Under the Table

by Allan Ahlberg, Bruce Ingman (Illustrator)

Nothing is what it seems—and anything can happen—when the hilarious team of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman sneak a peek under the table.

What do you do when you’re having an ordinary day, only to discover there’s a big gray elephant (named Nathaniel) under the table? Why, you get him to help you wash the car! And the kangaroo (named Abigail) that appears under that same table can help bring in groceries. But when there are penguins in the fridge, the forks and knives are running around, and the salt and ketchup are acting up, there is only one thing to pack everyone in the camper and go on vacation! With a wink and a nod, Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman reunite for another wry, comical, zany adventure starring the family introduced in The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Family, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 2, 2024

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[N. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird and too abstract, not entertaining whatsoever. Former children’s librarian & early childhood educator here. This book is a flop.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Table is a fun young children's book about a little girl called Elsie. Elsie keeps on finding animals under her dining room table that are there to help out with the household chores. The table also seems to have magical powers as it makes items on it move.

When two penguins appear the family decides they need a holiday but they can't leave the animals behind, so off they all go together.

The story is certainly unusual. I was waiting for the moment when it turned out there was a good explanation for what had happened but no, the book ends with no explanation, though another animal does show up.

The illustrations are full-page and delightful to look at. The plot is silly and a bit out-there but I can see it making children laugh.

[Tara DuBose-Schmitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are random animals under the table, not even indigenous to the same continent. How did they get there? Several are too big to get through the door, let alone fit under furniture. They can talk and have pretentious names. Why is no one gobsmacked by this? And seriously—going on vacation? They all can’t fit in the camper. How would you feed them all? The only part that made sense was the discovery of ants.

[Viviana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art's pretty cute

[Wendy Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You to YABC and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
What I Loved:
Under the Table is a great read-aloud--fun, funny, and interactive, making it enjoyable for both the child and reader. The illustrations are delightful, imaginative, and silly, and are the perfect match for the story.
What Left Me Wanting More:
Not a thing!
Final Verdict:
Great book! You’ll get pulled in by the title and cover and you’ll stay to see what wacky thing could possibly happen next!

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Elsie Cannon. Let's join Elsie and her family for some very exciting adventures! First - Elsie's hard boiled egg runs away (watch for it throughout the book!) and she discovers a large gray thing under the table. The gray thing turns out to be an elephant. Named Nathaniel. Who promptly helps the family wash the car. More lumps appear; more helpers are found! Eventually there is only one thing to do - go on vacation! This is a nonsensical, outrageously delightful tale.
Wonderfully silly, it made me laugh out loud - I think kids will enjoy it also!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always I read the publication info and the author and illustrator info first prior to the story. That said I was prepared for this story with plenty of humor and fantasy found in stories written by authors from England. No it is not a realistic story, but it brought me smiles and a lighter mood as each animal appeared and assisted the family with chores and I loved the animal names. This title is will lighten your mood, just believe as you read. Also the color scheme of the illustrations are bright and light.
It was a good read on my overcast drizzling Saturday morning.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the Table (2023; 2024, US) is one of the last books published by Allan Ahlberg and pleasantly illustrated by Bruce Ingman (though the illustrations in the book are more inviting than that cover. The story is silly fun, where the family finds an elephant under their kitchen table, so they enlist him to wash the car, and then a kangaraoo, and so on. Penguins in the fridge, so let's all go on vacay together, why not? Just sort of silly, The End comes but then we see there's a rhino under the table . . .

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I haven't read a picture book this flat out fun in a long time!!!! The uber-talented team of Ahlberg and Ingman have created another hilarious story (hopefully you've read some of their other award-winning books) with surprises on every page (watch for the egg!!!) Kids will love this book with its fantastical characters (and character names), the make-believe atmosphere, clever action-driven illustrations, and all around giggle-inducing raucousness!!

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻 reviews: Wild, funny, adventurous and creative imaginations in this book. I love it because when my sister and I were younger, we used to hide under our dining table when it was stormy outside. We would create our own imaginary games and toys while waiting for the storm to pass. I love this one because the story and illustrations are cute and funny. I enjoyed it.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a stupid pointless book. It started off with potential, but I think the author's goal was to be as silly as possible, and get sillier along the way, to try to make children laugh. The egg seemed to have importance at the beginning, but that quickly faded away. But the ending, the book was just plain awful. I cringe even thinking about it.

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love Allan Ahlberg stories and poems, and this was fairly cute, but it also felt just somewhat average. The illustrations weren't bad and I like all the little details. This would definitely be a book for older kids (young elementary rather than preschool) and not really ideal for large groups.
Not bad but not great.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand that the book is targeted for little kids but parents are the one reading it and as adults we like story with reasoning and logic so the combination of different animals popping under the table and inanimate objects being animate, everyone going on a beach vacation with no moral ending did not make any sense whatsoever. Five year old enjoyed it so it’s a three star read from me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this was co written by a kid. The story goes all over the place in many different directions. Also why it it only the older brother always helping with chores and not the younger sister? If curvy, unpredictable plots are your thing.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes use your imagination to the very extreme! The young girl repeatedly finds animals under the table or in the fridge. Her family repeatedly accepts the new stranger with joy and acceptance. This is a happy book with so many surprises inside!

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would happily and easily live in this world that Ahlberg & Ingman create. #RightAtHome

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

...and dreaming...

This is a wacky, super-silly book that brings to mind the surreal stories kids are so good at coming up with. Who will be under the table today?

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wacky fun!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very silly and child-centric, this imaginative picture book could be great for storytime or a read-aloud. Ahlberg is always a lot of fun, but this nonsense book is especially joyful.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 124

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supremely silly fun!

[Bookishrealm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry friends. I did not care for the story nor the artwork in this one. I was trying to get a grasp of the concept, but by the end I felt even more confused.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully quirky illustrations (love the egg); imaginative scenarios so typical of childhood. Although not my normal style, I found this to be just perfect for a gray mood day.

[Lynn Hardesty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a camper, family vacation, and huge imagination. I loved it.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and silly.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun imagination with an elephant and a kangaroo under the table, penguins in the icebox, and ants at the picnic (because of course). Surprise ending.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an odd story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Allan Ahlberg and this is charming.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I like that silly one." fun stuff.

[Marjorie Ingall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legit funny. A real kid-pleaser.