The Catalog

by Jasper Tomkins

When The Green Tiger Press first published this book in 1981 Publisher's Weekly said in its review: "Three mountains just sit, day and night, until a catalog arrives in their remote desert location. Studying the offerings, one mountain decides to order 43 giraffes; the second sends for 61 turtles; and the third decides on 52 bears. The animals arrive in due time, kicking off blithe happenings that grow out of the hosts' ideas for making the company feel at home and the guests' generous reciprocation of favors. The mountains order refrigerators full of food, decks of playing cards, records for dancing and (of course) a record player, and other things the animals delight in. Their gifts to the mountains are depicted in the last pages of Tomkins' exhilaration flight of fancy, a love of a book with pictures so cleverly drawn that the author makes one eager to believe his tale."

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[anna bird-pollan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great examples of consumerism! good job jasper.

[Benjamin Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is so crazy! I am not a recreational drug user, but if you are, I promise you don't use enough drugs to fully appreciate this book. Buy a copy, do whatever it is you do, and read it. It's wild!

[Alli Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite of mine. Such a great story

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about friendship and sacrifice and overall a lovely ode to selflessness.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was quirky and I loved it.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have a home shopping network fanatic...or back in the day, the Mail order catalog fanatic...then this book will give you a chuckle. I read it to a co-worker who is crazy for QVC and she giggled the whole way! Just look through the Catalog and you get what you need! Giraffe, bears, Turtle, refrigerators and hats... I thought it was fun, written in 1981 so a tad outdated...now it would be ... "The mountains went to the internet and ordered 1342 Giraffe.!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met Jasper Tomkins at a Young Author's Conference when I was in elementary school. I think his signature is about the only "celebrity" autograph I own.

[Michelle G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet/funny story about caring for others.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute fun read about mountains who realize they didn't think through their decision to purchase something special and how they try to fix it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a Silverstein-esque delightful absurd story I turned into the best flannel story ever!! Preschool-grade 2.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely delightful