The Beginner's Guide To Running Away From Home (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
A visual delight!Attention-hogging baby sisters, warty slug big brothers, moms who throw away your candy wrapper collection or dads that ignores you - all very good reasons for running away. This is the first piece of advice given by the protagonist of the story - Have a Really Good Reason. Next you need to pack, say goodbye to your pets, leave a note and last, make a big exit. Once your gone, you are not to look back, especially not at the time your dad taught you how to swim, or the time your brother helped you find rocks for your collection. Whatever you do, never think about your mom's spaghetti or how cozy it is in your warm bed.I don't want to ruin the big finish in The Beginner's Guide to Running Away From Home, but let's just say, it's just what you hope for. When this book landed on my desk, I was immediately taken by the look of it. Red Nose Studio brings every day objects and clay figures together in every page. Each spread is a photograph of an imaginative layout, with fine-tuned attention to detail. Each time you and your child look at this book, you will find something new!If your youngster is looking to pack his bags for greener grass, or is simply getting frustrated at having to eat his peas, pull this one out and give him his very own glossy guide to running away from home. Spot on funny with clay-modeled characters by Red Nose Studio, "The Beginner's Guide to Running Away From Home" by Jennifer Larue Hugetis purely a delight. Kids who are fed up with their parents will get expert, step by step instruction in how to hit the road when they've had enough of mom and dad. First, "you need a reason" to run a red-headed kid explains. "Like maybe your parents are going gaga over your little sister and ignoring you." To illustrate, the boy's parents are pictured in the opening spread taking a picture of a screaming girl-child on the floor with a pot on her head. Or perhaps you're ticked off because "your mother threw away your entire collection of candy wrappers..." the red-headed boy continues.Once you have a reason, you must state it out loud, scream it actually, and then get to packing, and be sure to "Save room for a bow and arrow. In case there are bears." Of course there are goodbyes to be said to favorite toys, a note to leave for your parents, a dramatic display to let mom and dad know you really are leaving, ect. Once outside, there are decisions to make--where to go, grandma's, the park, you get the picture.There aren't any big surprises in "The Beginner's Guide," but there's plenty of personality in the book's characters, and a sweet ending with an illustration that will make your heart lurch. Here's a book any parent will enjoy reading their potential runaways any ol' time of day.
What do You think about The Beginner's Guide To Running Away From Home (2013)?
Not big on the illustrations. My son said they were creepy looking. Story was cute though.
—Lola
The hand-built 3-D sets for the illustrations are phenomenal. Fun story with quirky advice.
—Kaira
the characters are on the creepy side, but the humor is pretty on target.
—Jade
The story is sort of fun but not a fan of the three-dimensional images.
—ocinelleselomin
