Horn Book Review
A jaunt to the store for groceries turns into an adventure when Steven encounters a bothersome bear, a menacing monkey, and other bullying animals who each demand something from his basket. Undaunted, Steven gives snappy responses that save the foodstuffs, minus a few goodies. Illustrated with witty drawings, this amusing story will also be useful for practicing addition and subtraction. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Burningham (Courtney, 1994, etc.) adds a winner to the rest of his collection of light gems. Steven's mother sends him to the store to buy groceries, but on the way back he is accosted by a series of animals, each with a demand for a goodie. Steven's wit gets him out of each scrape, but he has to sacrifice an item every time, e.g., he throws a doughnut through a gap in a fence and dares the pig that's been threatening him to try to squeeze through and an elephant is conned into sticking its trunk through a mail slot. In addition to its entertainment value, the story becomes a counting exercise as readers keep track of the disappearing groceries. The ending is abrupt, but the trip is worthwhile, marked by sure pacing, quirky humor, and an airy style of illustration that belies its sophistication. (Picture Book. 3-7)
