Mr. McGee

by Pamela Allen

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

1 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Pamela Kay Allen MNZM AM, born in 1934 in Devonport, New Zealand, is a celebrated children's author and illustrator.
Since the release of her first book, Mr. Archimedes' Bath, in 1980, she has written and illustrated over 50 picture books, selling over five million copies. Renowned for works like Who Sank the Boat?.
Allen has received numerous accolades, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award and the Margaret Mahy Medal. Her books have been adapted for the stage and are beloved worldwide. Now residing in Auckland, she remains an icon in children's literature.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd forgotten about Pamela Allen. Short, snappy, funny and silly. With easy to prompt rhyming sentences, Indy had wide eyes, a wide mouth when trying to guess the rhyme, and big smiles. A fun read before bed.

[Library Quine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about Mr McGee, who lives in the outdoors, with his sleeping and dining places in the shade a big apple tree. He rises, eats an apple, inflates, and floats above the town until a bird pecks him, he deflates and lands back where he started.
I liked the simplicity of this rhyming tale, and was surprised that it wasn't better received by my group. The lengths of the rhyming lines were somewhat variable, and perhaps that is why it was difficult to maintain the rhythm. I had thought to prime the children to clap out Mis-ter-ma-gee, before we started, and then when the name appeared in the text. I chose not to, but would try it the next time.
Mr McGee features in other titles and I will seek some of them out.
Read to Rising 3's 02/Feb/2012.

[Kirsty Cochrane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book with my girls although I think some of the language was phrased above that of a 4 year old. Still both girls got the gist of what was happening and were about to tell me about it when we finished. The rhyming is a great tool as well.

[Nyssa Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story!

[Sue Winson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one silly story that makes 22-month old little-AJ giggles. The story has many familiar scenes and objects that can immediately attract young toddlers like Little-AJ.

First of all, Mr McGee lives under a big shady apple tree. Mr McGee put on his shirt, trousers, socks etc (little-AJ loves this part and kept pointing and naming the objects. Those familiar everyday routine of getting dressed!). And then Mr McGee, for some unknown reason (probably due to an after effect of some magical apple) started growing and swelling, until he floated up the sky like a balloon (one of little-AJ's favourite objects again).

(Spoiler ahead) But a bird came and pecked him sharply (mummy poked little-AJ everywhere, pretended to be a bird. Little-AJ giggled). Mr McGee then fell down, head first, and landed right on his bed (little-AJ giggled looking at the hilarious illustration of Mr McGee with legs up and head on bed).

I love how the story provides chance for mummy to have lovely interaction with cheeky little-AJ. I love the silliness and ridiculousness of the story. I also love the funny and clean illustrations.

Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple rhyming story. Miss 5 likes when the bird deflates him best.

Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Rebecca Kurien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I wasn't wowed by this one somehow. It was sweet, lyrical and silly, and my 4 year old said it was 'nice', but I know he isn't going to be reaching for it any time soon.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonsensical book about a man pulling Aunt Marge from Harry Potter, swelling and flying in the sky. Did he end coming back on the ground? Read to find out.

[Chiara ☼˚｡⋆˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

chill guy, i like how he looks funny

[Cheryl]

Best for those who are young enough to get a kick out of pure rhyming nonsense, such as that from Edward Lear and Ogden Nash. I'm too jaded, unfortunately.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr McGee has gone on to become the main character in a number of Pamela Allen books - so I thought I'd look at where it all began.

I just couldn't get into the rhythm of the text - Pamela is using a either an AA or ABCB rhyming system - but I found the number of syllables in each line too different to get a rhythm up.

And I'm confused as to why an apple skin would make you fill with air...

I'd recommend reading Mr. McGee and the Biting Flea over this one.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a simple story. I was surprised by how much my grade one students enjoyed it. It was short and simple, and this worked well for using it as a way to talk about the different elements of narratives.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a bit more from this book. Liked the rhyming, but it took a bit to get my son interested. Will try it with another son tonight, so the rating may change.

[Edacheeky · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg i used to love reading the Mr Mcgee stories

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Mr McGee, who eats an apple and then balloons and flies up into the air until a bird pecks him and he falls out of the sky. Children thought it was funny.