Down the Back of the Chair

by Margaret Mahy, Polly Dunbar (Illustrator)

When Dad loses his car keys, little Mary suggests they might be down the back of the chair. Join in the fun as Dad begins the search, finding everything from a hairy string to a diamond ringand much, much more! Could the solution to all the family’s problems be down the back of the chair?

A lively rhyming text and quirky art come together in this visual explosion of fun and imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Fiction, Storytime, International, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2006

About the author

Margaret Mahy was a well-known New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. While the plots of many of her books have strong supernatural elements, her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growing up.

Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. There have 100 children's books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of her stories published. Among her children's books, A Lion in the Meadow and The Seven Chinese Brothers and The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate are considered national classics. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Catalan and Afrikaans. In addition, some stories have been translated into Russian, Chinese and Icelandic.

For her contributions to children's literature she was made a member of the Order of New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal Award was established by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation in 1991 to provide recognition of excellence in children's literature, publishing and literacy in New Zealand. In 2006 she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award (known as the Little Nobel Prize) in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature".

Margaret Mahy died on 23 July 2012.

On 29 April 2013, New Zealand’s top honour for children’s books was renamed the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret...

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd little verse story about an overwhelmed father who finds a succession of increasingly bizarre items "down the back of the chair" as he searches for his car keys. Although quite fanciful, the story is surprisingly realistic in aspects -- the grubbiness of the under-parented toddlers, for instance, and the anxiety of the older girl that her father will be fired and have no money if he doesn't find the keys in time. I don't know whether this is just Mahy, who never shies away from social difficulties, or a regional difference, but I can't think offhand of any American picture books that depict small children being aware of financial concerns. The few I can think of that address issues such as poverty at all portray the "victims" as other, never as characters whose point of view the reader is sharing... Probably American publishers assume that poor kids don't read.

I did not care for the illustrations so much, especially the round, staring, immanent-psychotic-break eyes.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars from my six year old granddaughter. She insisted we read it to everyone we went to visit, and it was a favorite at bedtime all week. She hooted at the twin baby that had been slipped down the back of an easy chair.

Cheerful rhymes, and funny pictures that repay repeated viewings with new details. I’m not totally pleased with the dad’s seeming idea in the last couple of pages that money is the answer to all problems, but then I’ve never been out of work. I’m not sure she even noticed it.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why I wasn't more "into" this story. It's a neat little idea, but I guess I just found the things in back of the chair too much a collection of extraordinary misc. (really, elephants having a tea party!?) but perhaps that is the charm of the tale for young readers. (Also, I thought the dad looked a bit, um, scary; channeling a bit of the look from Munch's "The Scream"--but maybe that is just me!)

[Alsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book quite a lot through the years, I always loved Mahy's quirky style and found the rhyming fun to read. It was cleverly written, with all the funny and crazy stuff found at the back of the chair. The unique and colorful pictures also added a lot to the book, making it very enjoyable.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I've found my dreams," our father beams, "down the back of the chair."
Yes, ok, after a lot of not nice stuff.
I will never ever again even think about getting stuffed furniture. :shudder:

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story about a family who find the solution to all their troubles (and a lot of other things, too!) "Down the Back of the Chair." Strange and quirky, but a great poem that flows easily and is fun to read. Our girls have borrowed this a few times from the library.

[Audrey Haylins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to love about this crazy, funny story about all the weird and wonderful things that turn up stuffed down the back of Dad's favorite armchair! From a diamond ring to a spider, from a cake to a snake, from a lion to a dragon, the objects get ever more ridiculous. Until, finally, out comes Uncle Bill's will and moneybox to rescue the family from destitution. It's a roller coaster ride of silly nonsense, but exactly the kind of stuff that small children adore.

With colourful illustrations and creative placement of text, the pages are instantly appealing. And it's a joy to read aloud: rhyming and rhythmic with lots of delicious alliteration and onomatopoeia. I read the digital copy with my two young grandsons (3 and 4), and they were utterly captivated. In fact, we had to go through it several times so that they could take in all the silly detail. Granted, some of the vocabulary is quite advanced for kids in this age group. Indeed, some words, e.g. docket,would never be used in British English. However, this would not stop me from buying the physical version of this book.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for providing the digital ARC.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A down on their luck family finds all manner of things down the back of their family chair in this engaging picture book with a great use of verse and some quirky illustrations which remind me of Roald Dahl. It’s a simple premise but a clever one and hopefully would get children chatting about what they imagine. This is a great read for primary or elementary school age children, which is a really enjoyable and imaginative read, which might just send them looking down the backs of chair in their homes too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for sending me a free advance e-book copy of this title.

[Annie Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a dad who looses his car keys and his daughter suggests looking down the back of his chair. They find a whole range of items including dragons, pirates, treasure, elephants, one of the twins and many other silly things. The book is quirky, eccentric and full of colourful illustrations that children can point out as you/they read along. It has a strong rhythm and lots of repetition 'down the back of the chair.' I like how relatable this is to our family as when dad loses anything it is often found down the back of the chair! (unfortunately we are yet to find a dragon).

[Anna Donajgrodzki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing picture book full of rhyme and repetition which makes it a really fun read. The illustrations are bold and bright bringing the book to life. The concept of everything you can find stuffed behind the chair is hilarious. I would definitely recommend this book to use as a read-aloud in a KS1 classroom.

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books to read out loud. It's got a strong rhythm, lots of repetition and rhyming, and great use of alliteration, so it sounds fun. And the illustrations make it look fun too! What sorts of wonders can you discover if you look down the back of the chair?

[Brayton Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant reflection on material want, the persistence of hope, and the crap you lose in your upholstery. With a gloriously catchy and flawlessly implemented meter.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can get on board with anything that rhymes, even if it's silly!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a funny story,entertaining,cute illustrations

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A poor family searches the back of the chair for lost coins and finds numerous adventures and treasures in the cushions. preschool and up

[Sahuna Imran · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book with beautiful illustrations.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of finding solutions to our problems down the back of the chair but then it just got more and more wild/crazy. The illustrations were not my favorite. Kind of a strange story.

[animals85 · Rating 3 out of 5]

unrealistic boo 👎

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down the Back of the Chair - Margaret Mahy,Polly Dunbar    Super silly picture book wherein the father keeps pulling increasingly less probably items from under the seat cushion of a comfy chair. The archetypal comfy chair. The one I've become obsessed with. Now in addition to passing time looking at gorgeous home libraries on Pinterest, I've taken to looking for chairs closest to this ideal. I haven't found one yet. But now I have another ridiculously pointless quest to amuse my idle moments.Library copy

[Vicki Kier · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Mahy's finest, Down the Back of the Chair humorously recounts the fortunes found by one economically-challenged family "down the back of the chair"--a refrain repeated throughout the rhyming text. Loads of new vocabulary and clever phrases like "rack and ruin" are sure to please listeners, who will also appreciate the rhythm and sounds of Mahy's interesting alliterations and non-standard, refreshing rhymes when read aloud. Dunbar's quirky drawings exude an energy and silliness, perfectly suited to the text. Also notable is the smart text placement, which fits comfortably within the illustrations as it also paces read-alouds. A fun story-time addition, Down the Back of the Chair is HIGHLY recommended for ages 3-8.

[Beth Koorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down the back of the chair is a pearler to read aloud, or giggle with by myself. "The chair, the chair, the challenging chair, the champion chair, the cheerful chair, charming chair, the children's chair, the chopped and chipped, but chosen chair."

Margaret Mahy has died today, Monday 23 July, after being diagnosed with cancer in April this year. And always working with dynamos like the gorgeous illustrator Polly Dunbar...

I hope RNZ will repeat an interview Mahy's interview on Kim Hill's program in 2008. Ask 'em: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/nationa...

[Tony Braithwaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

My youngest grandson, enjoyed reading this book when he was in primary school. This story is told by Margaret Mahy, an author who has written over 200 books for children. Most people who lose things would feel accepted as they read this book. Everybody lose things, right!

A dad lost his car keys. His toddler daughter, Mary, concludes that they are somewhere ‘down the back of the chair’ in their lounge room. Interestingly, they find everything that has been lost or they thought they lost or they didn’t realise they lost, ‘down the back of the chair.’ Her dad panics. He must find his car keys. Are they ‘down the back of the chair?’ You need to read this book to find the answer.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

more like 3.5 stars...
5/5 illustrations
3/5 story

I think the premise of the book is a little weird, and potentially scary for children (the family is facing financial ruin because the dad can't find his car keys... eeek, I lose my keys every day!) but the things that come out of the chair when he is looking for spare change are funny and clever, so the story definitely picks up. And goodness, I love Polly Dunbar. Her illustrations are a little darker in this in some ways, but so original and rich.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hoot and a half of a picture book makes me sadder still that Margaret Mahy no longer graces our world, makes me long to be a New Zealander where bandicoots and skinks and conger eels are probably not alien to children as they might be here in NY (and they have the sea the sea the sea everywhere and libraries plum full of her even her most obscure books I would hope), and mostly makes me laugh with her take no prisoners gleeful rhyming.
Raising a (pretend, the best kind) glass to you, Margaret!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read-aloud story about a father who's lost his car keys. A frantic search leads a child to suggest the back of the chair - from whence all wonderful and amazing lost items are found. A fun rhyming text blends with fine drawings in a funny fantasy of a simple chair's riches.

Teaching Ideas/author website:
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...

Have students write their own story for what is down the back of the chair.

[Tam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the "type" of book that my 4-year-old likes and he was constantly asking me what words meant.

Excerpt from the book:
"Nothing but dockets in his pockets,
raging with despair, Dad acts appalled!
Though nearly bald, he tries to tear his hair.
But Mary, who is barely two,
says, 'Dad should do what I would do!
I lose a lot, but I find a few--
down the back of the chair."

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere along the way, Mahy was recommended to me, and although I've never found any of her books to be totally enthralling, they're good and I can see why children like them. This book goes into detail about all the preposterous things that one could find while searching the cracks of a chair - a fun enough concept.

[Emilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought that it was so cute and clever! This would be a great book to read in the classroom just for fun. I think that all of the things that get pulled out of the chair are cute, funny, and clever! I love that it turned out that the chair held the answer to their problems the entire time. I really enjoyed this book and the way it was written.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollicking rhyming picture book, absolutely perfect to read aloud (audience optional). Best version - Margaret herself, although I did her Margaret and her grandson Harry recite it at the Gala Dinner commemorating Margaret's 70th birthday[http://www.storylines.org.nz/events.a...]!