Children's Book Review: A Chocolate Moose for Dinner

 

Children’s Book Review-

“A Chocolate Moose for Dinner” By: Fred Gwynne

If you’re wanting a good laugh, you should read this picture book.  

Written in 1976, some modern readers may think this children’s book is very much outdated with the puns it mentions, but for my kids and I, this book is hilarious, entertaining, and educational.

The book was written by Fred Gwynne, a famous film and television actor. Some remember him from the show “The Munsters.”

The book starts with, “mommy says she had a chocolate moose for dinner last night.” It shows an illustration of a moose sitting at the dinner table with a little girl. This made me laugh, and I explained to my kids how chocolate mousse is also a dessert, but the daughter thought her parents were talking about an actual moose.

There are many teaching and vocabulary moments throughout the book, such as “gorilla war, pray on other animals, the arms race, airplane hangers, under toe, and a tortoise with hair” to name a few. Of course, they all have a double meaning.

One of my favorite puns is the one that states, “mommy says after she and daddy argue they always kiss and make up.” The illustration shows the little girl watching her mom and dad sit in front of a mirror and powdering their faces with makeup.  😊

The downside: some of the pictures might be confusing at first or even a little scary for some more sensitive kids. The “scary” part isn’t that bad, but just a bunch of arms sticking up on the ground for the arms race part. Also, there's a part that shows Santa Clause having claws.

For the confusing parts, a parent will need to explain the double meanings for a lot of the puns, but the kids will learn a lot from it.

Overall, I’d give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.