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Homer Price #1
Homer Price
Welcome to Centerburg! Where you can win a hundred dollars by eating all the doughnuts you want; where houses are built in a day; and where a boy named Homer Price can foil four slick bandits using nothing but his wits and pet skunk.
The comic genius of Robert McCloskey and his wry look at small-town America has kept readers in stitches for generations!
149 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1943
231 people are currently reading
6304 people want to read
About the author
Robert McCloskey
52 books357 followersJohn Robert McCloskey was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He both wrote and illustrated eight picture books and won two Caldecott Medals from the American Library Association recognizing the year's best-illustrated picture book. Four of those eight books were set in Maine: Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder, and Burt Dow, Deep-water Man; the last three all on the coast. He was also the writer for Make Way For Ducklings, as well as the illustrator for The Man Who Lost His Head.
McCloskey was born in Hamilton, Ohio, during 1914 and reached Boston in 1932 with a scholarship to study at Vesper George Art School. After Vesper George he moved to New York City for study at the National Academy of Design.
In 1940, he married Peggy Durand, daughter of the children's writer Ruth Sawyer. They had two daughters, Sally and Jane, and settled in New York State, spending summers on Scott Island, a small island off Little Deer Isle in East Penobscot Bay. McCloskey's wife and eldest daughter Sally are reputed to be the models for little Sal and her mother in Blueberries for Sal (1948), a picture book set on a "Blueberry Hill" in the vicinity. Three others of his picture books are set on the coast and concern the sea.
Peggy died in 1991. Twelve years later on June 30, 2003, McCloskey died at his home in Deer Isle, Maine.
McCloskey was born in Hamilton, Ohio, during 1914 and reached Boston in 1932 with a scholarship to study at Vesper George Art School. After Vesper George he moved to New York City for study at the National Academy of Design.
In 1940, he married Peggy Durand, daughter of the children's writer Ruth Sawyer. They had two daughters, Sally and Jane, and settled in New York State, spending summers on Scott Island, a small island off Little Deer Isle in East Penobscot Bay. McCloskey's wife and eldest daughter Sally are reputed to be the models for little Sal and her mother in Blueberries for Sal (1948), a picture book set on a "Blueberry Hill" in the vicinity. Three others of his picture books are set on the coast and concern the sea.
Peggy died in 1991. Twelve years later on June 30, 2003, McCloskey died at his home in Deer Isle, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 908 reviews
July 22, 2007
The very first time I read this book, I was breaking the rules. It was naptime at daycare and like a good little tot, I was supposed to be getting some rest. But my cot was right next to a bookshelf and whenever the coast was clear and the others around me had fallen asleep, I would surreptitiously sneak books off the shelf to read. Homer caught my eye because of the doughnuts- and ever since then I can't eat a doughnut without thinking of him and my stolen book moments.
July 10, 2019
I read this in the car today on the way back from a family reunion and I didn't have to drive. This is about Centerburg and Homer Price who makes his residence there. The town is rather funny and Homer is dependable and a fix-it kind of guy.
He has a pet skunk he has tamed that became famous when it helped him catch some robbers. There is a fancy donut machine somewhat like Krispy Kreme donuts assembly line and it puts out too many donuts, but luckily, Homer has the idea to sell them all. There is the mysterious Pied Piper character that shows up to get rid of the mice in town and Homer figures out how to take care of that. There is a chapter about a superhero coming to town with a movie and it turns out he needs a little help Homer can give him. One of the quirkiest ones is 3 townspeople in a love triangle hold a contest at the local fairgrounds to see who has the biggest ball of string or yarn. I think it's my favorite as it's simply so interesting and Homer probably has the least to do in it. The last chapter is a weird town building episode. It was not my favorite one. I'm not sure how to really summarize it.
The pictures are cute. My niece and nephew saw me reading it in the van and they wanted to know what it was about as the pictures in it looked funny and cute. My nephew thought 150 pages was really long.
These are cute stories about Homer and Robert McCloskey paints middle American in the 40s so well. They are funny and I think the younger kids would really enjoy them and others too.
I think I have one more story and then I am done with Robert McCloskey's catalog. It was been wonderful to read all these stories.
He has a pet skunk he has tamed that became famous when it helped him catch some robbers. There is a fancy donut machine somewhat like Krispy Kreme donuts assembly line and it puts out too many donuts, but luckily, Homer has the idea to sell them all. There is the mysterious Pied Piper character that shows up to get rid of the mice in town and Homer figures out how to take care of that. There is a chapter about a superhero coming to town with a movie and it turns out he needs a little help Homer can give him. One of the quirkiest ones is 3 townspeople in a love triangle hold a contest at the local fairgrounds to see who has the biggest ball of string or yarn. I think it's my favorite as it's simply so interesting and Homer probably has the least to do in it. The last chapter is a weird town building episode. It was not my favorite one. I'm not sure how to really summarize it.
The pictures are cute. My niece and nephew saw me reading it in the van and they wanted to know what it was about as the pictures in it looked funny and cute. My nephew thought 150 pages was really long.
These are cute stories about Homer and Robert McCloskey paints middle American in the 40s so well. They are funny and I think the younger kids would really enjoy them and others too.
I think I have one more story and then I am done with Robert McCloskey's catalog. It was been wonderful to read all these stories.
September 5, 2024
Homer Price is an American icon. These six stories show us a slice of life in Centerburg and there is something for the whole family. Friends of mine confessed that while listening to this book on audio, they were forced to stop their car as the entire family was laughing so hard at one of Homer's stories.
McCloskey tells these stories in a unassuming matter-of-fact way and the humor jumps off the page on its own. Whether you are envisioning Aroma the skunk getting the best of four bank robbers or Homer finding a way to make money off all the extra donuts that were cranked out by the machine AND find a missing diamond bracelet.
Fantastic read aloud that transcends time!
This second "read" via audio reminds me how much I love this classic. If you need a road trip read for the family, check this collection of stories out and get ready to giggle and guffaw your way to your destination.
McCloskey tells these stories in a unassuming matter-of-fact way and the humor jumps off the page on its own. Whether you are envisioning Aroma the skunk getting the best of four bank robbers or Homer finding a way to make money off all the extra donuts that were cranked out by the machine AND find a missing diamond bracelet.
Fantastic read aloud that transcends time!
This second "read" via audio reminds me how much I love this classic. If you need a road trip read for the family, check this collection of stories out and get ready to giggle and guffaw your way to your destination.
January 16, 2025
If you think of Opie and his life in Mayberry, you'll get a pretty good idea of what this book is like. A fun-loving, adventuresome boy in a small, down-home town going to school, working at the lunch room to make a dime or two, catching robbers with his pet skunk and discovering just how many doughnuts his Uncle Ulysses' new-fangled machine can make.
Each chapter is easily it's own "episode" so instead of turning on the television tonight, read a chapter of this with the family! Laughs included.
Ages: 7 - 12
Cleanliness: "Gosh" is said eight times. "Shucks" is said twice. "Gee." "Golly" is said twice. "Zeus" is said three times. "Heck." "Oh, gracious." "Goll durnitt" and variations are said three times. "Goodness only knows." "Geeminy Christmas." An illustration shows two boys in only loincloths costumed as Indians.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Each chapter is easily it's own "episode" so instead of turning on the television tonight, read a chapter of this with the family! Laughs included.
Ages: 7 - 12
Cleanliness: "Gosh" is said eight times. "Shucks" is said twice. "Gee." "Golly" is said twice. "Zeus" is said three times. "Heck." "Oh, gracious." "Goll durnitt" and variations are said three times. "Goodness only knows." "Geeminy Christmas." An illustration shows two boys in only loincloths costumed as Indians.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
July 16, 2017
These tales are a 4 star read in the illustrated book for 10 & younger. As an audiobook, it was well narrated & pretty good. The illustrations & a first solo book or reading with an adult really make it, though.
They're, short, fun, & I enjoyed them as a kid immensely. Not quite as good as The Mad Scientists' Club, but close. The lazy sheriff with his spoonerisms could get old quickly, but I didn't mind them in these stories. The crazy uncle with his penchant for gadgets was fun, too. Centerberg is obviously built just to make Homer shine, but it's all in fun.
Listening to them as an adult, far removed from the period in which they were written, was even more entertaining in some ways. Comics were a dime & Homer's dad runs a service station. Homer rides into town in a horse-drawn wagon with his friend Freddy & his little brother to pick up a box at the post office. While there, they get to see a movie & meet a star. One character has to crank his 30 year old car to start it. Definitely a different time.
The last story has modern manufacturing techniques being applied to housing. It's a new idea & highly touted. The trees were all cut down & 100 identical houses were quickly built. They were immediately filled by 'deserving renters', but at the end no one can find their home without street signs that a union man, who held to unnecessary rules to jack up the price, hasn't put up since he got drunk. In the end, everyone seems happy, but there are plenty of digs at postwar housing to go around.
I wonder how many other stories have such in them. Don't recall them as a kid, but I wouldn't have gotten them then. Anyway, there's enough here to keep even adults interested at times. It seems as if they're available in ebook format, too. Highly recommended.
They're, short, fun, & I enjoyed them as a kid immensely. Not quite as good as The Mad Scientists' Club, but close. The lazy sheriff with his spoonerisms could get old quickly, but I didn't mind them in these stories. The crazy uncle with his penchant for gadgets was fun, too. Centerberg is obviously built just to make Homer shine, but it's all in fun.
Listening to them as an adult, far removed from the period in which they were written, was even more entertaining in some ways. Comics were a dime & Homer's dad runs a service station. Homer rides into town in a horse-drawn wagon with his friend Freddy & his little brother to pick up a box at the post office. While there, they get to see a movie & meet a star. One character has to crank his 30 year old car to start it. Definitely a different time.
The last story has modern manufacturing techniques being applied to housing. It's a new idea & highly touted. The trees were all cut down & 100 identical houses were quickly built. They were immediately filled by 'deserving renters', but at the end no one can find their home without street signs that a union man, who held to unnecessary rules to jack up the price, hasn't put up since he got drunk. In the end, everyone seems happy, but there are plenty of digs at postwar housing to go around.
I wonder how many other stories have such in them. Don't recall them as a kid, but I wouldn't have gotten them then. Anyway, there's enough here to keep even adults interested at times. It seems as if they're available in ebook format, too. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2008
I wanted to live in Centerburg when I read this book. I wanted a donut machine. I wanted the book to have more pages. I read it in in a quiet corner of the old Irvington Public Library, curled up in an old, fat leather chair that was hidden from everything else in the world by a wall of books.
June 23, 2018
Homer Price is the title character of a pair of children's books written by Robert McCloskey. Homer Price was published in 1943, and Centerburg Tales in 1951.
And Homer Price and his ability to solve problems are both priceless.
There are six stories in this book.
1. "The Case of the Sensational Scent"
Homer's pet skunk helps solve a crime.
2. "The Case of the Cosmic Comic"
Homer and Freddy meet their comic book hero, the Super-Duper.
3. "The Doughnuts"
Uncle Ulysses installs a new doughnut maker at his lunchroom in downtown Centerburg and it goes crazy.
4. "Mystery Yarn"
Homer's Uncle Telly and the local sheriff are rivals for two things: the hand of a local widow, and the title of World's Greatest String Saver.
5. "Nothing New under the Sun (Hardly)"
A stranger with the proverbial "better mousetrap" arrives in Centerburg, offering his services to the town.
6. "Wheels of Progress"
Centerburg holds its yearly pageant, as the locals celebrate both their history and a new, modern subdivision of prefabricated houses.
It took me 2 hours to read this book. Loved it so much I am off to the library to check out Centerburg Tales.
5 stars
And Homer Price and his ability to solve problems are both priceless.
There are six stories in this book.
1. "The Case of the Sensational Scent"
Homer's pet skunk helps solve a crime.
2. "The Case of the Cosmic Comic"
Homer and Freddy meet their comic book hero, the Super-Duper.
3. "The Doughnuts"
Uncle Ulysses installs a new doughnut maker at his lunchroom in downtown Centerburg and it goes crazy.
4. "Mystery Yarn"
Homer's Uncle Telly and the local sheriff are rivals for two things: the hand of a local widow, and the title of World's Greatest String Saver.
5. "Nothing New under the Sun (Hardly)"
A stranger with the proverbial "better mousetrap" arrives in Centerburg, offering his services to the town.
6. "Wheels of Progress"
Centerburg holds its yearly pageant, as the locals celebrate both their history and a new, modern subdivision of prefabricated houses.
It took me 2 hours to read this book. Loved it so much I am off to the library to check out Centerburg Tales.
5 stars
October 1, 2014
The three stars is from the adult me. The child me read this book several times, chiefly for the donut-maker story. I found the silly sheriff with his constant spoonerisms annoying even at age 8, but I loved the illustrations.
Set in smalltown USA during the war years, one thing that struck me is how very much things have changed. In Homer's world, school doesn't start until well into autumn (after the harvest, duh), TV is still a dream for small town people, and Homer builds radio sets for fun. He does things today's kids wouldn't dream of doing--like burning leaves, taming a wild skunk as a pet, regularly pumping gas and servicing cars at his dad's service station as well as helping Mom clean the tourist cabins she manages, and running his uncle's diner for an evening, which includes making donuts. And he doesn't expect to get paid for it, either. In his world, it's called "helping out", and it's expected of kids. When things go horribly wrong, it's not Homer that gets the blame, but his uncle's love of high-tech gadgets that don't always work.
Reading it today, I realise that the stories really aren't about Homer's adventures so much as his interaction with the townfolks. Often he is just there, in the background, watching things happen. The adults in the story are the ones who make the messes and cause the problems, while Homer looks on and occasionally steps in to take up the slack (though he's far from a Gary Stu hero-child). Most of the active characters are male, with women in the background providing meals and the occasional comment (usually about how the men are dressed).
I enjoy children's classics on sleepless nights when I can't relax. This would be a good story to read aloud with an 8 year old you love. It might start some interesting conversations, particularly if the adult reader can remember life before the Internet.
Set in smalltown USA during the war years, one thing that struck me is how very much things have changed. In Homer's world, school doesn't start until well into autumn (after the harvest, duh), TV is still a dream for small town people, and Homer builds radio sets for fun. He does things today's kids wouldn't dream of doing--like burning leaves, taming a wild skunk as a pet, regularly pumping gas and servicing cars at his dad's service station as well as helping Mom clean the tourist cabins she manages, and running his uncle's diner for an evening, which includes making donuts. And he doesn't expect to get paid for it, either. In his world, it's called "helping out", and it's expected of kids. When things go horribly wrong, it's not Homer that gets the blame, but his uncle's love of high-tech gadgets that don't always work.
Reading it today, I realise that the stories really aren't about Homer's adventures so much as his interaction with the townfolks. Often he is just there, in the background, watching things happen. The adults in the story are the ones who make the messes and cause the problems, while Homer looks on and occasionally steps in to take up the slack (though he's far from a Gary Stu hero-child). Most of the active characters are male, with women in the background providing meals and the occasional comment (usually about how the men are dressed).
I enjoy children's classics on sleepless nights when I can't relax. This would be a good story to read aloud with an 8 year old you love. It might start some interesting conversations, particularly if the adult reader can remember life before the Internet.
July 26, 2025
A sweet and nostalgic middle grade read. The doughnut chapter is the best!
June 19, 2017
One of my favorite books as a children (well, I had a lot of favorite books ... so that isn't much of a claim ... but still!), Homer Price still holds a special place in my heart. It's just so hilarious! :D
February 10, 2017
Stories extolling midwestern America are about as rare as songs for brown eyed girls, both of which are so ubiquitous we often fail to notice their charm. But just like Van Morrison's hit, "Brown-Eyed Girl," Robert McCloskey takes the common place and makes it interesting, prized, and beloved.
It's a tribute to his keen cultural eye that an author known for writing compellingly about Boston (Make way for Ducklings!) and Maine (One Morning in Maine), would also have the skill to draw the particular pleasures of midwestern life. McCloskey's short stories about Homer Price accomplish this masterfully.
Striking small town characters and ordinary situations made humorous color the stories as Homer's calm reserve and insightful wisdom help McCloskey note and decipher the town's challenges and charms. Whether it is capturing robbers through the special talents of his pet skunk, Aroma ("The Case of the Sensational Scent"), figuring out how to navigate a doughnut treasure hunt("The Doughnuts"), noticing Miss Terwilliger's winning strategy ("Mystery Yarn"), or reading up on American folktales to protect the kids of Centerburg ("Nothing new under the Sun - Hardly"), Homer's small town accomplishments will delight young learners and older readers alike. And, you get "The Case of the Cosmic Comic" and "Wheels of Progress" thrown in!
Don't go into these stories expecting Encyclopedia Brown or some other sleuth. Part of Homer's appeal is that he is not seeking detection notoriety, he's just a home town boy living life with the people. Already a family favorite, we will be reading this one for years to come, and probably making a trip to a doughnut shop every time through!
It's a tribute to his keen cultural eye that an author known for writing compellingly about Boston (Make way for Ducklings!) and Maine (One Morning in Maine), would also have the skill to draw the particular pleasures of midwestern life. McCloskey's short stories about Homer Price accomplish this masterfully.
Striking small town characters and ordinary situations made humorous color the stories as Homer's calm reserve and insightful wisdom help McCloskey note and decipher the town's challenges and charms. Whether it is capturing robbers through the special talents of his pet skunk, Aroma ("The Case of the Sensational Scent"), figuring out how to navigate a doughnut treasure hunt("The Doughnuts"), noticing Miss Terwilliger's winning strategy ("Mystery Yarn"), or reading up on American folktales to protect the kids of Centerburg ("Nothing new under the Sun - Hardly"), Homer's small town accomplishments will delight young learners and older readers alike. And, you get "The Case of the Cosmic Comic" and "Wheels of Progress" thrown in!
Don't go into these stories expecting Encyclopedia Brown or some other sleuth. Part of Homer's appeal is that he is not seeking detection notoriety, he's just a home town boy living life with the people. Already a family favorite, we will be reading this one for years to come, and probably making a trip to a doughnut shop every time through!
August 28, 2018
I re-read Homer Price quite a few times during my grade school years.
And now here I re-read it again, using my cynical grown-up eyes.
Homer is such a good boy! He thinks badly of no one, and he always knows how to avoid trouble. He is good friends with the town sheriff, and his hobby is building radios, when he is not in school or helping his family with their work.
He lives in a world that has crime and argument, but readers don't see injustice or violence in Homer's world.
Part of me would like to see a book where Homer is grown-up, and I'm wondering what kind of person he has become. But at the same time, I don't want to know. I'm afraid that his childhood self would dislike or pity the grownup, given the changing generations that have come and gone.
And now here I re-read it again, using my cynical grown-up eyes.
Homer is such a good boy! He thinks badly of no one, and he always knows how to avoid trouble. He is good friends with the town sheriff, and his hobby is building radios, when he is not in school or helping his family with their work.
He lives in a world that has crime and argument, but readers don't see injustice or violence in Homer's world.
Part of me would like to see a book where Homer is grown-up, and I'm wondering what kind of person he has become. But at the same time, I don't want to know. I'm afraid that his childhood self would dislike or pity the grownup, given the changing generations that have come and gone.
July 31, 2007
Robert McCloskey made such great books for kids. They looked good, they read good. They even smelled good. The majority of McCloskey's books are written with very young children in mind, and they're all classics, deservedly so. "Homer Price" was one of the first books I read that was longer than 15-20 pages and didn't feature paintings of enormous caterpillars committing acts of meta vandalism throughout, and it's both an ideal stepping stone and a fun read no matter how long you've been reading big boy books. I'm hungry right now just thinking about all those donuts.
April 9, 2017
I love books written in this era. The 1940s and 50s are so much fun in fiction! What a sweet book filled with larger-than-life characters and the sweet taste of times back when things weren't so rushed and full of too many commitments. As an adult, I enjoyed the wonderful nostalgic feel, while I can see many a kiddo laughing at the town's antics. I remember reading the Mousetrap story in a basal reading text as a student and really enjoying it.
July 9, 2017
I remember finding this so much funnier a decade ago... It's always disappointing when that happens.
McCloskey can draw, though (obviously). The illustrations are fabulous.
McCloskey can draw, though (obviously). The illustrations are fabulous.
May 4, 2025
Such a classic! The Doughnuts will always be my favorite chapter.
In this reading, I noticed that Homer, his uncle Ulysses, his uncle Telemachus are all names from the Greek myths, and I learned from further research that his grandfather's name is Hercules. It's a fun nod to Greek mythology. Also, the chapter Nothing New Under the Sun (Hardly) is a mirror of the Rip Van Winkle and also contains allusions to the story of Odysseus.
In this reading, I noticed that Homer, his uncle Ulysses, his uncle Telemachus are all names from the Greek myths, and I learned from further research that his grandfather's name is Hercules. It's a fun nod to Greek mythology. Also, the chapter Nothing New Under the Sun (Hardly) is a mirror of the Rip Van Winkle and also contains allusions to the story of Odysseus.
March 15, 2025
Wildly entertaining. Read to Ingrid.
May 16, 2013
I saw a doughnut machine at The City Museum in Saint Louis this spring that instantly whisked me into warm memories of this book--memories that belong to childhood, crisp as the donuts bubbling and swirling in the small vat, sweet as the powdered sugar, creamy on my tongue. Who wouldn't want to bestow this memory on their child? Who wouldn't want to return to it in adulthood? That's the test of a good book.
October 19, 2024
An old favorite from my childhood. The writing is a bit old-fashioned but the stories are still lots of fun. Once you've read about the doughnut machine you'll never look at a doughnut the same way again. Funny, creative, and full of nice people. :)
May 13, 2014
I keep this one around for the doughnut chapter alone.
May 31, 2023
My Y2 read this aloud to her little brother and I. It’s funny and nostalgic, and I love the McCloskey illustrations.
December 9, 2013
Laughed my way through all six stories. Got to love Robert McCloskey! His classic style of drawings were scattered throughout the book, adding to the stories and the humor.
And I wish there was a Ulysses Lunchroom near where I lived, because reading about all of those doughnuts gave me a craving for them!
And I wish there was a Ulysses Lunchroom near where I lived, because reading about all of those doughnuts gave me a craving for them!
August 15, 2014
As a child, mY brother brought this home from the library and I could hardly wait to get my hands on it. It was every bit the adventure I had hoped it would be. I wanted to live in Henry's world. Great read for all ages!
August 19, 2022
Fun read aloud to my boys! Some classic stories like the continuous doughnut machine and Murphy’s musical mousetrap. Wasn’t a fan of the last chapter.
The illustrations are fantastic and portray small town America in such a classic way.
The illustrations are fantastic and portray small town America in such a classic way.
October 24, 2007
This charming book was one of my favorites as a young boy.
June 5, 2021
So fun to introduce my kids to Homer! They all loved it, but my 4yo enjoyed it most, I think. :) Definitely a worthy classic.
December 6, 2022
Super fun. Not as homey as Henry Huggins but silly and wholesome.
December 15, 2019
How can a boy and his pet skunk be any match for a four-man team of robbers that comes to the town of Centerburg? It's one thing to read about the mighty Super-Duper in 10¢ superhero comics, but what's it like to meet the Super-Duper in person? And what do you do when an automatic doughnut machine just won't stop making doughnuts? Young Homer may have something to say about all of this and more in Homer Price by author Robert McCloskey.
I like to revisit some books I enjoyed back in my childhood to see (or remember) what it was about them that "got" me. While reading about Homer's adventures again after all these years didn't give me the same wonder and level of pleasure that I still feel when I read about Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby, I had fun going back through these old-fashioned tales.
This read is intentionally outrageous in places while remaining comfortable and entertaining. I had to smile at the book's nod to the modern American woman—the references to her place in business and public life and the right for her to make up her own mind in romantic matters. And the dilemma concerning the Street Sign Putter Uppers Union got an eyebrow-raise from me even as I chuckled.
The book has a little stuff related to people of color that, while presented in a positive spirit, wouldn't exactly fly today. But I won't pick all of that apart, since some of it's due to American history that can't be erased, and in this middle grade read that's silly overall, the town's brown members aren't singled out to be "the silly ones" or negative figures.
Even as I did some inward cringing, and I can't say this book would be on my list of recommendations for children today, it all gave me something worth remembering about kid lit from three quarters of a century ago.
I like to revisit some books I enjoyed back in my childhood to see (or remember) what it was about them that "got" me. While reading about Homer's adventures again after all these years didn't give me the same wonder and level of pleasure that I still feel when I read about Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby, I had fun going back through these old-fashioned tales.
This read is intentionally outrageous in places while remaining comfortable and entertaining. I had to smile at the book's nod to the modern American woman—the references to her place in business and public life and the right for her to make up her own mind in romantic matters. And the dilemma concerning the Street Sign Putter Uppers Union got an eyebrow-raise from me even as I chuckled.
The book has a little stuff related to people of color that, while presented in a positive spirit, wouldn't exactly fly today. But I won't pick all of that apart, since some of it's due to American history that can't be erased, and in this middle grade read that's silly overall, the town's brown members aren't singled out to be "the silly ones" or negative figures.
Even as I did some inward cringing, and I can't say this book would be on my list of recommendations for children today, it all gave me something worth remembering about kid lit from three quarters of a century ago.
December 30, 2016
The author of Homer Price, Robert McCloskey, has written six tales for readers to enjoy:
THE CASE OF THE SENSATIONAL SCENT: Homer catches a group of robbers with the help of his pet skunk, Aroma.
THE CASE OF THE COSMIC COMIC: Homer's friend, Freddy, learns what Homer already knows about comic book characters.
THE DOUGHNUTS: Homer can't stop his Uncle Ulysses doughnut machine! Now there are way too many doughnuts, and a lost bracelet cooked inside one of them. Let the eating begin!
MYSTERY YARN: Homer's Uncle Telly and the sheriff both save string. Whoever becomes the World's Champion String Saver is supposed to win the hand of Miss Terwilliger in marriage. But what does Miss Terwilliger think of this little agreement?
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN: There's a stranger in town. Is he a nice man, or a fugitive in disguise? Homer is on the case.
WHEELS OF PROGRESS: A new part of town is built in Centerburg.
I loved this book ever since grade school, and The Doughnuts is the tale I enjoyed most. I remember that my teacher read this book in a way that made the characters come to life for me; especially the sheriff, who gets his words a bit twisted every now and then. And the illustrations done by the author are some of the best I have ever seen! Parents everywhere should add this book to their child's collection.
THE CASE OF THE SENSATIONAL SCENT: Homer catches a group of robbers with the help of his pet skunk, Aroma.
THE CASE OF THE COSMIC COMIC: Homer's friend, Freddy, learns what Homer already knows about comic book characters.
THE DOUGHNUTS: Homer can't stop his Uncle Ulysses doughnut machine! Now there are way too many doughnuts, and a lost bracelet cooked inside one of them. Let the eating begin!
MYSTERY YARN: Homer's Uncle Telly and the sheriff both save string. Whoever becomes the World's Champion String Saver is supposed to win the hand of Miss Terwilliger in marriage. But what does Miss Terwilliger think of this little agreement?
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN: There's a stranger in town. Is he a nice man, or a fugitive in disguise? Homer is on the case.
WHEELS OF PROGRESS: A new part of town is built in Centerburg.
I loved this book ever since grade school, and The Doughnuts is the tale I enjoyed most. I remember that my teacher read this book in a way that made the characters come to life for me; especially the sheriff, who gets his words a bit twisted every now and then. And the illustrations done by the author are some of the best I have ever seen! Parents everywhere should add this book to their child's collection.
November 9, 2021
I read this over and over when I was just a wee bairn. Now, about 40 years later, I picked it up again. The stories are still delightful and funny, told in an engaging, childlike manner. They are everything I remember.
But wait, there's more. Where did all that social satire come from? I don't remember that being there when I was nine. "The Case of the Cosmic Comic" is dark, showing the shattering of a young boy's dream of his hero. "Wheels of Progress" is still as pointed a commentary on the demise of craftsmanship in a mass-produced world as it was in 1943, when the book was published. This ranks up there with the brilliant political satire hidden in Oliver Butterworth's The Enormous Egg.
If you haven't read this since you were a kid, pick it up. It'll bring back great memories of your childhood reading, but will be much more than just a nostalgic trip back to your old bookshelf. These stories are fun and imaginative, but they also have teeth.
But wait, there's more. Where did all that social satire come from? I don't remember that being there when I was nine. "The Case of the Cosmic Comic" is dark, showing the shattering of a young boy's dream of his hero. "Wheels of Progress" is still as pointed a commentary on the demise of craftsmanship in a mass-produced world as it was in 1943, when the book was published. This ranks up there with the brilliant political satire hidden in Oliver Butterworth's The Enormous Egg.
If you haven't read this since you were a kid, pick it up. It'll bring back great memories of your childhood reading, but will be much more than just a nostalgic trip back to your old bookshelf. These stories are fun and imaginative, but they also have teeth.
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