Synopsis
Oh no! Mr. Bungles has overslept and he's going to be late for school. Teachers aren't supposed to be late! Poor Mr. Bungles tries rushing off in his car, the train, and even a hot air balloon, but nothing works. The clock is still ticking. What will he try next?
Children's Literature
Mr. Bungles is one teacher who is "never, ever, ever" late for school but today is an exception to his rule. The thinly mustached, wide-eyed character forgot to set his alarm clock and his story opens with him fast asleep in ducky pajamas snuggled next to his little brown pup. The rollicking, rhyming text and large, expressive typeface keep readers racing with Mr. Bungles as he jumps out of bed, hurriedly dresses, and has car trouble, misses his train, attempts to ride a bus, an animal control van, a hot air balloon, and a unicycle until he finally has to just use his feet—and still arrives late to school. His students laugh at him as he races inside. But they also bring him water and set him down in a chair as the clock ticks 9:10. The book ends with Mr. Bungles changing his rule to read "Please try your best to be on time for school!!" Child readers will enjoy the story line about turning the tables on the teacher, and the whimsical illustrations add to the book's page-turning action. Reviewer: Debra Lampert-Rudman