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The Gaskitts
The Man Who Wore All His Clothes
One morning Mr Gaskitt puts on all his clothes, Mrs Gaskitt picks up a robber in her taxi, Gus and Gloria have trouble with a teacher. Horace the cat goes to a friend's house to watch TV and the car radio gets things wrong. But then what happens? And why does Mr. Gaskitt wear all his clothes? Find out in this action-packed, fun-filled day in the life of the Gaskitt family.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Allan Ahlberg
348books155followersAllan Ahlberg is one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-sellingJolly Postmanseries. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's authorJanet Ahlberg,with whom he often worked. Their daughter,Jessica Ahlberg,is also a children's author.
For more information, please seehttp://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's authorJanet Ahlberg,with whom he often worked. Their daughter,Jessica Ahlberg,is also a children's author.
For more information, please seehttp://www.answers.com/topic/allan-ah...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 9, 2022
It kept on saying meanwhile and it had so many short sentences🤨😐
October 15, 2020
Not sure how I felt about this book really. The plot could be a bit hectic but I think that shows what a crazy day it was for the Gaskitt family. It’s good for emerging readers because of the short sentences and chapters. However, the part about Father Christmas could raise some difficult questions for some children and this could make it a bit difficult for a class read. Other than that this book has fairly good potential for exploring in the classroom.
August 13, 2020
This funny, silly and action-packed story will have early readers on the edge of their seats. Potential Santa spoiler towards the end might cause little ones to ask some tricky questions 😬. It’s still a great read for little ones, though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2019
A very humorous series at the early reader end of the chapter book range. The entire Gaskitts family (father, mother, a set of nine-year-old boy/girl twins, and the cat) appears in all four books within this series, but each book features a different character as the main focus. This story highlights the father. As a children's writer, I know how difficult is it to tell a fully fleshed-out and entertaining story suitable for emerging readers; Allan Ahlberg does a commendable job.
April 18, 2011
We have read a couple books starring the Gaskitt family (The Cat Who Got Carried AwayandThe Children Who Smelled A Rat) byAllan AhlbergandKatharine McEwenand we really like them. The stories are long, but with a large font and lots of pictures, they are easy to read at one time. The action is usually a bit frantic and the plot is a bit misleading or confusing. But never fear, all is explained in the end. It's a fun story to read aloud.
December 18, 2011
This book didn't do it for me, predictable, plodding,not funny. I think it's more to do with how hard it is to write this type of book, little chapter books for early readers, than the book itself. You can get great picture books, and great chapter books for older readers. I'm not sure why this category is so hard, but it seems to be. Here, the Gaskitt family start their usual day. Mr Gaskitt puts on all his clothes. Mrs Gaskitt picks up a robber in her taxi, and the Gaskitt kid, Gus and Gloria head off to school. Then we have a chase, confusion.
January 14, 2023
I hope that if I had read this book as a child I would have been as disappointed with it as I am having read it as an adult.
Did it have amusing parts? Yes. Would a kid probably enjoy reading about the strange man who wears entirely too much clothing? Yes. The ludicrousness and jumpiness of the story would probably appeal to many children. The number of non sequiturs at the very least is similar to how a child tells a story. They jump around, they don't make sense, the wander around, and then never have a climax. But, that's only when they're really young and practicing their narrative skills. It's a stage they grow out of. If that's so, why is an author choosing to write that way?
The narratives of children are random and nonsequential because they are still learning how to tell a good narrative. Where do they learn good narrative skills? By listening to and reading good narrative. So why would you make an example that's illustrating an in between state?
Maybe he just has nostalgia for the disjointed stories his children told him when they were young.
In all honesty, I think kids would probably love this story. I still wouldn't buy it for any that I know. Unless I were using it to explain how not to tell a story, but that's a little cognitively demanding for the age level that this is appropriate for.
I just had a horrible thought. What if this isn't the author writing as a child would write as a stylistic choice? What if this is the level of his own narrative skill?
That's a horrifying thought.
Plot: Disjointed Narrative
Art: Meh
Price: $12.99
Did it have amusing parts? Yes. Would a kid probably enjoy reading about the strange man who wears entirely too much clothing? Yes. The ludicrousness and jumpiness of the story would probably appeal to many children. The number of non sequiturs at the very least is similar to how a child tells a story. They jump around, they don't make sense, the wander around, and then never have a climax. But, that's only when they're really young and practicing their narrative skills. It's a stage they grow out of. If that's so, why is an author choosing to write that way?
The narratives of children are random and nonsequential because they are still learning how to tell a good narrative. Where do they learn good narrative skills? By listening to and reading good narrative. So why would you make an example that's illustrating an in between state?
Maybe he just has nostalgia for the disjointed stories his children told him when they were young.
In all honesty, I think kids would probably love this story. I still wouldn't buy it for any that I know. Unless I were using it to explain how not to tell a story, but that's a little cognitively demanding for the age level that this is appropriate for.
I just had a horrible thought. What if this isn't the author writing as a child would write as a stylistic choice? What if this is the level of his own narrative skill?
That's a horrifying thought.
Plot: Disjointed Narrative
Art: Meh
Price: $12.99
October 12, 2018
First book in the Gaskitt's series of books, of which I have read two before, so this makes three, there is certainly a formula and a structure which can be seen from this book in the other ones, but there is still a certain charm and humour which makes the books somewhat enjoyable, even through they are quite brief, and hardly stay around to be truly enjoyed.
January 27, 2022
A fun stand-alone In-Between chapter book. Lots of repetition and giggles for a reader new to chapter books as the Gaskitt family becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a bank robbery. Mr. Gaskitt's apparently peculiar habit of wearing all his clothes (all is revealed in the end) assists in his heroic capture of the robber. Though over twenty years old, it stands up well.
August 25, 2019
Mr Gasskett piles on all his clothes and heads out the door. On the way to finding out what he's doing, we also have an adventure stopping a bank robber. My kids laughed and couldn't wait to find out what he was doing.
October 14, 2022
I like it so much. It is so light and comfy, exactly like the father. I chose the perfect time to read it. I miss this kind of reading, without any additional intros or comments. read it for your kid.
November 14, 2018
Fun for young readers
June 26, 2019
It was about a man who wore all his clothes at ones. One day when they were out working and in school something happened.
It was a good book, easy to read. It was fun to read.
Ollie 8 years
It was a good book, easy to read. It was fun to read.
Ollie 8 years
November 3, 2019
I was sorry to be dissappointed by this book, it should have been good, but it was really missing something. Illustrations were good, it was just a bit dull.
January 9, 2022
Los Gaskitt son una familia súper divertida, amorosa y absurda pero me encantan:) y a mi sobrina que regularmente no le gusta leer también
August 27, 2023
My grandchildren and I loved this book and now they want to read the whole series.
November 27, 2023
Es un libro fácil y entretenido para leer en clase.
June 8, 2020
Los libros de la Familia Gaskitt son peculiares, porque plantean situaciones y personajes con actitudes fuera de lo común, y para muestra esta este libro, un papá que se puso toda la ropa, de entrada, a los niños esta parte les intriga, y no solo a los niños, debo confesar que a mi también, después de todo para que alguien se pondría toda la ropa. Lo otro que caracteriza a esta familia es que en cada libro corren dos o tres historias, no solo una, y lo mismo ocurre en este caso, en donde además del papa que sale de casa con toda esa ropa puesta, la mamá Gaskitt vive su propia aventura después de recoger a un ladrón de bancos en su taxi, es bastante curioso como en libros tan cortos, este solo tiene 80 páginas que también son ilustradas, el autor narra mucho, con esto consigue que los niños (y los grandotes también) se mantengan atentos a la lectura, además de que sigue la incógnita del porque un papá querría ponerse toda la ropa para ir a trabajar.
De rápida lectura y con historias divertidas, este es uno más de los libros de esta cómica y muy peculiar familia, que nos ha gustado en casa después de leerlo, sobre todo cuando se lee el final, donde el autor nos revela el porqué de llevar toda esa ropa encima, y créanme cuando les digo que se trata de una muy bella razón, pero obviamente no se las puedo contar, por favor léanlo.
Creemos que es un buen libro, recomendado ya sea como lectura de buenas noches en voz alta, o que se los dejemos a los niños, incluido a aquellos que recién inician con el gusto y el hábito de la lectura, ya que se trata de un libro recomendado para niños a partir de los 6 años por parte de la editorial.
El gato Horacio es de nuestros personajes favoritos, lástima que en esta ocasión no tenga tanto protagonismo ni participación, en este libro quienes se llevan totalmente la atención son papá y mamá Gaskitt.
Las ilustraciones son bonitas, nos gusta cuando nos muestran fielmente lo que se nos menciona en el texto, de esta forma permite incluso que los mas pequeñitos, que aún no leen o les está costando algo de trabajo puedan disfrutar igual de la historia, porque resulta tan bien contada por las mismas ilustraciones.
Son libros cortos, amenos, ligeros, divertidos y además económicos, por lo que no hay excusas para que fomentemos la lectura en nuestros pequeños acercándoles estos libros de la familia Gaskitt editados por Loqueleo Santillana, además están disponibles en las librerías de costumbre.
Espero hayan disfrutado la reseña y se animen a leerlo, nos leemos la próxima.
De rápida lectura y con historias divertidas, este es uno más de los libros de esta cómica y muy peculiar familia, que nos ha gustado en casa después de leerlo, sobre todo cuando se lee el final, donde el autor nos revela el porqué de llevar toda esa ropa encima, y créanme cuando les digo que se trata de una muy bella razón, pero obviamente no se las puedo contar, por favor léanlo.
Creemos que es un buen libro, recomendado ya sea como lectura de buenas noches en voz alta, o que se los dejemos a los niños, incluido a aquellos que recién inician con el gusto y el hábito de la lectura, ya que se trata de un libro recomendado para niños a partir de los 6 años por parte de la editorial.
El gato Horacio es de nuestros personajes favoritos, lástima que en esta ocasión no tenga tanto protagonismo ni participación, en este libro quienes se llevan totalmente la atención son papá y mamá Gaskitt.
Las ilustraciones son bonitas, nos gusta cuando nos muestran fielmente lo que se nos menciona en el texto, de esta forma permite incluso que los mas pequeñitos, que aún no leen o les está costando algo de trabajo puedan disfrutar igual de la historia, porque resulta tan bien contada por las mismas ilustraciones.
Son libros cortos, amenos, ligeros, divertidos y además económicos, por lo que no hay excusas para que fomentemos la lectura en nuestros pequeños acercándoles estos libros de la familia Gaskitt editados por Loqueleo Santillana, además están disponibles en las librerías de costumbre.
Espero hayan disfrutado la reseña y se animen a leerlo, nos leemos la próxima.
June 23, 2013
The Man who wore all his Clothes, by Allan Ahlberg, tells the story of a day in the life of the Gaskitt family as they get up and head for work and school. I have used this story with my year 2 class (7 year old) as part of the Literacy evolve scheme of work over the last few weeks. I found this book particularly use for getting pupils to think about and ask questions,for example the obvious, why is Mr Gaskitt wearing all of his clothes.
This is one of several books by Ahlberg that features the quirky Gaskitt family, including Horace the cat. The chapters are just the right length for a daily dose of Ahlberg daftness, and always close with a mini cliff hanger leaving the reader/listener wanting more. This is particularly useful to use and show pupils while I was getting them to write their own longer stories, focusing on cliff hanger endings to chapters and exciting events throughout each chapter.
The story is nicely constructed with a curious beginning, a fun and exciting middle, and a satisfying end. A great introduction for young readers to the genre of mystery, with a little adventure thrown in for good measure. The illustrations are captivating and tell the story just as well as the words on the page. An enjoyable, light hearted read. Without wanting to be picky I must add the the sentence opener 'meanwhile' is repeated throughout the story and I found this quite bugging when reading the story to my class, however on the whole I found this text an enjoyable read with my pupils and a good text to use in a fiction writing series of work.
This is one of several books by Ahlberg that features the quirky Gaskitt family, including Horace the cat. The chapters are just the right length for a daily dose of Ahlberg daftness, and always close with a mini cliff hanger leaving the reader/listener wanting more. This is particularly useful to use and show pupils while I was getting them to write their own longer stories, focusing on cliff hanger endings to chapters and exciting events throughout each chapter.
The story is nicely constructed with a curious beginning, a fun and exciting middle, and a satisfying end. A great introduction for young readers to the genre of mystery, with a little adventure thrown in for good measure. The illustrations are captivating and tell the story just as well as the words on the page. An enjoyable, light hearted read. Without wanting to be picky I must add the the sentence opener 'meanwhile' is repeated throughout the story and I found this quite bugging when reading the story to my class, however on the whole I found this text an enjoyable read with my pupils and a good text to use in a fiction writing series of work.
October 22, 2011
The Man who wore all his Clothes, by Allan Ahlberg, tells the story of a day in the life of the Gaskitt family as they get up and head for work and school. It is a great first chapter book to share with children aged 7 plus as a read aloud book, or for confident readers to read independently.
This is one of several books by Ahlberg that features the quirky Gaskitt family, including Horace the cat. The chapters are just the right length for a daily dose of Ahlberg daftness, and always close with a mini cliff hanger leaving the reader/listener wanting more.
The story is nicely constructed with a curious beginning, a fun and exciting middle, and a satisfying end. A great introduction for young readers to the genre of mystery, with a little adventure thrown in for good measure. The illustrations are captivating and tell the story just as well as the words on the page. An enjoyable, light hearted read.
This is one of several books by Ahlberg that features the quirky Gaskitt family, including Horace the cat. The chapters are just the right length for a daily dose of Ahlberg daftness, and always close with a mini cliff hanger leaving the reader/listener wanting more.
The story is nicely constructed with a curious beginning, a fun and exciting middle, and a satisfying end. A great introduction for young readers to the genre of mystery, with a little adventure thrown in for good measure. The illustrations are captivating and tell the story just as well as the words on the page. An enjoyable, light hearted read.
June 26, 2013
This story is about the Gaskitt family. It tells the story of how a robber robs a bank and how all the family members end up being involved in it. There is the added curiosity of Mr Gaskitt wearing all of his clothes- the children enjoyed guessing throughout the book the reason for this and were all very surprised at the end!
I read this book to a year 2 class and used it to introduce the concepts and features of a longer story. this story was ideal for that and kept the pupils interested by the short chapters ending on cliff hangers. The children were all very keen to guess what happenned next in the book and enjoyed writing their own stories about the gaskitt family.
I read this book to a year 2 class and used it to introduce the concepts and features of a longer story. this story was ideal for that and kept the pupils interested by the short chapters ending on cliff hangers. The children were all very keen to guess what happenned next in the book and enjoyed writing their own stories about the gaskitt family.
October 5, 2015
This is one of those interesting books that are not quite a picture book and not quite a chapter book… although it does have chapters. Whatever it is, it's perfect. I have enormous respect for Allan Ahlberg, who can write well, think up fun, layered plots, is comic in a subtle way and has the very best taste in illustrators, or awesome editors or both.
The cover gets A+++ for fabulousness and that's the way I like it.
This is part of the Gaskitts series.https://www.goodreads.com/series/1085...
The cover gets A+++ for fabulousness and that's the way I like it.
This is part of the Gaskitts series.https://www.goodreads.com/series/1085...
Read
January 9, 2016We discovered these when my oldest was a first grader. She's now in fifth grade and I just read it to her and her now first grader little sister and they both thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of illustrations and approachable text make reading fun for little ones, and the many threads of the story that all come together in the end make it good postmodern fun for the whole family.
January 18, 2009
Adorable! Cleverly illustrated with delightful text -- a funny romp through a silly mystery. This series provides a nice bridge to chapter books and will be especially appealing to children who have a sophisticated appreciation for word play and visual puzzles.
April 18, 2011
This was the first Allan Ahlberg book I have ever read, and I thought it was quirky and a little ridiculous! At first, there seemed to be random thing going on in the story, but everything came together in the end. I liked it because it had funny dialogue and great pictures.
July 16, 2013
This book is certainly not predictable. Its originality borders on bizarre. I enjoyed the pictures, but the weirdness of the narrative didn't make up for the lack of "giving-a-crap" on the part of the reader.
October 29, 2008
Allan Ahlberg is a genius. His books are like wormholes, so plotty and interesting and so, so much better than most else at this reading level.
February 1, 2010
He safe the world.
June 6, 2012
Cute early reader story.
May 1, 2013
The story was about robber who stole from the bank. The whole town ended up chasing him till he got caught by the police & ended up in jail.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews