The Whopper

by Rebecca Ashdown, Rebecca Ashdown (Illustrator)

Overview

The little lie that turned into a big monster . . .

This humorous, quirky story is about a little boy who tells a lie, only to be followed around by his guilt in the form of the Whopper, a hungry and persistent monster. As Percy's guilt grows, so does the Whopper, until finally the Whopper EATS Percy! Percy at last realizes that he must tell the truth in order to keep the Whopper from growing any bigger. An appealing and warmhearted story about how a little lie can quickly grow out of control.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763692919
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.38(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Ashdown lived right by the sea for most of her childhood. As the youngest in a family of five, she grew up in a full house, which enabled her (and her siblings) to spend a lot of time getting into trouble; however, drawing and writing were always her real passions. She lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

Ashdown's deceptively simple drawings on closer look reveal lovely detail around the edges. She has a knack for drawing adorable pets readers might like to adopt right off the page...It's not easy to make the moral case for always telling the truth without sounding preachy, but this monster book does it by simply sticking to the story and keeping it fun.
—Kirkus Reviews

This object lesson in what happens when you tell a lie depicts the lie as a creature, shadowing the boy who fibbed and growing bigger until it consumes him...An exciting and enlightening read.
—Booklist

Though the Whopper gobbles up Percy and is a bit of a pest, he is not scary, making this book perfect for introducing young listeners and readers to the idea of lies, right and wrong, and guilt. The text is straightforward and matched perfectly by the soft illustrations. This is a great addition to any library, just right for storytime or one-on-one sharing.
—School Library Journal

A wonderfully inventive story about lies, making the right choices, and being truthful, The Whopper is spot-on!
—Reading Eagle (from Kendal Rautzhan's "Books to Borrow")

From the Publisher

05/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—Young Percy receives a rather garish hand-knitted sweater from his grandmother, who suggests that it is "just right for walking the dog in!" He proceeds to put the dog in the sweater, which works out fine "until the pup [chases] a cat…[gets] tangled in the bushes…[splashes] in a puddle…and [rolls] in something stinky." What follows is the tale of a lie about the garment's whereabouts that becomes bigger and bigger in the form of a Whopper, Percy's guilt monster, which continues to grow and overwhelm the boy until he finally comes clean. Though the Whopper gobbles up Percy and is a bit of a pest, he is not scary, making this book perfect for introducing young listeners and readers to the idea of lies, right and wrong, and guilt. The text is straightforward and matched perfectly by the soft illustrations. VERDICT This is a great addition to any library, just right for storytime or one-on-one sharing.—Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY

School Library Journal

2017-03-06
A personified lie that grows bigger with each fib anchors the story of an ugly sweater, some bad decisions, and the restorative power of fessing up. Percy isn't too thrilled with his new handmade sweater from Grandma, done in a garish set of colors that make him frown mightily. The moment Percy and his brother, both white boys, get outside to walk the dog, the sweater ends up on the pooch and is destroyed. When Percy comes home, he lies and says he lost the sweater. When Percy goes to his room, his lie has become a little blue creature. "You told a big, hairy, monstrous lie," it tells him. "It was a whopper. I am your Whopper!" Predictably, the Whopper grows and begins to dominate Percy's life as the lies continue. Somewhat less predictably, the Whopper gobbles up Percy and takes his place. It's only when, from inside the Whopper, Percy confesses the truth that the Whopper fades away. Ashdown's deceptively simple drawings on closer look reveal lovely detail around the edges. She has a knack for drawing adorable pets readers might like to adopt right off the page. The Whopper itself, though less lovable, makes a big impression while not overstaying his disruptive turn in the story. It's not easy to make the moral case for always telling the truth without sounding preachy, but this monster book does it by simply sticking to the story and keeping it fun. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews