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Overview
Sam’s love of donuts takes him to the Big City where he makes friends with Mr. Bikferd, a world class collector of donuts. But when Mr. Bikferd falls in love with Pretzel Annie, the prophecy of an old homeless woman comes true: “Who needs donuts when you’ve got love?” Mr. Bikferd bequeaths his donut collection to Sam, who uses it to save the old homeless woman from drowning in a basement flooded with coffee.
This is a reissue of Mark Alan Stamaty’s masterpiece of the absurd, first published 30 years ago and out of print nearly as long. With an illustration style that mixes a benign Hieronymus Bosch with an urban Where’s Waldo?, Stamaty’s off-the-wall humor is on target for little kids and big kids today.
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?"
Synopsis
Sam’s love of donuts takes him to the Big City where he makes friends with Mr. Bikferd, a world class collector of donuts. But when Mr. Bikferd falls in love with Pretzel Annie, the prophecy of an old homeless woman comes true: “Who needs donuts when you’ve got love?” Mr. Bikferd bequeaths his donut collection to Sam, who uses it to save the old homeless woman from drowning in a basement flooded with coffee.
This is a reissue of Mark Alan Stamaty’s masterpiece of the absurd, first published 30 years ago and out of print nearly as long. With an illustration style that mixes a benign Hieronymus Bosch with an urban Where’s Waldo?, Stamaty’s off-the-wall humor is on target for little kids and big kids today.
Publishers Weekly
Who Needs Donuts? (1973) by Mark Alan Stamaty is a zany visual extravaganza. Sam wants donuts, "not just a few but hundreds and thousands and millions" of them. He heads to the big city where he finds them-and much more-in large, bustling scenes bursting with absurd details. A street sign says, "No swimming here to corner," a subway train crosses high above the street on a clothesline, and they discover several donuts under the stovepipe hat of Abe Lincoln, who's out walking his dog. Jam-packed pages full of surprises and a vintage 1970s message that love is all you need will delight children, young and old. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Who Needs Donuts? (1973) by Mark Alan Stamaty is a zany visual extravaganza. Sam wants donuts, "not just a few but hundreds and thousands and millions" of them. He heads to the big city where he finds them-and much more-in large, bustling scenes bursting with absurd details. A street sign says, "No swimming here to corner," a subway train crosses high above the street on a clothesline, and they discover several donuts under the stovepipe hat of Abe Lincoln, who's out walking his dog. Jam-packed pages full of surprises and a vintage 1970s message that love is all you need will delight children, young and old. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Who need donuts when you've got love? First published in 1973 and subsequently out of print for nearly 30 years, this strangely bizarre book will either pull you completely into a world you never dreamed of or repulse you! Wide-eyed youngster Sam decides to leave his boring, suburban existence for the big city, in search of more donuts than his parents could ever buy him. The tricycle-riding protagonist makes friends with a donut collector, Mr. Bikferd, who shares with him his tricks of the trade. While working, Sam also meets the Sad Old Woman (who is rather scary) and Pretzel Annie. Sam learns a great deal during his adventure in the city, and his donuts prove to be a real lifesaver! Completely covered in black and white illustrations that at first glance are emotionally one dimensional, the depth of the graphics after even one additional reading will surprise and delight readers (who may need a magnifying glass to soak up everything drawn). Exaggerated city scenes with tiny, goofy displays such as "we buy new and used sandwiches; guarantee on all parts" and "please enter through our entrance" pepper the pages. Recommended. 2001 (orig. 1973), Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 6 to 12.— Cindy L. Carolan