A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne

A Chocolate Moose for Dinner is a whimsical, unique classic that invites readers to play with words as it explores idioms.

A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne. Scholastic, 1976. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Ages 4-8, Picture book
Recommended For: Ages 4-8

A Chocolate Moose for Dinner, book cover

When a child hears her parents using idioms, she imagines literal interpretations with humorous results. How do you hang shoes on a tree? Would a new wing on the house have feathers? Would there be diving boards at a car pool? How do you put airplanes on hangers? Does Santa really have claws? The daily news takes on a whole new meaning with gorilla (guerilla) warfare and a man holding up a bank.

With delightful childlike perspective, Fred Gwynne (best known as Herman Munster on the TV show “The Munsters”) demonstrates the confusing nature of the English language. A Chocolate Moose is a unique classic that invites readers to play with words.

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Worldview Rating: 4 out of 5
Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Categories: 4 stars and up, picture books, Retro Reads, Humor, Language Arts

Cover image from goodreads.

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Megan Saben

Megan is Associate Editor for Redeemed Reader, and she loves nothing more than discovering Truth and Story in literature. She is the author of Something Better Coming, and is quite particular about which pottery mug is best suited to her favorite hot drinks throughout the day. Megan lives with her husband and five boys in Virginia.

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3 Comments

  1. Carrie on September 28, 2015 at 11:17 am

    We love the Fred Gwynne books (my mom found them at her thrift store), but I hadn’t made the connection to him being THAT Fred Gwynne – how fun! “The King who Rained” is our favorite. They also remind me of “A Hole is to Dig” and that ilk…

  2. Hannah Hall on September 29, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Haha! Sounds adorable! I’ll never forget overhearing my dad talking about a woman at his work that was going to be fired. You can imagine the mental images that went through my 6-year-old mind. 🙂 I’m going to check this one out. Thanks!!

  3. Megan Saben on September 29, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Love the anecdote, Hannah! Carrie, I’m glad you mentioned “The King Who Rained.” More of the same great fun. 🙂

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