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Adventures of McBroom
McBroom Tells a Lie
A hilarious early reader follows Josh McBroom, a farmer who manages a delightful one-acre farm and who is known for his tall tales, as he admits to telling a lie. Reprint.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
1 person is currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Sid Fleischman
101 books149 followersAs a children's book author Sid Fleischman felt a special obligation to his readers. "The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the author must deliver his or her best work." With almost 60 books to his credit, some of which have been made into motion pictures, Sid Fleischman can be assured that his work will make a special impact.
Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.
He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.
Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.
He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 2, 2024
This is a book I've had since I was a kid, and I have a soft spot for the tall tales Josh McBroom spins about his amazing one-acre farm and the things he can grow there -- popcorn, jumping beans, and tomatoes, this time -- all in under an hour. This go-round he also has to deal with a shady neighbor who covets his farm and tries to trick him into losing ownership.
Funny and silly.
Funny and silly.
July 13, 2019
This is the 8th McBroom book (I think), originally published in 1975. The illustrations in this one are, interestingly, just in pen and ink (black and white) and done in a very deliberately childish style - or so it strikes me - by Walter Lorraine, one of a number of different artists used on this series. I have to say that these are the least-attractive pictures in any of the books I've read; it's not the lack of color, but the deliberate crudeness that's off-putting to me - all of the characters look like the crazed products of a 6-8 year old.
Well, thankfully, the story is better, though it's no great shakes either. I think the formula was perhaps getting a little old by this time; or, hopefully, Sid Fleischman's invention just flagged this once. Like several other books in the series, this one concerns neighbor Heck Jones' attempts to get hold of McBrooms' magical 1-acre farm (where ANYTHING will grow, magically fast) and patriarch Josh McBroom's comical and half-baked methods of defeating his rapacious neighbor - this time helped out significantly by his many children (WillJILLHesterCHESTERPeterPOLLYTimTOMMaryLARRYandlittleCLARINDA) and their invention of a jumping-bean-powered car. Oh, and McBroom DOES tell a lie - despite his reputation for always being truthful.
Still worth a look for fans of this series and those who'd still like to be able to believe in tall tales; just not the best of McBroom by a long shot in my opinion.
Well, thankfully, the story is better, though it's no great shakes either. I think the formula was perhaps getting a little old by this time; or, hopefully, Sid Fleischman's invention just flagged this once. Like several other books in the series, this one concerns neighbor Heck Jones' attempts to get hold of McBrooms' magical 1-acre farm (where ANYTHING will grow, magically fast) and patriarch Josh McBroom's comical and half-baked methods of defeating his rapacious neighbor - this time helped out significantly by his many children (WillJILLHesterCHESTERPeterPOLLYTimTOMMaryLARRYandlittleCLARINDA) and their invention of a jumping-bean-powered car. Oh, and McBroom DOES tell a lie - despite his reputation for always being truthful.
Still worth a look for fans of this series and those who'd still like to be able to believe in tall tales; just not the best of McBroom by a long shot in my opinion.
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May 15, 2023LFL find. Cute enough. If you like McBroom's tall tales, or other humor akin, you might get a kick out of it. Btw, compared to other McBroom books, this is one relatively longer story, with a whole arc. But I only like this sort of silliness in very small doses, so I can't rate.
September 13, 2018
Alice: 5 stars
Jenny: 3 stars. A sort of amusing tale about a conflict between neighbors. The "country/hillbilly" language was tough for Alice to read. There is no real lie the main character tells.
Jenny: 3 stars. A sort of amusing tale about a conflict between neighbors. The "country/hillbilly" language was tough for Alice to read. There is no real lie the main character tells.
September 4, 2024
This is nonsensical, which is fine if it makes you laugh, but it did not make me laugh. I'm not sure I would have found this funny even as a kid. And without laughs it just seems pointless.
June 30, 2023
McBroom continues to entertain and delight.
March 20, 2020
The McBroom stories are sure to be winners with your kids since the tall tales are a hoot!
Ages: 5 - 10
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
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Ages: 5 - 10
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
March 11, 2015
I've heard about the McBroom adventures for several months. My library doesn't have the specific book I was recommend (Mr. McBroom's Amazing One-Acre Farm) so I borrowed what they did have. This was one of the two.
My nine-year-old picked them up and read them and then asked me to read them to his sisters. So I did while he giggled at my side.
This is the tale of Mr. McBroom and an adventure on his farm involving kids being creative with what they have, a neighbor trying to be sneaky, and popcorn.
I know it doesn't sound related. That's what makes it fun. A tall tale of resourcefulness and hilarious impossibilities that had my three kids laughing, rolling their eyes, and eagerly diving for the next McBroom adventure when this one was over.
Age recommendation: 5-10 or their mother who likes to laugh
My nine-year-old picked them up and read them and then asked me to read them to his sisters. So I did while he giggled at my side.
This is the tale of Mr. McBroom and an adventure on his farm involving kids being creative with what they have, a neighbor trying to be sneaky, and popcorn.
I know it doesn't sound related. That's what makes it fun. A tall tale of resourcefulness and hilarious impossibilities that had my three kids laughing, rolling their eyes, and eagerly diving for the next McBroom adventure when this one was over.
Age recommendation: 5-10 or their mother who likes to laugh
January 17, 2010
Another great McBroom tale! The book says it's for grades 2-3. These aren't my son's favorite books, but they are funny enough that he will pick them up occasionally to read. I have to find ways to trick him into reading, and this is the kind of thing I need to keep around the house.
He enjoys reading, but he is a bit lazy in that he won't go after a challenge... I'm not sure how to encourage him to challenge himself more.
He enjoys reading, but he is a bit lazy in that he won't go after a challenge... I'm not sure how to encourage him to challenge himself more.
April 12, 2015
All McBroom stories are excellent examples of the tall tale genre and this one is no different. It reminds a great deal of James Stevenson's Grandpa stories, with a stronger old west feel. The kids names being written as one long word is particularly clever and he does a few times over the course of the story. Very nicely done.
May 15, 2011
It was funny because it was this big story and then the lie was tiny. And the younguns build this popcorn mobile that was first a bean mobile powered by American Jumping Beans. The lie he told was Heck Jones' cow saw the popcorn and thought it was corn so froze itself to death. Really it had a terrible cold after.
October 25, 2007
Added for nostalgia. My dad read these books to us as kids. I wish I could find a copy with the old illustrations.
May 19, 2008
One from the small bookshelf that I had as a child. I loved this book! And still have it.
August 10, 2008
Lots of fun. After reading, I found out it's part of an extensive series of tall tales that might be attractive to one of my young readers.
April 21, 2020
I think I like the zoo one better, but still pretty fun. I kind of want to tell them to some kids.
February 25, 2023
ok story
October 23, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11485009
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11485009
January 28, 2016
Cute story told in a southern dialect. McBroom out maneuvers his neighbor who tries swindling him out of his farm.
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May 20, 2008E Fle
April 1, 2017
Wonderful - all kinds of clever uses of language and plenty of imaginative situations and contraptions.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews