Victoria’s grandma takes her out for a special, fancy birthday lunch. But how special can a restaurant be if it doesn’t serve hamburgers or tacos or PB & J? Victoria is about to find out!

 

Victoria’s perfect birthday meal comes from a very unexpected place!

Victoria’s grandmother is taking her out for a very special birthday lunch. And because it’s a very special birthday lunch, Victoria’s grandmother takes her to a very fancy restaurant. But because it’s a very fancy restaurant, they don’t make hamburgers OR chicken fingers and French fries OR tacos OR Swamp Water! What’s a hungry girl to do? Maybe give the restaurant some helpful suggestions of what SHOULD be on their menu?

In true Munsch fashion, Swamp Water is an uproarious treat, which will resonate with all of the picky eaters out there . . . and the grown-ups who try to feed them.

El reconocido narrador ROBERT MUNSCH ha escrito decenas de libros para niños, entre ellos: Paper Bag Princess y Mortimer. Él vive con su familia en Guelph, Ontario.

Robert Munsch's profile page

 

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO est né à Carcassonne, en France. Il s'installe au Canada avec sa famille alors qu'il a 7 ans. En 1966, il décroche son diplôme du Collège des arts de l'Ontario et devient bientôt directeur d'une agence publicitaire. C'est lors d'une exposition d'art graphique que Robert Munsch découvre le travail de Michael Martchenko. Michael a reçu le prix Libris 2006, Illustrateur de l'année.

 

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch, including Smelly Socks (Tes chaussettes sentent la mouffette!), Makeup Mess (Maquillage à gogo) and We Share Everything! (On partage tout!). He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

 

Michael Martchenko's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

Praise for Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko

"Laurel and Hardy, Holmes and Watson, peanut butter and jam — some things just go better together. Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko figured that out a number of years ago, and have been teaming up to produce silly, insanely popular books ever since." —Quill & Quire

 

Praise for Robert Munsch

“[Munsch is] a kindergarten superstar he ranks up there with Pablum and Pampers in name recognition arguably the most published Canadian author ever, in any genre.” — The Globe and Mail, Report on Business Magazine

"Munsch's parade of bright funny picture books has been a sales phenomenon in children's book publishing . . . And as Munsch books are requested by kids over and over every day in countless homes and schools, at story time and bedtime, the distinctive storyteller's voice will undoubtedly continue to be echoed for years to come by parents, teachers, babysitters and whomever else young kids can get to read to them." — The Chronicle Herald

"Arguably the most successful kid-lit writer in North America." — Toronto Star

"More witty, creative and entertaining than most of what passes for adult literature." — The Globe and Mail

“Munsch is now as important to a whole generation of children as any television character. ”— Quill & Quire

Review: Swamp Water

by Ashley Early

Swamp Water is another witty and colourful tale from Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko.

Victoria's grandmother takes Victoria out for lunch. Chaos ensues because fancy food and kids don't mix. Victoria tries to order kiddy foods such as hamburgers, chicken, and PB & J sandwiches. Poor Victoria has to explain to the waiter and the chef what a PB & J sandwich is and how to make one, since the restaurant has the ingredients, but they insist they don't have them.

The title refers to Victoria's drink of choice (swamp water is a mixture of pop/juice that resembles the colour of a swamp). It's the last insulting straw to the waiter, who has already been offended by her choice of food.

I chuckled at how the waiter phrased his asking Victoria what she would like to order: "Would you like our Fancy Restaurant Fancy Lunch?" Whatever the waiter actually asked doesn't matter; this is what a child would hear when someone spews strange words at them, when there's fancy china on the table, and a well-dressed waiter staring down at them.

I can't decide if I dislike the waiter, or if I pity him. Victoria isn’t as bratty as some of the kids that Munsch writes about, but the grandmother does let her get away with her behaviour. The grandmother smiles good-naturedly throughout Victoria's outbursts, as if her charming granddaughter is being adorable, rather than stubborn and rude. There is no parental control over children here, but it wouldn't be funny if Grandma sternly told Victoria to calm down and ordered something edible for her.

Nonetheless, Swamp Water is a hilariously realistic story that gently mocks fancy restaurants that do not accommodate kids. This is not a story with a moral at the end, but it is funny in typical-Munsch fashion. Kids can appreciate Victoria's determination to order something edible at a fancy restaurant and parents can appreciate the hilarious and realistic comment on what it's like to dine at a fancy restaurant with kids.

Bottom line: we've all been the kid who just wants chicken fingers at a place that would never DARE serve anything like it.