About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to break a grumpy mood or transform a high-energy bedtime into a shared moment of laughter. It is a fantastic tool for children who are feeling indecisive or resistant to routine, as it pivots the focus toward play and imaginative autonomy. The book presents a series of increasingly absurd and comical dilemmas, asking the reader to choose between outrageous scenarios like eating worm dumplings or being sat on by a heavy hippopotamus. This classic encourages creative thinking and verbal expression, helping children weigh options and explain their logic in a low-stakes, hilarious environment. It is perfectly suited for preschoolers and early elementary students who are beginning to delight in gross-out humor and nonsensical logic. By the end, the zaniness gently winds down to a cozy bedtime invitation, making it a wonderful transition from the chaos of play to the quiet of sleep.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. While some scenarios involve mild peril (sharks, lions, or giants), the tone is consistently playful and absurdist, never veering into genuine horror or trauma.
Ideal Reader
A 4-to-6-year-old with a big imagination and a burgeoning sense of humor. It is especially effective for a child who enjoys 'gross-out' humor or who likes to feel in control of their environment by making choices.
Parent Prep
This book is best read 'cold' to allow for spontaneous reactions, but be prepared for the child to want to spend several minutes debating each page. The child is bored or being stubborn about the evening routine, and the parent needs a way to re-engage them through humor rather than instruction.
Age Experience
Younger children (3-4) will focus on the funny animals and the visual details in the art. Older children (5-7) will love explaining the logic behind their choices, often coming up with elaborate reasons why 'slug dumplings' are better than 'mashed worms.'
What Makes It Special
Unlike modern choice books that are often loud and neon-bright, Burningham’s version uses soft, sophisticated watercolors and a dry, British wit that respects the child's intelligence while encouraging absolute silliness.
Read plot summary
The book is structured as a series of direct questions to the reader, illustrated with John Burningham's signature sketchy, whimsical style. Each page presents two or three surreal choices: some involve animals (being chased by a bull or a crab), some involve gross food (slug dumplings or spider stew), and others involve fantastical scenarios like living in a house full of water. The book concludes with the child returning to their own bed, grounding the wild imagination in reality.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
If you had to eat spider stew, what would you use to wash the taste out of your mouth?
2
Which of these animals would be the hardest to hide in our house if you chose to live with them?
3
Can you think of a 'Would You Rather' question that isn't in the book? Make it as silly as possible!
4
Why did you choose to be tickled by a monkey instead of being sat on by a hippo?
5
Which page had the scariest choice, and which one made you laugh the most?
