The Pepins and Their Problems

by Polly Horvath Narrated by Julie Halston

Overview

Whether it's waking up to find toads in their shoes, becoming trapped on the roof, or searching for cheese when their cow only makes lemonade, the Pepin family always seems to get into the most bizarre scrapes. Lucky for them, they have an author with large psychic antennae and great problem-solving listeners who can join the Pepins on their hilarious adventures. And they need all the help they can get!

In this joyfully absurd romp Polly Horvath is in top comedic form.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

Horvath puts a distinctive and decidedly hilarious spin on the "problem novel" with this chronicle of a family's unusual (to say the least) mishaps. She also carries the metafictional conceits of Allen Ahlberg's Better Brown Stories (1995) and such a step further-for not only does she converse with her characters, she invites readers to chime in psychically from wherever they may be, duly recording any suggestions she "receives," along with their towns of origin. Poor Pepins: if it's not a rash of toads in their shoes, or a cow who's suddenly giving lemonade when it's cheese that's in short supply, it's Mrs. Pepin's latest crying jag, or the mysterious disappearance of all the tableware. Young readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough to discover the Pepins' newest predicament, to find out its seldom-obvious cause, to check out the reader comments winging in from the likes of Boring, MD, Forks of Cacapon, WV, and other real places-but mostly to meet the Pepins, part Bagthorpes, part fugitives from Chelm, and their fittingly quirky neighbors, all of whom are rendered in Hafner's sunny, simply drawn cartoons. A delight. (Fiction. 10-12)

From the Publisher

Following her National Book Award-winning dark comedy The Canning Season, Horvath reprises the unalloyed giddiness of Everything on a Waffle—and ups the ante with some outrageous, Pirandello-like flourishes . . . the sly running jokes about place names and brazenly funny developments keep the conceit and the comedy energetic all the way to the finish line.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Distinctive and decidedly hilarious . . . Young readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough to discover the Pepins' newest predicament. . . . A delight.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Horvath spins deliciously silly stories about a family rivaling Hale's Peterkins for foolishness and Cresswell's Bagthorpes for effervescent wit. Each preposterous event holds fresh surprise. . . . Hafner's line drawings visualize the shenanigans with comic amiability. Here's one reader beaming thoughts to both author and illustrator: Thanks for the laughs! More, please!” —The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review

“The sly humor is just right for upper-elementary-school kids, and this book should be a fun read-aloud for younger listeners.” —School Library Journal

“Horvath spins a delightful yarn . . . the wordplay is a great argument for reading this aloud; adults will enjoy the story almost as much as children.” —Booklist

JUNE/JULY 05 - AudioFile

The Pepin family does, indeed, find itself in an endless stream of preposterous predicaments. How can a responsible family provide appropriate hospitality when its cow suddenly dispenses lemonade instead of milk? What is the appropriate phrase with which to inform a very fine neighbor that he’s fallen in love with a barber pole? The Pepin family’s ridiculous vignettes will be enjoyed by elementary-age listeners while the book’s impressive vocabulary will be appreciated by teachers and parents. Julie Halston’s reading of this odd story evokes the image of a librarian reading to young children. Perhaps the story could have been more lively if it had been narrated by someone with a knack for accents and goofy voices. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172191190
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	10/12/2004
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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