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The Cabbage Patch Fib #1
The Cabbage Patch Fib
"Get the doctor," said Dad. "The poor thing is green." "Give it to me," said Mum and took the baby away from Chris. At once it screwed up its nose, closed its eyes and stopped breathing. It started turning purple again. A father at eight years old? It could only be a Paul Jennings story. And it is.
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First published August 13, 1989
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About the author
Paul Jennings
276 books360 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 9, 2011
An interesting book. Originally published in 1988, after the mayhem of the Cabbage Patch Kids hysteria of the early 80s. A busy father of six wants to have a serious dinner time conversation, so after Doctor Who, he turns the tele off. 8 year old Chris has a question- ""Where do babies come from?"". Dad tells him and that night Chris goes searching the cabbage patch for a baby. Trouble starts when he finds a green baby, who stops breathing and turns purple whenever Chris puts him down or gives him to someone else. My son's year 4 teacher read this to his class. It seems a surprising choice for a class room read, although my son didn't come home with burning questions about where babies really come from.
March 19, 2021
Original review below.
I re-read this to the Year 3-4 class, new bunch of children but the same enjoyment. This year one of the girls recognise what a Cabbage Patch Doll was and her mother allowed Bailey to bring "Maureen" to school to show the others. It was great reinforcement of the story. Next week we start Cabbage Patch War.
Reading to Room 3 - Year 3-4. They loved it and want me to read the next one. It seems to matter not that there are references to Cabbage Patch dolls that were a thing in the 80's but no longer. In fact, when I described them, the children said that their mothers had such dolls and indeed their teacher had one. Cabbage Patch War here we come.
I re-read this to the Year 3-4 class, new bunch of children but the same enjoyment. This year one of the girls recognise what a Cabbage Patch Doll was and her mother allowed Bailey to bring "Maureen" to school to show the others. It was great reinforcement of the story. Next week we start Cabbage Patch War.
Reading to Room 3 - Year 3-4. They loved it and want me to read the next one. It seems to matter not that there are references to Cabbage Patch dolls that were a thing in the 80's but no longer. In fact, when I described them, the children said that their mothers had such dolls and indeed their teacher had one. Cabbage Patch War here we come.
July 15, 2017
Totally classic. 20+ years of reading this and I never get sick of it. Paul Jennings was one of my favourite authors when I was in primary school.
September 15, 2011
The Cabbage Patch Fib is written by Paul Jennings it is a book about a family.
I decided to read it because it is a short and easy story book.
The thing I like about this book is that the story is very fun.
The thing I don't like about this book is it have a boring ending.
I learn nothing from this book.
'I watched as Chris put the baby on the ground and started to creep off."What are you doing?"I shouted."You can't go off and leave it."
I would recommend this book to my friend.
I decided to read it because it is a short and easy story book.
The thing I like about this book is that the story is very fun.
The thing I don't like about this book is it have a boring ending.
I learn nothing from this book.
'I watched as Chris put the baby on the ground and started to creep off."What are you doing?"I shouted."You can't go off and leave it."
I would recommend this book to my friend.
June 9, 2015
This book is an old favourite of mine. I do not know how many times I have read it. It is the classic tale of the boy who finds a baby in the cabbage patch and decides to raise it…but soon the gloss wears off and the reality of child-rearing kicks in. A truly funny yet clever book.
May 20, 2023
Currently, a student-teacher. I read this to my class (as I read it when I was their age - 8/9 years) and they absolutely loved it! They all wanted to know what happened next and were sad when I had to stop reading.
April 29, 2009
Loved that baby, who'd hold its breath to turn purple! Was this an episode of Round the Twist too, or a stand-alone? Because I distinctly remember watching it.
March 17, 2012
I have read this with my daughter. She said it was OK but I found that it was hilarious. The dad made me laugh a lot. :-)
May 23, 2012
this book was bornig and didnt entertain me
May 31, 2013
I think this book is good because it is entertaining , funny,and it's about family also because there is 3 books in 1
September 18, 2014
If you have to read to kids then this is one of those one that you'll enjoy yourself. Or if you just want to zone out for half an hour into nice funny kids world then go here.
October 18, 2015
Great Book
March 25, 2014
IT WAS INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING WITH A GOOD SENSE OF WIT
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews