Full Belly Bowl

I eat the same thing for lunch every day. Granola bar, string cheese, banana, crackers, pretzels with peanut butter. I like those things and they're easy to pack, so that's what I stick with. I'm not saying this to highlight how boring I am (although... mission accomplished); I'm saying this to make the point that when you find something good, you tend to stick with it. "The Full Belly Bowl" has been one of my standbys for years. It's read aloud gold. If it's not in your collection, you're missing out on a story that truly engages kids. A folktale, well told, can really draw youngsters in. "The Full Belly Bowl" begins with our unnamed protagonist (known only as "the very old man") rescuing a "wee small man" from the clutches of a fox. In return, the small man gives his savior a gift - the Full Belly Bowl. He also leaves directions: "Use it wisely or it will be a burden. To empty, pour it out. When not in use, store it upside down and out of reach of children." Having nothing else to go on, the old man experiments with the bowl and discovers that it duplicates anything that is put into it. His hunger is soon a thing of the past. But when he discovers that the bowl can duplicate things besides food, the story starts getting interesting. "It made him wonder what would happen if he put a coin in the bowl, and though the only coin he had was a copper penny, he decided to give it a try." But the very old man's excitement about his discovery leads to a hasty mistake. Tension builds until the man's dreams of a wealthy future are dashed, putting him right back where he started. To the very old man, however, this is not a bad thing. The colored pencil illustrations are detailed and inventive. When an unfortunate accident with the Full Belly Bowl leaves the very old man's house rodent infested, the page is literally covered with mice. The borders of each illustration also add to the story. When the man discovers he can eat all he wants with the help of the bowl, food is incorporated in the border. Overall, the effect is that of an illustrator who was really seeking to compliment the story. Add this one to your read aloud menu and it may well become a staple.

My 2.5-year-old loves this book! She wants it read to her frequently and both the story and intricate pictures hold her attention. I appreciate any book that can engage such a small child, but that still has an interesting plot and more advanced vocabulary (not only for educational value -- have you ever had to read the same book over and over?). The story also has some important lessons embedded within it, without being pedantic or preachy. A wonderful find!

My three children and I read this book over the summer. This is truly a story for all ages. My 10-year-old was as enchanted as his little sister and brother. The story has surprising twists and the most gorgeous illustrations imaginable. I plan to purchase a copy for our home library. It's a book you'll go back to again and again. And with us it sparked some interesting conversations: What would you put in YOUR fully belly bowl?

Enhanced by the subltly muted colors of Halpern's illustrations, "The Full belly Bowl" is an excellent lap or storytime book which begs to be read to your favorite youngster or group. Gifted a magical bowl by a "wee small man" he saved from a fox, the old man had it all, until his own forgetfullness filled his cottage with mice. What of the mice? What of his cat Angela? Can the old man live happily ever after? Children will love having this one read to them!