it all about?***
Well, this is another in a series of books about the Large family - a family of elephants and the evening when Mr and Mrs. Large get to venture out, to the office-dinner dance. Of course the children can't go and so grandma ... ...Grandma reassured mum that all will be well when they have gone. They shut the door and exclaim that they have made it out 'all in one piece' - again I won't spoil the ending, I will let you find out if that is true…
***OPINION***
I love these books, because they depict real family situations and add a bit of humour to them, both for the child and the adult reading them. The illustrations are well drawn, with the words being placed on a white background. ...
LAURALILIA 20.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of All in One Piece - Jill Murphy
Advantages: good to read with children Disadvantages: none
. All in one piece Jill Murphy
This again is a book I bought in the charity shop for 20p its full price is £4.99. I bought it as an addition to Adrian’s library. This book was published in 1999 so it’s not that old
I have read this book before to children at work and enjoyed reading it and the responses it got from the children
This book is suitable for 4 to 6 year olds reading level 2.
The story is about the large family an enchanting ... ...get out of the house all in one piece. A lot of you parent will know how difficult that is. Granny arrives at tea time to keep the children amused while Mr and Mrs large get ready to go out granny gives them some painting to do. The children sneak of to see their parents.
Mr large is shaving and tells Luke who is getting shaving foam everywhere to go away. Baby goes and helps himself to mums make up, a baby with lipstick and colours making everywhere ...
mumsymary 20.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of All in One Piece - Jill Murphy
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Advantages: Entertaining story Disadvantages: None
, none in his mouth.
The illustrations are big and bold, and children will happily point out detail. Some reception children I read it to were amazed because Marlon watches tv with his dummy in his mouth and his bottle by his side ("a baby") but then he's allowed out by himself. Children often amaze me with the things they notice.
the noo noo snatcher is quite ingenious, being made with a coat hanger, spade and some string, and children will wonder how it could work, but then, so do I!
~~Other bits of information~~
ISBN: 0-7445-5298-2
Publisher: Walker Books (1995, and it hasn't dated!))
~~Other Books By The same author~~
The worst Witch
All For One (Also featuring Marlon)
AllinonePiece
Five Minutes' peace
A quiet Night in
A piece of cake
there are lots more, JillMurphy being quite a prolific ...
Advantages: Lovely bedtime story Disadvantages: None
Bear looks jolly in his bright red dungarees and yellow wellingtons. The contrast between the dark possibly cold outside of the house is made obvious by the fact that the inside of the house looks really warm and cosy with lots of muted orange and yellow colours.
Because the facial expressions are obvious, children can talk about how the characters feel- whan Baby Bear is miserable, he really does look miserable.
**OTHER BITS OF INFORMATION**
My copy of the book is published by Macmillan Children's Books, 1983, ISBN 0-333-40438-6.
It can be bought from amazon, with prices starting from 99p for used and £4.99 for a new copy.
**OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR**
JillMurphy has written and illustrated some great children's books, including:
Peace At Last
AllInOnePiece
The Worst Witch
On The way Home
Last Noo ...
Advantages: Nice story and Illustrations Disadvantages: None
up in London & she has been writing stories from an early age. She left school at the age of 16 to join both Chelsea art school and Croydon art school, and it was less than 2 years later that she had finished her book 'The Worst Witch' but publishers kept turning it down for many years until it finally got published.
JillMurphy is a talented writer who has received a number of awards including: Kate Greenaway medal, for her first picture book Peace at last, plus A piece of cake & 5 minutes peace both received Best babies book and were short listed for best children's book alongside Allinone peace. Also The last Noo Noo & about a small monster called Marlon both have won 3 awards including the Smarties Book prize.
Other books JillMurphy has written:
5 Minutes peace
AllinOnePiece
The Large Family
A Quiet night in
Peace ...
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