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Redwall
The Great Redwall Feast
The creatures of Redwall-the abbeymice and hares, otters and moles-are planning a surprise feast in their dear Abbot's honor. There is cake to be baked, marchpane to be rolled. Stirring and sifting, smoothing and brewing. Can everything be finished in time? And how can the Redwallers keep such a grand feast from their Abbot's keen eyes? Fans of Brian Jacques 's beloved Redwall books will delight in seeing their old friends, brought to life by Christopher Denise 's witty, cozy art. "Spirited and humorous... Denise's affectionate, detailed watercolors bring all the action to life." - Kirkus Reviews
64 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 1996
3 people are currently reading
1666 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jacques
260 books4,300 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 30, 2023
The whole YA series on Redwall is a lot of fun for everyone. This medieval repast in particular.
February 14, 2010
I bought this book because I loved the Redwall series, but the illustrations and the simple short story make it perfect for kids and adults alike! The critters are just so adorable!!
November 27, 2024
Finally got my hands on a copy of this gem and as someone who’s becoming deeply interested and involved in the redwall saga and franchise as an entirety. Once I heard this was a simple yet still captivating story of many of the original characters just dimpled down to be more accessible to the little ones. The whole story,just like most of the bigger novels does revolve around a grand and scrumptious feast with a big late in lots of the know violence and death of course but this was such a win and fun read for both of us, I plan on making this into the regular rotation
October 27, 2015
Read this to my 4-year old, over and over. She loved it, and I loved reading it to her! Wonderful language, poetic and evocative, excellent vocabulary that can only expand a child's mind. Her favorite parts were every Skipper the Otter appearance and the mole language. She has not previously encountered the Redwall series. The illustrations are lovely and serene and go along well with the action, although I wish there was an image of the feast all laid out; the illustrations seem to skip from just before the feast to the dancing afterwards. It may be a bit advanced for some young readers, but provides great opportunities to discover new words. It might be too simple for those who are reading the full Redwall novels on their own, but at the same time it almost requires previous knowledge of the characters from the first couple of volumes in the series. Alternately, you could look it as a perfect introduction to the Redwall universe and characters for those too young to start on the novels. I have always read a lot to my children and my 4-year old impressed me with her comprehension of this long storybook.
February 4, 2011
This is how tales of Brian Jacques' Redwall should be told.
I really enjoyed the first book, but there were times when it was just a bit too long. This tale, lushly illustrated, tells of the secret preparations for a surprise feast for the Abbot of Redwall.
Everyone is in on it, and there are a few hitches, but it all ends well.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the citizens of Redwall in full color.
I really enjoyed the first book, but there were times when it was just a bit too long. This tale, lushly illustrated, tells of the secret preparations for a surprise feast for the Abbot of Redwall.
Everyone is in on it, and there are a few hitches, but it all ends well.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the citizens of Redwall in full color.
June 10, 2016
Here's a nice change of pace! Brian Jacques has condensed the remarkable animal word of Redwall into a picture book told in verse, presented as a tale related by older creatures to the younger generation about Redwall Abbey as they knew it.
For the first time, Matthias, Constance the Badgermum, Basil Stag Hare, Noisy Sam, Cornflower and all the rest are presented in a book in full living color. As the story begins, the denizens of the abbey are preparing a secret feast to celebrate their beloved Father Abbott, and Matthias, Constance and Foremole lead him away to give Friar Hugo time to prepare the many delicacies needed for the night's lavish meal. The cooks try to finish their culinary task in time for the Abbott's return, all while attempting to keep the completed food items out of the hands of the hungry mole dibbun, Bungo.
The Great Redwall Feast is as much a joyous celebration of the Redwall world as is the actual feast in honor of the Abbott, when it eventually arrives. This is a fun, short book that will likely be well enjoyed by anyone that likes the main series, and wants to see more of the well-loved characters from earlier books. I can see how it also would be an ideal introduction to the Redwall series for young readers who aren't yet quite up to tackling four-hundred-page volumes like Mattimeo and Salamandastron.
I fondly recommend The Great Redwall Feast to readers of any age.
For the first time, Matthias, Constance the Badgermum, Basil Stag Hare, Noisy Sam, Cornflower and all the rest are presented in a book in full living color. As the story begins, the denizens of the abbey are preparing a secret feast to celebrate their beloved Father Abbott, and Matthias, Constance and Foremole lead him away to give Friar Hugo time to prepare the many delicacies needed for the night's lavish meal. The cooks try to finish their culinary task in time for the Abbott's return, all while attempting to keep the completed food items out of the hands of the hungry mole dibbun, Bungo.
The Great Redwall Feast is as much a joyous celebration of the Redwall world as is the actual feast in honor of the Abbott, when it eventually arrives. This is a fun, short book that will likely be well enjoyed by anyone that likes the main series, and wants to see more of the well-loved characters from earlier books. I can see how it also would be an ideal introduction to the Redwall series for young readers who aren't yet quite up to tackling four-hundred-page volumes like Mattimeo and Salamandastron.
I fondly recommend The Great Redwall Feast to readers of any age.
May 14, 2008
I read it when we went to Redding to pass the time at Asif and Joyce's house(those guys who used to come to our church). Many recipes for stuff like dandelion cordial and acorn/chestnut stew. hahacute. food is coolyo. :]
December 1, 2014
So cute!! The artwork is amazing:)
October 15, 2025
Fun, wholesome, and a great introduction to epic poetry for children. It's also a good one to bring to your child's reading list particularly if they've read some of the Redwall books (or have watched the TV series) and can then see when those characters arrive in this poem as it's a big reunion of Redwall characters.
I will say that Jacques doesn't seem to have a consistent meter throughout this poem whatsoever. But I'm not gonna critique this sweet children's tale for that, ha.
I will say that Jacques doesn't seem to have a consistent meter throughout this poem whatsoever. But I'm not gonna critique this sweet children's tale for that, ha.
May 19, 2017
This was pretty good, but I find that sometimes I am bereft of the mood to read a really long poem, so to speak.
December 27, 2020
Liebevoll gezeichnet und ausgesuchte Wortwahl. Reimschema & Versmass sind manchmal etwas irritierend, ich hätte gern das englische Original zum Vergleich.
May 25, 2025
I’m a sucker for pretty illustrations. It’s a little long for a children’s book but it’s a very cute story. The back does say 5 and up and I would agree that a toddler wouldn’t have the patience to sit through it all in one go.
July 19, 2014
I read this book aloud to my grandson over the course of three nights and he really enjoyed it (I loved it). The soothing pace and musical rhythm of this beautiful tale about the preparations for a fantastic feast to honor Redwall's beloved Abbot is enchanting. As in A Winter's Tale, once again Bungo, the molebabe, is a humorously adorable rascal and Father Abbot surprises his friends with his sharp wit and wisdom.
September 16, 2025
A story written in the form of a ballad about how the inhabitants of Redwall prepare a feast for their beloved Abbot as he along with Matthias, Constance and Foremore travel in Mossflower Woods searching for the mysterious Bobbatan Weary Nod. As in all of The Redwall stories in the series the dishes sound mouthwatering. A new character, Baby Mole Bungo, is introduced in this ballad, and he is a handful, and a bit of a sneak thief, and liar.
December 30, 2021
This one is really delightful. The rhyming is excellent, and the listing of names of foods caused me to turn to the dictionary several times. The story itself is cute and fun, and while fairly long for what seems like a children's picture book, it doesn't wear itself thin or seem excessive. The illustrations are worth viewing on their own - they capture the story very well and add to it on so many levels.
August 29, 2013
Christopher Denise is one of my favorite Redwall artists, and he has illustrated this book just as beautifully as he did some of the novels. A well-written rhyme, gorgeous pictures, some of my favorite Redwall characters, and a very delicious ending all combine to make this a very nice story for young and old alike :)
July 17, 2019
This was a fun way to spend an hour reading. The rhyming is a little awkward in places and there's not as much description of the food as I might have liked, but it was a fun, nostalgic read. I was actually surprised by the ending so props for that. Of course, I'm biased - this book is set in my favourite era of Redwall. No surprise I loved it.
May 23, 2024
I was trying to find one of the actual Redwall books to make a point to my husband about one of the other books I was reading and the only one I could find was this particular book, which isn't part of the canon I read.
The Great Redwall Feast is about a secretive episode in which all the animals of the Abbey are working on trying to put together a great feast for their abbot right underneath his nose. Some worries are faced when they find the abbot stirring in his sleep until he takes his loyal group off on a quest into the woods.
Although there is no known fight of good and evil as can be found in much of the other books in the series, this short book does keep to the food portion very steadfastly. Such descriptions, such rhymes, such attention to details will make the reader most decidedly take up the mantle of foodie just to join in this fun fray.
Unlike most of his other works, The Great Redwall Feast is written in a poem format that keeps to a solid rhythm throughout and the majority of rhyming verses to keep the reader's attention. The characters are kept to be lively as they are presented in the books of the series thus helping to solidify the place where this book stands in the whole canon.
Also unlike the bigger books, this one does have some nicely done illustrations that are soft yet bright when they need to be. Like the text, the illustrations are quite detailed while again capturing the characters just as readers may have met them in the bigger books while passing on a spirit of fun. And there are times when the reader is given a break in the text for a full-page spread of illustrations to get you more into the story.
All in all it was a fun and rollicking read while one that was quite enjoyable with a nice twist although the most observant reader will know what is coming at the end.
The Great Redwall Feast is about a secretive episode in which all the animals of the Abbey are working on trying to put together a great feast for their abbot right underneath his nose. Some worries are faced when they find the abbot stirring in his sleep until he takes his loyal group off on a quest into the woods.
Although there is no known fight of good and evil as can be found in much of the other books in the series, this short book does keep to the food portion very steadfastly. Such descriptions, such rhymes, such attention to details will make the reader most decidedly take up the mantle of foodie just to join in this fun fray.
Unlike most of his other works, The Great Redwall Feast is written in a poem format that keeps to a solid rhythm throughout and the majority of rhyming verses to keep the reader's attention. The characters are kept to be lively as they are presented in the books of the series thus helping to solidify the place where this book stands in the whole canon.
Also unlike the bigger books, this one does have some nicely done illustrations that are soft yet bright when they need to be. Like the text, the illustrations are quite detailed while again capturing the characters just as readers may have met them in the bigger books while passing on a spirit of fun. And there are times when the reader is given a break in the text for a full-page spread of illustrations to get you more into the story.
All in all it was a fun and rollicking read while one that was quite enjoyable with a nice twist although the most observant reader will know what is coming at the end.
July 10, 2017
This Brian Jacques picture book about the making of a surprise party for the Abbot of Redwall will appeal to a broad audience of readers, from preschoolers to the usual Redwall audience. I loved the illustrations, and enjoyed the clever poem and puzzle.
I started reading the Redwall stories because they were about animals, including otters. Anything that anthropomorphizes animals, and has otters in it, was made for me - I know that's not how we're supposed to view nature, but who doesn't love a mouse in a waistcoat? With Redwall adventures, I enjoyed the daring-do of mice, badgers, otters and moles in Brian Jacques's world - fighting against the evil rats and animals gone wrong in a world much older, more involved and seemingly more dangerous world than we all know of from Wind in the Willows.
This story is a simpler Redwall one, told in a rhythmic poem that's fun to read out loud. There are lovely, soft and warm illustrations by Christopher Denise that you can share with young children. Although not a complex tale with multiple story lines, The Great Redwall Feast is quite the Redwall showcase. Beautiful.
I started reading the Redwall stories because they were about animals, including otters. Anything that anthropomorphizes animals, and has otters in it, was made for me - I know that's not how we're supposed to view nature, but who doesn't love a mouse in a waistcoat? With Redwall adventures, I enjoyed the daring-do of mice, badgers, otters and moles in Brian Jacques's world - fighting against the evil rats and animals gone wrong in a world much older, more involved and seemingly more dangerous world than we all know of from Wind in the Willows.
This story is a simpler Redwall one, told in a rhythmic poem that's fun to read out loud. There are lovely, soft and warm illustrations by Christopher Denise that you can share with young children. Although not a complex tale with multiple story lines, The Great Redwall Feast is quite the Redwall showcase. Beautiful.
December 29, 2024
Set after the first Redwall novel, the one involving Cluny the Scourge, this cute Redwall story involves memorable characters from that book (eg: Matthias the warrior, Basil Stag Hare, Cornflower, Constance, Sam the squirrel, etc.)
Told in rhymes, we find out how the people of the Redwall Abbey try to set a surprise party for their abbot. Though they are in for a surprise themselves. Brian Jacques once again adds wonderful layers to this wonderful universe from which he seems to know every little detail.
A great round of applause too for Christopher Denise illustrations. His soft pastels and character designs are very gorgeous and give the Redwall universe very appealing art for younger readers and die-hard fans.
In the end, this gorgeous book is another pearl in the Redwall Series.
Told in rhymes, we find out how the people of the Redwall Abbey try to set a surprise party for their abbot. Though they are in for a surprise themselves. Brian Jacques once again adds wonderful layers to this wonderful universe from which he seems to know every little detail.
A great round of applause too for Christopher Denise illustrations. His soft pastels and character designs are very gorgeous and give the Redwall universe very appealing art for younger readers and die-hard fans.
In the end, this gorgeous book is another pearl in the Redwall Series.
January 7, 2019
I'm not sure, but I recall recently having seen a Redwall cookbook that really looked like this one. I do have the Redwall Cookbook. I was a bit saddened that it wasn't a cookbook, but, as I had never seen the book before, well pleased by it! I love the series and had no idea these little side books existed! It will make a great read to go along with the recipes in the cookbook! I love the poem and illustrations! Just wonderful!
November 12, 2025
As a fan of the Redwall books since middle school, this has been on my list to read for a while. For kids who may not be ready for a full Redwall novel, this is a great introduction, which uses many of the same characters from the full novels. It's written in rhyme and makes for a cute bedtime story, albeit a little long for one sitting depending on the age of the reader. Definitely great for fans of the series.
December 14, 2017
This made me nostalgic for the books. For some reason, I had bypassed this book when it came out, thinking it was focused more on the food aspect of the series, but I wasn't expecting a very clever poem and a fun puzzle at the end - though I wish the answer hadn't been given so we had to work it out ourselves!
Some of the rhymes didn't quite roll off the tongue, but it was a fun story.
Some of the rhymes didn't quite roll off the tongue, but it was a fun story.
October 26, 2018
We love the Redwall world, and this shorter story was perfect for bringing the littlest into it. I read it aloud to my four children - ages 3, 6, 8, 10 - in three sittings. We could maybe have read it all through without the three year old. He enjoyed it, though. The rhyming structure kept attention and made for a treat.
October 20, 2021
This is one of the most soothing and nostalgic books I've read! Just sweet and funny, with mouthwatering descriptions of food.
There is a YouTube account called AJ Now who reads this book aloud. She does an amazing job, and it's very soothing and relaxing to listen to, especially if you can't sleep.
There is a YouTube account called AJ Now who reads this book aloud. She does an amazing job, and it's very soothing and relaxing to listen to, especially if you can't sleep.
January 26, 2024
A much-enjoyed family read-aloud that transported us to days of yore and the marvelous realm of Redwall. If I'm being picky, a few of the passages were a tad awkward, but on the whole it's stellar and I can't award any fewer than five stars considering Christopher Denise's illustrations which are an absolute triumph. Huzzah!
April 20, 2021
I remember reading this book when I was a little kid. The book goes through the preparation that woodland animals are going through in order to make their feast. Showing the problems and triumphs they have in making the different items for the meal. As well as showing the end product and the reaction of the one they made the feast for. This book was a great way for me as a kid to learn to do something nice for someone because that nice deed can make someone really happy.
August 20, 2025
Great introduction to fantasy for elementary and middle school aged kids. Don't read them in chronological order though, that's stupid. Start with Redwall, read as far as you'd like, then read the prequels if you're enjoying yourself.
April 23, 2018
Prepare to be hungry and to wish you, too, lived in Redwall .
August 24, 2019
Everything Redwall is awesome. A fun, quick read with beautiful pictures and a cute ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews