Jill Murphy's 'Five Minutes' Peace' is a charming picture book for very young children. The story centres around a family of elephants (Mum and three children) and begins as they are having breakfast. This is not a pleasant sight. The baby elephant has a cereal bowl upturned on his head, and ... Read review
One morning Mrs Large, needing some peace and quiet away from her boisterous children, ... more
decides to take refuge in the bathroom. She fills herself a foamy bubble-bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast... but finds her peace is to be very short-lived! Part of the "The Large Family" series, this is a modern picture-book.
Advantages: Fun story, great illustrations Disadvantages: Mum is so stressed.
...to the bathroom to get five minutes' peace from 'you lot'. The children immediately ask to come along, but she firmly tells them to stay downstairs.
Mum runs herself a bath and pours a cup of tea. She is in heaven, soaking in the suds, but it doesn't last for long. Her son Lester barges in and asks if he can play her a tune on his recorder. Mum is not amused, but of course she gives in and Lester plays 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' ... ...to the kitchen for her five minutes' peace. Do you think she gets it? You'll have to read the book to find out.
This is a picture book for very young children who are highly unlikely to understand that Mum needs a few minutes to herself now and again, and it might just do the trick of helping them to realise this. Although she is thinking of herself, the mother elephant here does encourage her children, allowing one to play a musical ... more
Jill Murphy's 'Five Minutes' Peace' is a charming picture book for very young children. The story centres around a family of elephants (Mum and three children) and begins as they are having breakfast. This is not a pleasant sight. The baby elephant has a cereal bowl upturned on his head, and there is a mess all over the floor. Mum, who charmingly has curlers in the few wisps of hair on her head, sets a tray and puts the newspaper in her pocket. She tells her offspring that she is going to the bathroom to get five minutes' peace from 'you lot'. The children immediately ask to come along, but she firmly tells them to stay downstairs.
Mum runs herself a bath and pours a cup of tea. She is in heaven, soaking in the suds, but it doesn't last for long. Her son Lester barges in and asks if he can play her a tune on his recorder. Mum is not amused, but of course she gives in and Lester plays 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' more than just the once. He has established a precedent, and the daughter Laura is upset when Mum initially says she may not read aloud to her. Mum realises she is being unfair, so she allows Laura to read from 'Little Red Riding Hood', and naturally Laura takes advantage of the situation and reads more than just the one page.
Baby is not to be outdone, so he comes up and throws all his toys in the bath. The three children bombard Mum with questions: Laura wants to see the cartoons in the paper, Lester wants Mum's cake, and baby wants to get in the bath with Mum. That seems like a signal for all three to jump in, and poor Mum groans. She decides to get out of the bath, and announces that she is going back down to the kitchen for her five minutes' peace. Do you think she gets it? You'll have to read the book to find out.
This is a picture book for very young children who are highly unlikely to understand that Mum needs a few minutes to herself now and again, and it might just do the trick of helping them to realise this. Although she is thinking of herself, the mother elephant here does encourage her children, allowing one to play a musical instrument and another to read to her. We feel that these are things that they often do together. Mum doesn't shout at her children and lose her temper with them. She leaves them to get on with what they are doing and takes herself off somewhere else. She is a great Mum with children who obviously are very attached to her, and she understands that if she is good to herself every now and then she will be better geared towards giving her children her best when they need it.
The illustrations accompanying the story are delightful, including those of the family parading one behind the other for the frontispiece and again after the story finishes. We can appreciate Mum's feelings when we see the mayhem at (and under) the breakfast table, and identify with her when we see her briefly relaxing in the bath, reading her paper and enjoying a cuppa.
Although first written more than twenty years ago, 'Five Minutes' Peace' is still tremendously popular today. It is one of those stories that can appeal to adults just as much as to children, and as such makes itself a perfect book for reading aloud. Dad does not appear in the story; he may of course be at work, but it may be that this is a single mum struggling to cope with the demands on her time. I would suggest that it is suitable for children aged between three- and six-years-old. It might also be suitable for confident young readers to have a bash at themselves. It's definitely the perfect book for demonstrating that Mums give their children their all, but there comes a time when they need to pamper themselves just a little.
Five Minutes' Peace by Jill Murphy Walker Books Ltd, 2006 Paperback, 32 pages ISBN 1844285391 Price £5.99 (Amazon £4.99)
Advantages: BEAUTIFUL BOOK, WITH LASTING APPEAL. Disadvantages: THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL GET YOUR FIVE MINUTES PEACE TOO!!
FIVE MINUTES PEACE - JILL MURPHY
I am going to review this children's book about The Large Family. A very large family, as in elephants. Not your grey true to life safari type elephants, but cute and cuddly elephants. I have chosen this book because it is great for adults; forget the kids for a minute, if you have to read the same story night after night, it would be nice if it had something in it for you.
***WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?***
Well Jill ... ...and her quest to get five minutes' peace to herself. This is a book that most adults will identify with, and perhaps in reading it with their children, might get this message across subtly to their children. Or not. I tried it for years and didn't get anywhere; a journey to the toilet alone was a major achievement.
Anyway, in the book Mrs. Large is observing a fine mess while her three children are eating (and I think wearing!) their breakfast. ...
LAURALILIA 18.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy
...downstairs to get that precious five minutes peace she has longed for. She ended up getting only three minutes and forty- five seconds before her children joined her.
This book is complete reality that every parent can relate to. I have two young children under the age of four and even trying to write this opinion I have had to keep stopping and make them drinks, food and try and make them entertain themselves for just FIVE MINUTES. This book will ...
Stick 13.02.2001 (08.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Nice illustrations, like the elephants, Something that children and adults can relate to, Very true to life! Disadvantages: em... some of the jokes may be lost on four year olds?
...story, Mrs Large just wants five minutes of peace and quiet. But in a humorously realistic fashion, her children follow her around the house begging for her attention. As she tries to relax in the bath, she is "entertained" by Lester screeching "Twinkle Twinkle" on his recorder, then Laura reading a book to her, then Baby who shares his toys with Mum by throwing them in the tub. Children love this story, because they have all, with no exception, ... ...five minutes peace. The repetition in the story is especially good for our children, but also for any young child, to develop familiarity and anticipation. We dramatised the story, splashing about with water and water spray for the bath, listening to a recorder, and the story of "Little Red Riding Hood", the book which Laura reads to Mrs Large. Most of our children have visual impairments, so we leave out the fact that the Large family are actually ...
avitallly 26.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Good reading for pre school and early years children Disadvantages: none
...minutest detail in her book Five Minutes Peace. In this book the mother is a rather large elephant called Mrs Large. I may need to loose a bit of weight but I am not that large. She has 3 young children and all they want to do is keep her bust and like all mums it gets too much for her. I have 4 children but they are probably not as demanding. When Mrs large gets to her bath they all want to do things for her. Sing, Play and read so there is no peace ... ...her five minutes peace.
I was sure that Jill Murphy must have raided my home to observe the behavior of my family. This is a very entertaining book which is enjoyed by both the reader and the listener, whether it is a parent reading to a young child or an early reader reading to a patient parent. I would recommend this book to any one with young children it is a heartwarming book. Well written and well illustrated ...
mjbarkley 30.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Appealing to adults as well as children, beautifully illustrated Disadvantages: There are only four books in the series at present
I first came across 'Five Minutes Peace' when my mum bought the book for my son last year. At the time he was only two years old, and far too busy to sit still for more than two minutes, and so the book sat on the bookshelf in his room for nearly a year.
When my son reached the age of three, he suddenly became interested in books, and so 'Five Minutes Peace' had its first trip off the bookshelf.
What first struck me about the book were the wonderful ... ...see, there is great attention to detail. As for the story itself, I'm sure it will ring bells for Mothers everywhere. The story centers around Mrs Large, and her efforts at trying to get 5 minutes to herself when she has a house full of children.
'Five Minutes Peace' has now become one of my son's favourite books, and we have now added to his collection with 'All in One Piece' and 'A piece of Cake' which also follow the Large Family through typical ...
Natalie27 19.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy
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Advantages: Great story and illustrations Disadvantages: None
When I read this to a group of 4 and 5 year olds today, it was really hard to believe that this book is infact a quarter of a century old, God how old does that make me feel!!
Written in 1980, this was JillMurphy's fist picture book and was commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Jill had already written the Worst Witch stories which are still enjoyed by the Year 2 children at my school, it has to be said though, it's predominantly the girls who enjoy this series.
Peace At Last, however is 'unisex' in the sense that it is enjoyed by the girls and boys I read it to.
**********************************************************************
The Story
*********************************************************************
It begins at bedtime. Mr & Mrs Bear along with Baby Bear all go up to bed. Mrs Bear went straight to sleep (if ...
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)
All in one Piece
FiveMinutes' peace
A quiet Night in
A piece of cake
there are lots more, JillMurphy being quite a prolific ...
Advantages: Short ,entertaining ,lovely pictures! Disadvantages: None .
What's this then? Could it be true? Surely not?
Have we a moonlighter in our midst?
The one and only "JillMurphy "of Ciao fame writing childrens books?
No, probably not, unless you want to come on down and claim your brilliance further!
JillMurphy has indeed, written many titles including
The Last Noo Noo
The Worst Witch
FiveMinutesPeace
Whatever Next
A Quiet Night In
All in One Piece
On the Way Home
Peace At last.
So here is a bit about Peace at Last.
****************************************************
One day I was wandering around a boot sale, just a little while back looking for books for my new offspring " Jensen".
When I stumbled upon this lovely gem.
Peace At Last! By JillMurphy.
********************************
At first glance, it has a chocolate brown border with a gorgeous illustration of two ...
Product Information for "Five Minutes Peace - Jill Murphy" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Children's
Title
Five Minutes Peace
Author
Jill Murphy
ISBN
0744504910; 1844285391
Manufacturer's product description
Winner of the 1987 Best Book for Babies Award and shortlisted for the 1986 Children's Book Award. From the PublisherReviews!"FIVE MINUTES' PEACE is a marvellous combination of beautiful artwork and a warm, funny story that parents and children can enjoy together again and again. It's bound to become a classic." - TONY BRADMAN, PARENTS "Jill Murphy fills the pages with the sort of details that delight." - JUDY TAYLOR, THE INDEPENDENT --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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