The Gulps

by Rosemary Wells, Marc Brown (Illustrator)

With their trademark wit and wisdom, Rosemary Wells and Marc Brown present a groundbreaking?and side-splittingly slapstick!?story which introduces the importance of healthy habits. When a fast-food fanatic family of bunnies set out vacation, they pack their RV full of TVs, Jiffy Chips, and Winky Twinks. But when the weighed-down vehicle wheezes to a halt in the middle of nowhere, Farmer Spratt saves the day by showing the Gulps the value of a fresh, home-cooked meal and the lasting benefits of physical activity. The Gulps' transformation is sure to inspire a generation of super-sized kids?and parents?to turn over a new leaf!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this one negative stars, I would. I adore Rosemary Wells and normally I thoroughly enjoy everything she writes. This book, however, was awful. It's about a family who are all overweight, with the exception of Dawn, the one family member who has a name. Apparently, if one is obese, one doesn't deserve an actual name and should be known as "brother" or "sister".

The Gulps eat copious amounts of junk food and sit around all day, because obese people couldn't possibly exercise or eat anything healthy. When the family is stranded on a farm, they learn to eat vegetables and exercise. They lose weight and feel better. I imagine the author wanted to send a message with this story, but the only message I see is fat=bad (and no, I'm not obese).

[Florian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is atrocious. Following a family of bunnies that do nothing but eat junkfood and watch TV, the major conflict in the story occurs when the Gulp family's RV literally breaks because of the family's weight while they are on vacation. They then spend time with a "healthy" thin family of farmers who encourage them to eat vegetables and slim down.

The Gulps is yet another example of fat negative drivel aimed at children. It is heavy handed and bluntly sends the message that fat means bad, lazy, unhealthy, and stupid, while thin means good, smart, healthy, and active.

If an author wants to promote healthy lifestyles, they should keep in mind the effects of sending such dehumanizing messages about fat people. This book, and others with similar messages, would be catastrophic for a fat child's self esteem and mental health. Will eating junk food hurt you more than thinking you're worthless because of your weight?

There are plenty of fat people who eat veggies, exercise, and remain fat. There are plenty of thin people who only eat junk food. Being fat doesn't automatically make a person unhealthy. Body size is not an indicator of virtue or of good health. Sending the message that fat = bad to children will do nothing more than tank their self esteem, reinforce beauty conventions, and give them a slew of issues around eating.

Rosemary Wells and Marc Brown, shame on you. This is a terrible book, and its message is not one any person, young or old, should be absorbing.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yup, it's preachy. Yup, Rosemary Wells has done a lot better. Marc Brown could do a lot better--and occasionally had.

But I'll give it this--it's a heap lot more fun than "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food"

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been done soooo much better. Came off as extremely preachy and judgemental, and I could even see where one would feel that it is cruel to overweight people (or anthropomorphic animals). A disappointment.

[Lexi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terribly offensive. Filled with stereotypes as well as fat shaming, this book is offensive on many fronts. I was shocked it was a Rosemary Wells!

[victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is the reason why i have an eating disorder 10 years later

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Teach your kid to be a fat-shaming a**hole and/or develop bad body image early in life. Who approved this for children? 🤦‍♀️

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that I highly suggest to anyone who is trying to teach children to eat healthy.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

too long

not an engaging text as I'd hoped

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want your kindergartener to develop an eating disorder, read this book to them.

[Nichole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the note at the end, and although I appreciate the intent, I would not recommend this book.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see a lot of myself in The Gulps….

[zyla · Rating 1 out of 5]

i finally remembered the title of this god forsaken book. the gulp family haunts me as an adult do not read this to your kids

[Allison Linsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gulps

With their trademark wit and wisdom, Rosemary Wells and Marc Brown present a groundbreaking?and side-splittingly slapstick!?story which introduces the importance of healthy habits. When a fast-food fanatic family of bunnies set out vacation, they pack their RV full of TVs, Jiffy Chips, and Winky Twinks. But when the weighed-down vehicle wheezes to a halt in the middle of nowhere, Farmer Spratt saves the day by showing the Gulps the value of a fresh, home-cooked meal and the lasting benefits of physical activity. The Gulps' transformation is sure to inspire a generation of super-sized kids?and parents?to turn over a new leaf

This is a fun book about the family "The Gulps" they go on an adventure and it is all about the food they eat. This was a fun interesting book and I really enjoyed the illustration. They go to the Fair, the Circus and many other places. It teaches about the importance of eating a healthy diet which is important for our children to learn!

[Celestia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: five out of five stars. This book made me think of the georgic seminar I had attended with William and Vernie DeMille. The story is about a family totally on the conveyor belt when it comes to food. They eat every junk food imaginable. They decide to go on vacation (to a conveyor belt amusement park) and load up their RV with all their junk food. It is so overloaded with both edible and non-edible junk (electronic gadgets) that they have to stop and dump some of it. Then they meet a georgic family who grows their own food. They learn to grow their own food and become healthier and happier. If you ever feel in need of a laugh and validation for growing a garden despite the hassle of doing it with kids, read this book. A totally fun read and inspiring too!

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

In one word: preachy. The Gulps are a family of junk food loving, TV watchers who struggle with weight and physical activity, all except youngest daughter Dawn who prefers healthier options and portions.

When the family takes a road trip and their RV breaks down everyone learns a lesson in changing their unhealthy behaviors in favor of options that help them meet the daily challenges of life on the farm.

The message is waaaaaay too preachy to be appreciated by this reader. The behavior changes were way to fast and unbelievable. There's no way that in such a short matter of time the Gulps wouldn't even be tempted by their favorite fast food haunts in favor of salad, salad, and more salad.

Aimed at PreK-2, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that I would give this book one and a half stars.
"The Gulps" is a nicely humorous story that features some endearing characters, both of which are qualities that make up for the possible unbelievability of the storyline. I think that Rosemary Wells has worked primarily to create a story that would be funny and send a message that good eating habits are important, and in these respects I would suggest that she has certainly succeeded.
As always, the illustrations of Marc Brown are wonderfully filled with action, and tell their own supplementary story.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is like "the Biggest Loser" show. A family of five heads out on vacation in their RV loaded down with junk food. They break down near a farm and are unable to move again until they lose weight by eating their veggies and working on the farm the whole summer. the youngest daughter is actually skinny and voices her thoughts about her fat family throughout the book. I am not sure I really liked this book. Although the concept is good, it felt a little preachy.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The intention behind this book is great -- to teach children the value of eating well and exercising and the consequences of not following a healthy lifestyle. However, the presentation was so stereotypical that I was actually annoyed. Some might even find it offensive. I wasn't a fan of the pictures either, and I usually enjoy Marc Brown's illustrations. This is unfortunate, because the "moral" of the story is a good one.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book epitomizes why American youth seem to be so overweight.
I love this book. It gets kids/adults thinking. I wish they would make all kids read this.
Illustrated by Marc Brown the author of the famous Arthur books.
Cute story about how a family's way of life and thinking change for the better.
READ IT!

[Neil Nicholson]

This book would be perfect for "healthy ME" units.It is about an obese family who likes to eat junk food, until the heavy weight breaks down their RV and they get stuck on a farm. The begin to do yard work and eat vegetables, and become more healthy. This book might be better for older students, 2nd grade to 5th grade.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosemary Wells and Marc Brown team up to show the effects of junk food and laziness on one rabbit family. Only the youngest child, Dawn, realizes the importance of eating right and staying in shape. I felt like this was book was way more preachy than any book either author has previously written. But I do think it's timely, and could make a nice introduction for a program or class on nutrition.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know some of the other reviews said this book is "preachy", and I agree it is, but my boys (ages 4 & 8) loved it anyway. I think we are an average family. Not overweight. Not skinny. Not all junk food. Not all healthy food. This had some funny situations and comments in it. My boys loved finding the "healthy" things and "unhealthy" things on each page.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting way to teach children the importance of good health in eating and excersising.. The Gulp family didn't like to eat well, or exercise but soon learns that they have to change their way of living... and with the help of another family they do make better choices and learn it's much better.

[Taylar Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This to me was a very good book. I could definitely relate to it. This would be a good book for kids to read. Especially because of this new generation of kids are so over weight. So this book shows the importance of eating well and getting your exercise. The Gulps would be a good read for 3rd and up to read.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading this to my daughter. I change the little sister's name from Dawn to Corinne (my daughter's name). I say, "See, she is named Corinne and loves healthy food too!"
The book seem to promote vegetarianism but the theme of moving and avoiding junk food is relevant to everyone.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows a family that eats "RLF" and their RV breaks down until they change their habits. Youngest daughter is LEAN and encourages good behavior...not the parents. Easy read story for kids, but not consistent with parents being the teachers of how to eat better.

[brooke1994 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ok, though I've read better books. RoseMary's strongest works lie in her Max and Ruby series and Marc's strongest works lie in his Arthur books and the pbs tv show. The storyline is ok but the character designs are flat and could be better.

[Youth Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a great message about the importance of eating right and exercising to stay healthy JD

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to teach kids about eating healthy and being active.