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Who Needs Donuts?
Sam’s love of donuts takes him to the Big City where he makes friends with Mr. Bikferd, a world class collector of donuts. But when Mr. Bikferd falls in love with Pretzel Annie, the prophecy of an old homeless woman comes “Who needs donuts when you’ve got love?” Mr. Bikferd bequeaths his donut collection to Sam, who uses it to save the old homeless woman from drowning in a basement flooded with coffee.
This is a reissue of Mark Alan Stamaty’s masterpiece of the absurd, first published 30 years ago and out of print nearly as long. With an illustration style that mixes a benign Hieronymus Bosch with an urban Where’s Waldo? , Stamaty’s off-the-wall humor is on target for little kids and big kids today.
This is a reissue of Mark Alan Stamaty’s masterpiece of the absurd, first published 30 years ago and out of print nearly as long. With an illustration style that mixes a benign Hieronymus Bosch with an urban Where’s Waldo? , Stamaty’s off-the-wall humor is on target for little kids and big kids today.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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309 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 22, 2012
I think my long-enduring passion for this book pretty much says everything there is to say about me. If you've never seen it before, well. It is the trippiest piece of work ever created. There are elephant-headed birds, cars coming out of people's ears, infinitesimally tiny (and hilarious) words in all the pictures, and just about the most Dada storyline imaginable.
When I was a kid, this was THE book. I would have married it, but that still isn't legal in Kentucky. I lost track of it for many years, forgot the name of the author even, but when it was reprinted (ten years ago, or thereabouts) I went to extraordinary measures to obtain it. I still like to squint at the tiny tiny details, although that's much harder than it was when I was eight.
Hm. This book may be the reason I began to need glasses. I hadn't thought of that.
Anyway, if you like it seriously absurd and eerily grotesque, this is your book. If you'd like to see what it looks like INSIDE my brain, I'd prefer you to read this book instead of cutting my head open. It's close enough.
When I was a kid, this was THE book. I would have married it, but that still isn't legal in Kentucky. I lost track of it for many years, forgot the name of the author even, but when it was reprinted (ten years ago, or thereabouts) I went to extraordinary measures to obtain it. I still like to squint at the tiny tiny details, although that's much harder than it was when I was eight.
Hm. This book may be the reason I began to need glasses. I hadn't thought of that.
Anyway, if you like it seriously absurd and eerily grotesque, this is your book. If you'd like to see what it looks like INSIDE my brain, I'd prefer you to read this book instead of cutting my head open. It's close enough.
July 3, 2010
Wow! I’ve never seen a book quite like this. It’s exceptional.
For a thorough and conscientious reader, it could take as long to read this short picture book as it would to read a novel.
The illustrations (black ink pen?) are incredibly and unbelievably detailed. They’re completely unique and can provide hours of fun. They’re often very funny. The dog with shoes is a riot, but it’s impossible to single out one or even dozens of examples. There are lots of words (on signs, etc.) within the illustrations so there is a lot to read in this book other than the short story.
The story, of a boy who leaves his happy home to go to the city to look for more donuts, a ridiculous number of donuts, because it’s donuts he most wants, is both funny and sad, and outlandish. The ingenious twist ending is a hoot.
This is a very difficult book to describe; you really have to see it to understand what a marvel it is.
For a thorough and conscientious reader, it could take as long to read this short picture book as it would to read a novel.
The illustrations (black ink pen?) are incredibly and unbelievably detailed. They’re completely unique and can provide hours of fun. They’re often very funny. The dog with shoes is a riot, but it’s impossible to single out one or even dozens of examples. There are lots of words (on signs, etc.) within the illustrations so there is a lot to read in this book other than the short story.
The story, of a boy who leaves his happy home to go to the city to look for more donuts, a ridiculous number of donuts, because it’s donuts he most wants, is both funny and sad, and outlandish. The ingenious twist ending is a hoot.
This is a very difficult book to describe; you really have to see it to understand what a marvel it is.
March 14, 2020
"Who Needs Donuts? - A rhetorical question, surely!
Originally published in 1973, Mark Alan Stamaty's hilariously surreal picture book follows young Sam, who "lived with his family in a nice house," but longed for more donuts than his parents could provide. Venturing into the city, looking for donuts, Sam falls in with maverick donut-collector Mr. Bikferd, wandering the streets with his cart...
"Who needs donuts when you've got love?" demands a sad old woman they pass, and sure enough, Mr. Bikferd - having met and instantly fallen in love with Pretzel Annie - soon abandons his quest for donuts. Now Sam, far from home and in possession of a mountain of donuts he can't eat, wonders what to do...
The illustrations in Who Needs Donuts? are eye-poppingly detailed, and young readers will enjoy poring over them, picking out the many clever little bits of text - in signs, on tee-shirts - that Stamaty has included. I discovered this underground classic, which has something of a cult following among children's literature devotees, a few years ago, and, despite the fact that it was recently reprinted, had been looking about me for an original, vintage copy. Imagine my surprise and delight when I finally found it, the same day I had been frantically searching for those lovely little home-made donuts at the farmer's market near work. Sadly, I didn't find the donuts, but the serendipity of the moment did not escape me.
Originally published in 1973, Mark Alan Stamaty's hilariously surreal picture book follows young Sam, who "lived with his family in a nice house," but longed for more donuts than his parents could provide. Venturing into the city, looking for donuts, Sam falls in with maverick donut-collector Mr. Bikferd, wandering the streets with his cart...
"Who needs donuts when you've got love?" demands a sad old woman they pass, and sure enough, Mr. Bikferd - having met and instantly fallen in love with Pretzel Annie - soon abandons his quest for donuts. Now Sam, far from home and in possession of a mountain of donuts he can't eat, wonders what to do...
The illustrations in Who Needs Donuts? are eye-poppingly detailed, and young readers will enjoy poring over them, picking out the many clever little bits of text - in signs, on tee-shirts - that Stamaty has included. I discovered this underground classic, which has something of a cult following among children's literature devotees, a few years ago, and, despite the fact that it was recently reprinted, had been looking about me for an original, vintage copy. Imagine my surprise and delight when I finally found it, the same day I had been frantically searching for those lovely little home-made donuts at the farmer's market near work. Sadly, I didn't find the donuts, but the serendipity of the moment did not escape me.
February 12, 2018
My all-time favorite picture book, narrowly edging out Go, Dog. Go!
November 16, 2011
A completely insane and a half children's book. Predating the style of WHERE'S WALDO, it's a simple-but-touching tale of a young boy dressed like a cowboy who wants millions and millions of donuts, but learns that caring about other people is more important.
The story takes two minutes to read; the illustrations take about 12 hours to dissect, if you're lucky. Stamaty fills every square inch of every page with gags and gags within gags. Birds with horse and elephant heads fly about; a restaurant with a sign reading "self-service" has patrons served by waiters who look just like them; a bus has about a dozen steering wheels and a driver who's gently coaxing it down the road with words of encouragement.
Along with a sweet story, this is one of the best visual representations of how chaotic the big city can seem to a little kid...that said, this isn't a book you can describe. You really have to experience it for yourself.
The story takes two minutes to read; the illustrations take about 12 hours to dissect, if you're lucky. Stamaty fills every square inch of every page with gags and gags within gags. Birds with horse and elephant heads fly about; a restaurant with a sign reading "self-service" has patrons served by waiters who look just like them; a bus has about a dozen steering wheels and a driver who's gently coaxing it down the road with words of encouragement.
Along with a sweet story, this is one of the best visual representations of how chaotic the big city can seem to a little kid...that said, this isn't a book you can describe. You really have to experience it for yourself.
May 7, 2023
Absolute masterpiece. First book read this year. Artwork 6/5. Will read again next life.
March 28, 2025
Super intricate creepy drawings inclusive of NY vibes and thought provoking message, excellent delivery by Rebecca and great accompaniment to donuts
February 11, 2017
Poor Sam. He had it all: a nice home, friends and family but he wanted more, lots more, he actual wants millions of donuts. What does Sam do? He hops on his tricycle and goes to the city to find them. You have to love the illustrations in the book. The attention to detail in the illustrations will keep you busy for hours checking out the people and the scenery that you just might forget to actually read the story. Illustrated in black-in-white, your eyes are constantly marveling at everything in each picture, for there is something odd or amusing everywhere you look (I think I spotted Abe Lincoln walking a dog, a horse in a car with a suit on, a bird with a horse face). As Sam gets to the city, he meets Mr. Bikferd who actually collects donuts. Sam and Mr. Bikferd spend all day collecting donuts and later Sam’s new friend shows him his warehouse where Sam thinks he has hit the jackpot. Many days they collect donuts, lots of donuts. The adventure in the city is not over for Sam as he also meets Sad Old Woman and Pretzel Annie. When Mr. Bikferd meets Pretzel Annie love is in the air and Sam’s life is about to change again. Is a life with donuts the life Sam needs? I enjoyed Sad Old Woman with her 1960’s ensemble.
October 14, 2014
I love donuts, but kids should not run away to the big city and follow strangers into dark warehouses - even with the promise of donuts.
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May 14, 2025Well this was bizarre 🍩
February 24, 2022
This book is super, super weird.
February 5, 2018
Know going in that this is a really weird book. The plot is odd, and the drawings are odd - but incredibly, exquisitely detailed. I spent way more time perusing the absolutely hilarious and insane details of the backgrounds than I did dealing with the plot, which almost seems incidental to the artwork that was obviously lovingly crafted. This is a picture book whose value is in the images, and those images are so dense and detailed that a reader could go back to this book a dozen times and spend hours puzzling out all the gags and weirdness and fun going on here.
August 18, 2015
So, so cool. Kind of psychedelic, tres seventies (it was originally published in 1973.) Although I shelved this a children's lit its fans are far more likely to be of the Woodstock-era and those currently residing in Colorado or Washington. Though I am not of the "Wow, dude," crowd there was something appealing and familiar about the Very intricate illustrations and hidden text in this picture book.
April 2, 2008
At least one of Mark Alan Stamaty's amazing kid's books is still in print. For some reason publishers today seem to only tolerate tame, sterile and homogenized kid's books. You just don't see weird, crazy, incredible books like this these days. Great for kids, but enjoyable for adults too. Buy one for you child, niece, nephew, friend's kids today
January 6, 2011
I can't put into words what I think of this book. It was a gift from my brother for my 5th birthday. At the time, the book was out of print, so he photocopied a friend's copy for me, and bound it in paisley fabric. I colored in the pages for years. You could own this book your whole life, and still find new details every time through. It really captures the chaos of new york.
September 21, 2009
This definitely goes on the shelf with the far out picture books. It's a little cracked out, so not so much for the kiddos this one, but I dig it's weird story and comic style tableaux.
March 25, 2013
46 months - An odd story with a lot of very odd illustrations. The illustrations are well done but it's just too much clutter for me. O didn't want to read the story at all until I insisted.
July 15, 2024
This 1973 picture book by Mark Alan Stamaty is bonkers! The story is about Sam, a kid who decides he needs zillions of donuts, so he rides his tricycle to the big city. Conveniently, he finds Mr. Bikferd, a guy who can needs help collecting zillions of donuts to put in a warehouse. A Sad Old Woman (sic) yells at them, "Who needs donuts when you've got love?" Not long after, Mr. Bikferd does find love (with Pretzel Annie) and gives all the donuts to Sam, who loses interest in donuts and goes home – but not before using the donuts to save the life of the Sad Old Woman! That's the plot, such as it is.
But the art is what really stands out. Stamaty, a cartoonist with an instantly-recognized style, makes the book even weirder by crowding every page with black & white doodles that have nothing to do with the story. Much of the art has tiny-print wordplay (e.g.,"Morning exercises: 1. Count your nose. 2. Hold your toes.") Even if a lot of the wordplay goes over the heads of kids reading the book, they'll still love to pore over it.
Thanks to Catherine Hong for the recommendation.
But the art is what really stands out. Stamaty, a cartoonist with an instantly-recognized style, makes the book even weirder by crowding every page with black & white doodles that have nothing to do with the story. Much of the art has tiny-print wordplay (e.g.,"Morning exercises: 1. Count your nose. 2. Hold your toes.") Even if a lot of the wordplay goes over the heads of kids reading the book, they'll still love to pore over it.
Thanks to Catherine Hong for the recommendation.
May 29, 2019
If Philip K. Dick had written a children's book after reading the complete works of Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll in one sitting, consuming a dozen donuts and six glasses of Guinness, and taking a twelve-hour nap broken by the weirdest dreams ever . . .
. . . I imagine it would have turned out something like this.
This book was an impulse purchase that I absolutely couldn't pass up after seeing the illustrations. The density of these illustrations puts Where's Waldo? to shame in places. There are panels in the pages of this book that will take you a good 10-15 minutes to comb for every last pun and absurdity.
Apparently people didn't know what to make of this book when it came out in 1973. It went out of print fairly quickly, but the people who got sucked in REALLY got sucked in. Before it was reissued in the early 2000s, secondhand copies of this book would sell for up to $500 (this is all taken from the jacket flap).
If THAT isn't enough to intrigue you, I don't know what it is. This book is N-U-T-S, and I loved every bit of it.
. . . I imagine it would have turned out something like this.
This book was an impulse purchase that I absolutely couldn't pass up after seeing the illustrations. The density of these illustrations puts Where's Waldo? to shame in places. There are panels in the pages of this book that will take you a good 10-15 minutes to comb for every last pun and absurdity.
Apparently people didn't know what to make of this book when it came out in 1973. It went out of print fairly quickly, but the people who got sucked in REALLY got sucked in. Before it was reissued in the early 2000s, secondhand copies of this book would sell for up to $500 (this is all taken from the jacket flap).
If THAT isn't enough to intrigue you, I don't know what it is. This book is N-U-T-S, and I loved every bit of it.
February 23, 2019
This is probably the most bizarre picturebook I've ever read, and I've read some weird ones, nihilistic ones, and absurd ones. Sam loves donuts to the point where he goes all by himself to the big city to get even more. And he does get more--so many in fact, that he doesn't quite know what to do with himself. But those donuts come strangely in handy as a woman almost drowns.
Each illustration is incredibly detailed, filled with small jokes, puns, plays on advertising, metafiction, intertextuality, social norms. It's a book that I could stare at for hours. There's so much going on, and there's so much to look at. Ultimately, this is a strangely incredible book that has just enough absurdity to entertain a child, and endless amounts of absurdity for the children's literature academic.
Review cross-listed here!
Each illustration is incredibly detailed, filled with small jokes, puns, plays on advertising, metafiction, intertextuality, social norms. It's a book that I could stare at for hours. There's so much going on, and there's so much to look at. Ultimately, this is a strangely incredible book that has just enough absurdity to entertain a child, and endless amounts of absurdity for the children's literature academic.
Review cross-listed here!
November 7, 2023
Every page of Mark Alan Stamaty's masterpiece contains a picture or reference to a donut. A plain donut, no frosting.
Sam, a slender little boy who wants more donuts than his parents could every buy, embarks on a mission to find donuts in the big city.
I won't spoil the ending to Sam's wonderfully-illustrated journey except to say that donuts can save your life.
So, who needs "Who Needs Donuts?"
You do.
Sam, a slender little boy who wants more donuts than his parents could every buy, embarks on a mission to find donuts in the big city.
I won't spoil the ending to Sam's wonderfully-illustrated journey except to say that donuts can save your life.
So, who needs "Who Needs Donuts?"
You do.
June 5, 2019
Surreal is an understatement. Definitely for a niche audience. Not for me. I give it two stars instead of one only because I admire it for being creative. The details in the pictures are easier to see than those of Peter Sís's works, but still much too much overwhelming and disturbing *for me.*
September 8, 2019
I’m not quite sure what to think of this book. The story is so-so, but the illustrations are fascinating. I recently listened to the Fuse 8 and Kate podcast where they discussed this book, and then I noticed it when I was shelving books in my library. I don’t think I would try it as a read aloud to a group, but as a lap read with a kiddo who loves illustrations, this could be pretty fun.
January 14, 2022
A young boy who has a lovely family and tons of friends wants only one thing: millions of donuts. He runs away to the city, meets a man who collects donuts, and gets his millions of donuts. But when he actually gets the donuts, he learns that what he really needs is love...and returns to his family.
I didn't particularly like the surreal-style illustrations.
I didn't particularly like the surreal-style illustrations.
November 5, 2019
There's a horse bird with a shirt pipe, which doesn't make sense until you see it and then you will say to yourself, "Well...yeah that's a horse bird with a shirt pipe, isn't it?"
We're going to read this twenty seven times this week.
We're going to read this twenty seven times this week.
December 7, 2021
I LOVE THE WAY THAT THIS BOOK IS SET UP. It is all in black and white and takes the reader throughout the city where there are a plethora of details displayed. The books focus in on the images rather than on the text.
March 9, 2022
This was really weird and I didn't love it. I didn't like the particular style of art. But there's so much to find in the illustrations upon multiple rereadings that I still think it would be a good book for a kid. I think this is a good book that just isn't for me.
March 10, 2024
Wow!, indeed. Lost myself exploring each single detail of each page. A delightful treat for the eyes and what a piece of art. It does not surprise that this illustrated book became a cult. It is so but so satisfying to look at!
Stamaty is surely a damn graphomaniac storyteller wizard :-)
Stamaty is surely a damn graphomaniac storyteller wizard :-)
August 28, 2018
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January 14, 2019
The illustrations are stimulating (almost overly so for this day and age). But the tale is cute.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews