The Huckabuck Family: and How They Raised Popcorn in Nebraska and Quit and Came Back

by Carl Sandburg, David Small (Illustrator)

A picture-book version of the classic Rootabaga story.

Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories have amused generations of children with their distinctly American fairy-tale flavor. In The Huckabuck family, which was from his first collection, Jonas Jonas, Mama Mama, and Pony Pony Huckabuck must pull up stakes when a fire starts and their enormous popcorn harvest pops them out of house and farm. After traveling to towns all over the country, where Jonas Jonas tries out very different occupations, the family finally receives a portent that it's time to go home. This time they won't be farming popcorn, however. David Small's golden rendition of this strange and funny tale, with its delicious textual repetition, will be a happy introduction to Sandburg for many children.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Kids, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Free verse poems of known American writer Carl August Sandburg celebrated American people, geography, and industry; alongside his six-volume biography Abraham Lincoln (1926-1939), his collections of poetry include Smoke and Steel (1920).

This best editor won Pulitzer Prizes. Henry Louis Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_San...

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The complete title for this book is "The Huckabuck Family and How They Raised Popcorn in Nebraska, Quit and Came Back" Given the title, I was expecting more of a tall-tale than was actually delivered in Sandburg's 1923 text. It was still a generally entertaining story about how squash can change your luck one way or the other and, of course, any book that features popcorn piled up like snow around a farm must have SOME bit of tall-tale in it. But, overall, I wasn't wildly enthused. The illustrations by David Small are certainly charming, though, and I especially liked the cats featured in the illustrations of the family at home. And, it was fun reading a story that my grandparents might have read when they were kids.

Incidentally, there are more reviews over on Amazon if anyone wants more perspective than the two reviews here on GoodReads:
http://www.amazon.com/Huckabuck-Famil...

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family's misadventures growing popcorn, fleeing popcorn, and returning... deciding never to grow popcorn again.
There were a few cute interesting things! Like the father being named Jonas Jonas, and getting a job watching watches at a watch factory. I wouldn’t choose to read it again, though.

[Lisbeth Solberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rootabaga story was once included in an issue of Jack and Jill magazine; that was where I first read it. This is a single-rootabaga edition with only the one story but with vibrant illustrations.

When Em was in the first grade, I took popcorn to her class at Murphy Ranch Elementary and read this aloud (with too-high expectations for their listening abilities). I remember some of the kids complained that the popcorn was cold--and since I made it at home and then took it up to the school, I guess they were right. Boohoo.

Remember to be careful when you open a squash!

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never realized that Carl Sandburg wrote children's stories until recently so I immediately decided to try to find them. It is always hard to review a book from 1923 given the changes since that time. This story doesn't translate well. There seems to be no obvious message in the tale, it is very farcical to the point that I lost interest. The contemporary illustrations by David Small are however fantastic, he obviously had great fun with the ridiculous elements of the story!

[Patricia Copeland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: historical fiction, grades 2-3
This book is really all over the place. The events don't make any sense, and there is no logical order to anything. This isn't in a "wow, what a fun wacky story" way but in an "I can't follow the story" way. If I struggled to follow this book, then I'm sure the target demographic would too. It has a few clever moments, but overall I would skip putting this one in a classroom library.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Huckabuck Family is having a few problems. First, the popcorn they raised explodes. Then, Pony Pony Huckabuck finds a silver buckle inside a squash. So, the family decides it’s time for a change.

Originally from the Rootabaga stories.

[Clare D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story and I think it will be perfect for learning and teaching the name of my students next fall! In the story the main characters all have double names like Jonas Jonas, Mama Mama and Pony Pony.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Nebraska

[Kristen Thorp · Rating 2 out of 5]

86/365

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations! Remind me of my grandparents ' farms in S.E. Nebraska.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was like a mashup of a 1930’s depression era story with a fairy tale. Cute. I liked the pictures best!

[Alexandria Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was long and was sorta hard to read. I overall liked it. I think it would be a good book to use to teach about farming.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a soft spot in my heart for David Small. Maybe it's because he's from Michigan. Maybe it's because when I was in first grade, he came to our school, signed my copy of Imogene's Antlers, and autographed my easel (which he borrowed for his assembly!!!). Maybe it's because his art is charming without being too cutesy.

So The Huckabuck Family is an OK story, the art is sweet, but the real value I see in it is for classes who are studying tall tales. I'm up to my ears in stories about Paul Bunyan and John Henry. Pass me The Huckabuck Family, a family who raises corn in Nebraska, BUT THEN IT ALL POPS! I think this book would go well paired with Apples to Oregon.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A farming family that raises corn for popping has their luck change when the daughter finds a Chinese silver slipper buckle in a squash (go figure). The next day a fire starts on the farm and turns all the corn into popcorn and the family decides to leave until their luck changes for the better. Several years later they return after the daughter finds another silver buckle in a squash.

Fun illustrations.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was about nothing. It was more like a string of events that (the author tells you) are tied together. How, exactly they are tied together was completely lost on me.

What saves it from a one star review are the nice illustrations and a few funny lines.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took some strange turns. Finding a silver slipper buckle inside a squash meant their luck was going to change for good or for bad. What? I did like that the father always sought work to take care of his family. My kids liked the beginning where the whole farm gets covered in popcorn.

[Laura Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing read! Carl Sandburg, the poet, first published this in the 1920s. Illustrations in this copy are entertaining. A gentle, funny, rhyming way to introduce a story about migrant workers, itinerant laborers.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comes from Sandburg's Rootabaga Tales. Its lovely non-sense.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long for storytime.

[Kirsti S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

MCL. Fun.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the humor and the illustrations, especially popcorn pictures.

Selected book after visit to the Sandburg birthplace.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is pretty odd and goofy, but the language is fun -- lots of alliteration and fun sounds.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family of popcorn farmers has a bad summer after they receive a sign that their luck will change. They wait for another sign to see if their luck will change again. Illustrated by David Small.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are fun and the text flows nicely but I just did not get the humor and the overall intent of the story.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Tales, illustrated by David Small.

[Staci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny but no lessons

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange story, but fun to read and whimsically illustrated. I didn't realize Carl Sandburg wrote such things!

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing:( The narrative is just nonsense and I found it rather unsuitable for my children.