Book Review - Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound

With the whole theme of The Great Canadian Blog Bash this week (giveaways end on Canada Day - Sunday, July 1st), I thought I'd review a book by my favourite Canadian children's book author - Robert Munsch. 

Back in my school days, the Munsch books always seemed to sell out quickly at book sales. Over the years I've enjoyed Mortimer, Something Good, and Moira's Birthday. All written by Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

But my favourite has always been Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard A Sound (or Blackberry Subway Jam).

The story follows a poor fellow named Jonathan who is told to not make a mess of the apartment while his mother goes to purchase noodles. Somehow, Jonathan's living room becomes a subway station and plenty of people get off and make a mess - leaving him to scramble to clean it before his mother gets home. Eventually he gets sick of having his apartment be the last stop on the subway and complains to a conductor who tells him to go to City Hall.  Everyone is on lunch, but somehow he finds a City worker who reroutes the system to not stop at his apartment (with humorous results, of course).

I grew up in Toronto with a Mom who didn't drive, so we took the TTC and the subway. A LOT. So a part of me almost wanted my house to be right on the subway line. Maybe not having an exit to my living room, but it would be really convenient to have next door. And ever since I've moved out of my Mom's house, I've always made sure to live walking distance from the subway (even though I drive). Even now, I can hear the trains if I'm close enough to our windows.

Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard A Sound retails for $5.95 at Chapters Indigo.

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.