Julia Sarcone-Roach’s new book, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, is a delight. Why? First of all, the narrator is relating a little-bit-wacky story that readers/listeners will almost-but-not-quite doubt. It’s just crazy enough that it COULD be true, after all. A bear COULD have accidentally made his way to town and, through a nutty series of missteps, ended up at the park where of course he’d eat a stray sandwich just lying there for the taking.
It isn’t until the end of the book that you find out who the narrator is: a sneaky fast talking dog who, in order to steer suspicion away from himself, has concocted this convoluted story to explain to a little girl what happened to her sandwich.
The story is short and fun, and I REALLY appreciate that Ms. Sarcone-Raoch doesn’t hit readers/listeners over the head with the denouement, but lets them figure it out. A group would enjoy this, but it’s perfect as a lap book, too, because each page has fun details to discover and enjoy.
My favorite moment is near the end. The dog winds up his far-fetched tale and says:
So.
That’s what happened
to your sandwich.
The bear ate it.
I adore that “So.” After the above spread, when his explanation is evidently met with silence, a page turn has the dog launching into the talk-too-much portion of a guilty party’s explanation. You know, when the big fat liar suspects his story isn’t holding water and starts blabbing and blathering? Yeah, that. I won’t reveal it here.
Just go find this one. You’ll be glad you did.
Jill Esbaum
This sounds hilarious. Just put a hold on it. Thanks, Jill!
Let me know what you think. 🙂
Love this book!
Me, too!
This book was so funny–an absolute delight!
The weird thing is that I didn’t love it the first time through. It took another reading before I was hit by its cleverness. BAM. Loved it.
Have to look it up!
Do, Kathryn. It’s definitely a don’t-miss.
Thank you, Jill! This sounds like a hoot. Can’t wait to read it.
Hope you like it, Anne. 🙂
This sounds like a terrific way to introduce a lesson to my 7th graders about an unreliable narrator!
It would be perfect for that, Karla.
I have been in looking at lots of ‘unreliable narrator’ books — what a great addition to the list!
Thanks!!