Maybelle in the soup by Katie Speck illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos

Cockroach rules:

When it's light stay out of sight.

If you're spied, better hide.

Never meet with human feet.

Maybelle breaks each of these rules with hilarious consequences. Yum - Turtle Soup. She didn't see any turtles but the broth and tomatoes smell SO good. Yes, she lands in the soup tureen. Everyone runs away from the dinner party which means Maybelle can feast on the tasty leftovers scattered all over the dining table including the special cream desert. Unfortunately, she is caught by the cat, but she is not eaten - Maybelle is given as a gift to the homeowner Mrs Peabody. Ramona the cat is sure Mrs Peabody will LOVE this gift. Mr Peabody fails to stomp on Maybelle, but the humans call in the pest exterminators. Luckily this means the Peabody's need to spend the night in a fancy hotel. Luckily Maybelle and her friend a flea named Henry are able to stow away and spend the night at the hotel too and of course there are sure to be more adventures there!

Blurb: Maybelle is a lovely, plump cockroach. She lives in her own cozy little home under the refrigerator of Mr. and Mrs. Peabody. Maybelle knows it's best to stay hidden away, but she simply adores food. Just once she would love to taste something yummy before it hits the floor!When the Peabodys invite a Very Important Guest for dinner, Maybelle can't resist. She takes a teeny taste--and splashes into the biggest adventure of her life!

This little book (the first in a series of four) was published in 2007. I wonder why I haven't seen it on the numerous read aloud lists I seem to see on social media - they often contain old titles - this book would be such a fun one to read aloud to a Grade 2 or 3 class or in a family. Yes, this book is out of print but the ebook version is still available. 

Here is the Kirkus Star review: Myrtle and Herbert Peabody, the picture of upper-class gentility, have their lives turned upside down by a lovely, plump cockroach named Maybelle. Living in a house that is dust and bug free is a challenge for the cockroach, but she follows The Rules: “When it’s light, stay out of sight; if you’re spied, better hide; never meet with human feet.” Maybelle loves food but she is sick of crumbs and spills and longs for the tasty food she spies on the Peabody's plates. Despite the warning of her friend Henry the Flea, Maybelle visits the Very Special Dinner table. Delightful details will make adults giggle right along with new readers. References to Herbert’s comb-over, his wife’s false eyelashes and illustrations that show the drama of an airborne roach and the bottom of Herbert’s monstrous shoe add up to a lot of fun, especially for reading aloud. Maybelle is one cockroach who will be welcome back any day.

I am not in flavor of the prescriptive paid writing programs that are in use in many Australian classrooms but if you need to demonstrate one of the concepts that these programs 'teach' children - then this book is perfect one to show 'tightening tension' at work.

Here are the four books from the series:

In 2022 my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything penned a blog post about Cockroach appreciation. Here are some companion books that I thought of:

The Miniature World of Marvin and James

Quentin's lunch

Quentin's Lunch by Duncan Ball illustrated by Stephen Axelsen

Friday Old Favourite

This book is hard to read (for an adult) because it is filled with utterly disgusting 'stuff'. On the other hand this book is a winner with young kids.

Quentin does not enjoy the fresh lunch his mother lovingly prepares for him each day. She goes to so much trouble but this horrible boy puts the lunch boxes in the family shed and leaves them there for many weeks. Each day he takes a old lunch to school. He enjoys the matured flavours but the other kids in his class are horrified.

Hold onto your stomach - here is a text quote:

"He opened up his bag that day to see what goodies in it lay. And soon he'd set about to eat a huge banana, black as peat. The middle part had gone all gucky, so Quentin (doubtless feeling lucky) peeled back the skin, then with a grin, he puckered up and sucked it in."

I'm sure this text quote is making you feel quite ill but can I assure you this is not the worst scene. Quentin does find a live rat in his lunch and that is the scene that will truly horrify you, and delight your class! The final scene where Quentin explodes is hilarious. I should also warn you about the cockroaches!

This book comes from a series (now long out of print) called Crazy Tales published by ABC Books (1999-2001) here in Australia. These may no longer be in school libraries because the paperback copies have probably badly discoloured. Here are some other titles from the Crazy Tales series by well known Australian authors such as Phil Cummings; Emily Rodda; Duncan Ball; Richard Tulloch; and Max Fatchen all with illustrations by Stephen Axelsen. I think a publisher should consider bringing these funny books back into print. They are simple to read thanks to the clever rhyming text, their very funny characters, and they are filled with terrific large illustrations perfect for readers aged 8+ who will delight in all the 'yuck and muck'.