Mr. Mumble by Peter Catalanotto

This book is about Mr. Mumble who has a cough. While he is running his errands, he is misunderstood and doesn't get what he asks for. For example, at a diner he asks for two scrambled eggs and a corn muffin but because of his cough he gets two scarecrow legs and a car muffler. At the bakery he asks for a dozen bagels but instead receives a dozing beagle. This continues throughout his day. At the end of the story, he goes to the doctor and when he opens his mouth, a bird flies out. Throughout the story the reader sees (cough) which shows the reader when to add a coughing noise in the story. I can picture kids really getting carried away with the coughing noise and having fun with it because it is something that they don't see often in books. It can also give kids ideas if they want to incorporate a sound in a story that they are writing.

When I first read the book, I wasn't sure where the bird came from at the end of the story. I was rather confused. When I looked at the book again, I noticed that the cover and cover page have a picture of Mr. Mumble sleeping and a bird (the same bird at the end of the story) flying around the room. I liked how the author/illustrator used the entire book to tell the story.

Catalanotto also does the paintings for the story and I like that they are realistic and detailed. I would recommend this book for kids ages 2-8 and I think that all the kids would enjoy the humor.