The Day Jake Vacuumed

by Simon James

Jake is unleashed with a super-strength, industrial-sized vacuum cleaner to wreak havoc upon the family home

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Simon James is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including such favorites as DEAR GREENPEACE, LEON AND BOB, and the Baby Brains series. His stories often concern a child’s relationship with the natural world. Simon James lives in England.

Reviews

[KC Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorit-ist books in grade school. We had this program where, on your birthday, you could donate a book to your school library, and they would put a little sticker in the front with your name, "donated by" and so on. This was mine. I don't know why my mom selected it - I was certainly too young to do so - but I never forgot it. It was the first meta book I knew about, other than "There's a Monster at the end of this book" with Grover.

[Rae O’Shea · Rating 1 out of 5]

You have to wonder who thought this book should be published, let alone be inflicted on young children!
I am a fan of Roald Dahl and off beat kid books but this has a terrible message with no redeeming features at all.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's too bad there's only three books from kids author Simon James in the saga of young upstart Jake, at least so far, but as they say, things change. For now let's say I personally have made a cool new discovery in the field of kid's lit! Jake wants nothing to do with his parents telling him over and over ad nauseum to vacuum his room clean or else. So Jake decides to do what bratty kids usually dream of: vacuum up his mom, his sister and his dad and keep em inside the family Hoover. (Of course the drawing of sister being sucked inside with the dress going up showing pink undies is kinda disturbing to say the least, as though Mr James is one kids author with a dirty adult mind that most kids are bound to LOVE, HEH HEH!) Jake even vacuums up...THE BOOK! All things are looking up for Jake....until the thing explodes,sets his family free, and is soooo ruined beyond recognition....why go back to vacuuming anyway!!! Success thru suckage by way of Hoover has been achieved! Very funny and totally recommended for my most hardcore fans of this kinda genre!
Four stars
Jake will suck you in!!!! (Oops!)

[Mohammed Jangir · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is disturbing. He tried to be free from his family using a vacuum cleaner... can you imagine what he'll use once grown up. Bad message to children. And I also dislike the small sister's underware being exposed too. Unnecessary.

[Bhuvaneshwari · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very bad book for kids. Has a negative impact

[Chance Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mischievous!

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Jake. I like the vacuum. I like the part where Jake's sister gets sucked up in the vacuum. I also like when Jake's father, Jake's mother, the cat, and the page get sucked up. I really like the part where we reveal Jake's secret stolen cookie box. I am so into that Jake book. I like Jake. I have 5 stars on this book.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious picture book about a naughty child who vacuums his parents.

[Kayla Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the opening lines of this book: "Jake was difficult. Jake was a problem." The rest of the book was terrible.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha ha! I'd read this in storytime, but the parents might kill me.