The Doorbell Rang (review)

by Laprovitta, Anahí and Garay, Lucía

Pat Hutchins, the famous English illustrator and writer of children's literature, delight us with a simple and joyful book “The Doorbell Rang". Hutchins’ story begins with Sam and Victoria enjoying teatime at home when the doorbell rings.

The children are about to eat a dozen of cookies made by their mother, those are as good as their grandma’s, when suddenly the doorbell rings. As the story goes on, every time the doorbell rings friends drop by and the cookies must be shared. Sam and Victoria have to deal with the unexpected guests that are invited to enjoy the meal with them. “The Doorbell Rang" is a funny story, easy to read. Dialogues are simple and accompanied with colourful illustrations. Readers are involved in the story through familiar situations like sharing a meal with friends. The writer’s solution to the main conflict, the arrival of unexpected guests and their lack of cookies, is intelligently solved in an unpredicted way.

We recommend this book to be read by first readers or to be read to children either to enjoy a nice story about sharing or to teach values like friendship.