Nutmeg

by David Lucas

A sparkling new adventure from the creator of the best-selling Halibut Jackson .

Nutmeg lives a very dull life with her old Uncle Nicodemus and Cousin Nesbitt. They eat nothing but cardboard for breakfast, string for lunch, and sawdust for supper. One day she meets a genie who gives her a magic wooden spoon that not only conjures up all kinds of ingredients, and cooks all by itself, but also transforms their ramshackle old hut into a ship. So Nutmeg and her family sail off to new adventures!


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Food, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2009

About the author

David Lucas has written and illustrated several books for children and was named a Booktrust Best New Illustrator. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Jean]

I read this book with Year 3 children. It's a lovely story about people having only cardboard for breakfast, string for lunch and sawdust for supper. How boring! Then along comes a genie who grants three wishes - and wishes are for something different for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This provides the opportunity for children thinking about what they would do with three wishes, so allowing them to write creatively and imaginatively. There's a lot of speech within the text and it lends itself to demonstrating how to use speech marks. 'Nutmeg' is written by a London author which was inspiring for the children in the class. It is also beautifully illustrated throughout.

[Jacqueline Field]

Nutmeg -By David Lucas

Nutmeg is a story about a young girl who is spending a normal day at home. She gets bored and decides to go for a walk as at home she felt like she was just doing the everyday things she always does, Nutmeg wanted to try something new. On her walk she comes across a creek an decides to stop and have a rest. While sitting at the creek she notices a empty bottle which had a tiny light inside. When she opens the bottle a genie pops out and grants her three wishes. Nutmeg uses her wishes to make things at home different. When Nutmeg got home everything was different there was a magic spoon which made her a special dinner, bedtime was special because he went flying into the stars with her uncle etc. At the end of the story after all Nutmegs adventures are described she sits down has a rest and thinks with excitement about what she might be having for lunch next.

This book is suitable for a year 3-4 class. I would read this at story time at the end of the day, to create imagery and excitement about what might happen when the pupils get home after school.
The book itself is full of illustration so that the pupils can engage and understand what is being described in the book. It is brightly coloured and attractive to look at which I feel makes children interested in the story.
This story could be linked to a geography or science lesson about environments or exploring new places. The story will make children want to investigate how and why places look different.

[Debrarian]

Delightful tale of a moping family who live in a pile of wreckage near the shore, eating cardboard for breakfast, until the day young Nutmeg conjures up a genie. Her humble wish (for better breakfast fare) turns the family’s lives wonderfully upside down!

[Jenna Mills]

Ludicrous

[Ricardo Angélico]

Leaning towards 3,5 stars...

[Lesley Johnson]

I bought this for my 3 almost 4 year old and she didn't even react to it. She loves books but this was dull and the storyline was cut short and my daughter was expecting something else to happen. Wouldn't recommend this book. I know it is a little bit different but all in all, not a nice bedtime story. Not for my toddler anyway. She loves books from authors such as Oliver Jeffers and the likes but this failed to catch her attention. I gave it away. Shame because I thought the title was cute and that perhaps it would have more detail in the storyline. But nope. One star from me, I'm afraid.

[Book Pusher]

Just read this book to my children and the 3 of us were so blown away by the absolute lack of an ending and somewhat chaotic story...All 3 of us could not believe the story was over...it seemed like a few thoughts thrown together with some interesting pictures. My little boy said, "I think you should contact the author and say, 'Really? That's it?'" LOL. Cannot in any way recommend this book...despite it's super cute cover.

[The Brothers]

Little Nutmeg is poor and lives in a dump with her cousin and uncle. One day, she comes across a genie in a bottle and wishes she could eat something different for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She is gifted with a magic spoon and the culinary adventure begins.

The illustrations were really cool.

[Elizabeth]

David Lucas tells unique stories, that's for sure. This is an odd one. But we like odd a lot in this family : )

[Dolly]

This was an odd story; creative and imaginative, but very odd. Our oldest really likes it, and we've read it a few times.

[Nelly Paulina]

i really loved the artwork and the story was really imaginative. don't think my little one would like this one very much. nightmare inducing, perhaps?

[Jennifer Palmer]

Another great David Lucas book.-

[Paula]

Bored with her meals of cardboard, string, and sawdust, Nutmeg acquires from a genie a magic spoon to make some different dishes but winds up with more than she bargained for.

[Sara]

September 2012

[Danielle]

Nutmeg needs a little spice in her life.
And boy does she get it.
An eccentric book that ends with a belly laugh.

[Karrina]

My 3 year old boy loves this odd little tale, especially the fact that Nutmeg and her family eat cardboard, string and sawdust! One for the christmas books list!

[Zatika]

I love the illustration but the story doesn't really do it for me.