Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Knopf Books for Young Readers (2003), Edition: Reissue, 40 pages
Description
Young Sam leaves home to satisfy his craving for donuts, finds a job with a donut collector, and discovers the answer to the question, "Who needs donuts when you've got love?"
User reviews
LibraryThing member stuzle
I don't think anyone can see this book once and ever forget it. My sister and I loved our copy so much I would say it was one of our favorite possessions. It's a very simple and strange story---a boy who loves donuts goes to the city in search of more donuts and others who love them. The real story
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is the pictures---the MOST AMAZINGLY DETAILED pictures in the world. You can absolutely look at each one for hours and still find new little details. For years the book was out of print, and I think almost every copy that anyone had was stolen from someone else---my sister had her copy stolen long ago. Although I have never stolen a thing, I would have taken a copy from anyone if I found one during that long dry period! FINALLY it came back into print, and I bought it the day it did, as did my sister. if you love weird and fascinating books, you MUST own this one! Show Less
LibraryThing member finnyann126
Genre: Fantasy
This is a fantasy book because the reader follows a boy on a trike ride into the city, looking for donuts. While looking for donuts he discovers that he doesn't need donuts because he has love.
Characterization:
This is a fantasy book because the reader follows a boy on a trike ride into the city, looking for donuts. While looking for donuts he discovers that he doesn't need donuts because he has love.
Characterization:
LibraryThing member taramankin
Although the pictures in this book are only black and white, the detail is amazing. It's a story of a little boy named Sam who loves donuts. He rides his tricycle into the city in search of donuts. He comes across Mr. Bikferd, who collects donuts. He and Mr. Bikferd go through the city in search of
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donuts for their collection until Mr. Bikferd finds love. He gives his donut collection to Sam but then Sam eventually finds love too and decides to go back home. Show Less
LibraryThing member edeidrich
This book was visually amazing. While the story of Sam and his quest for donuts throughout the big city is a entertaining tale that focuses on the love for others, the artwork steals the show. Not only complimenting the text, the art creates its own unique world filled with busy life and quirky
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play on words, such as "Boulevard Bowl of Lard." Several times I found myself becoming lost within the illustrations, trying to keep track of the twisting street signs and peculiar pedestrians. This book would be perfect for a child to discover. Show Less
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
"Who Needs Donuts? - A rhetorical question, surely!
Originally published in 1973, Mark Alan Stamaty's hilariously surreal picture book follows young Sam, who "lived with his family in a nice house," but longed for more donuts than his parents could provide. Venturing into the city, looking for
"Who needs donuts when you've got love?" demands a sad old woman they pass, and sure enough, Mr. Bikferd - having met and instantly fallen in love with Pretzel Annie - soon abandons his quest for donuts. Now Sam, far from home and in possession of a mountain of donuts he can't eat, wonders what to do...
The illustrations in Who Needs Donuts? are eye-poppingly detailed, and young readers will enjoy poring over them, picking out the many clever little bits of text - in signs, on tee-shirts - that Stamaty has included. I discovered this underground classic, which has something of a cult following among children's literature devotees, a few years ago, and, despite the fact that it was recently reprinted, had been looking about me for an original, vintage copy. Imagine my surprise and delight when I finally found it, the same day I had been frantically searching for those lovely little home-made donuts at the farmer's market near work. Sadly, I didn't find the donuts, but the serendipity of the moment did not escape me.
Originally published in 1973, Mark Alan Stamaty's hilariously surreal picture book follows young Sam, who "lived with his family in a nice house," but longed for more donuts than his parents could provide. Venturing into the city, looking for
Show More
donuts, Sam falls in with maverick donut-collector Mr. Bikferd, wandering the streets with his cart... "Who needs donuts when you've got love?" demands a sad old woman they pass, and sure enough, Mr. Bikferd - having met and instantly fallen in love with Pretzel Annie - soon abandons his quest for donuts. Now Sam, far from home and in possession of a mountain of donuts he can't eat, wonders what to do...
The illustrations in Who Needs Donuts? are eye-poppingly detailed, and young readers will enjoy poring over them, picking out the many clever little bits of text - in signs, on tee-shirts - that Stamaty has included. I discovered this underground classic, which has something of a cult following among children's literature devotees, a few years ago, and, despite the fact that it was recently reprinted, had been looking about me for an original, vintage copy. Imagine my surprise and delight when I finally found it, the same day I had been frantically searching for those lovely little home-made donuts at the farmer's market near work. Sadly, I didn't find the donuts, but the serendipity of the moment did not escape me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member smichaelwilson
This book, along with Minnie, Maloney, and Macaroni, were two of my favorite childhood books. The cluttered chaos of Stamaty's art combined with the weird irreverence of the food-based subject matter captured my imagination as a child, and I still keep copies of both on my bookshelf as a reminder.
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
40 p.; 9.38 inches
ISBN
0375825509 / 9780375825507