A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing

by Avi, Tricia Tusa (Illustrator)

A laugh-out-loud marvelous sequel to The End of the Beginning from Newbery medalist Avi.

Genres: Writing, Childrens, Fantasy, Humor, Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was a lot of fun, but I'm not so sure it would work as well as the first one for a child. I found myself laughing or groaning over all the puns, similes, double-talk, etc., but I'm not so sure most kids would "get it". In some ways, the characters remind me of Frog and Toad, and the illustrations have the same feel. I suspect that if a child had someone in their life who was fond of "dad jokes" the child would appreciate this book more. Overall, I thought it was a fun follow-up to the first book with wonderful illustrations, but most kids might not catch the humor.

[Chris - Quarter Press Editor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avi continues to amaze me. He's amazing at writing in different styles and different times, something enviable in any writer.

For this one, it's just fun. It reminded me of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series, but this one is a bit more concerned with being clever, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Be forewarned though, if you don't like puns and plays on words, you will HATE this book, as it's pretty much nothing but. Because of that fact though, it does make for a very fun and silly little read that has some gorgeous illustrations to boot.

I'd half-hoped there would be a bit more writing advice buried in this story, but even without it, I very much enjoyed my time with this snail and this ant, and couldn't help but laugh at all those moments that I recognized my writing self within Avon.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a string of tiresome one-liners between two friends who live in each independent moment with no thought of what comes before or after. Phrases taken out of context twist the conversation far away from the original trajectory, and the conclusion leads back to the beginning.

The humor is pleasant, but the puns make the book a more challenging read than its plot would suggest. Young readers could be drawn in by its mild storyline, but they might not have the needed grasp of word-play, spelling, and homophones in order to understand the interaction between the two ponderously flighty characters.

[Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great pictures and the book looks so nice, but once you start reading things change. Trying to be really clever it just goes overboard - too many puns and plays on words for my liking that just kill the story. Most of them are not even funny or witty although you can tell the author has tried really hard. And maybe that's the main problem.
Definitely not a book kids would enjoy, or young adults for that matter. Kids don't see the world this way and would not understand the story I'm afraid.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beginning A Muddle And An End
by Avi
Harcourt 2008
Fiction chapter book
Avon the snail and Edward the ant are back! After their adventures, Avon wants to try out being a writer, but is writing too difficult for Avon? As always, his friend Edward is there to help with something becoming more. Will Avon be able to write about his adventures, or will the end come before the start? Avon’s journey into writing will put him into situations he never expected with an anteater, crow, and a frog and wind up in the mouth of a fish! Filled with humor and subtle lessons, Avon will guide the reader through his process of writing and becoming a writer of a life lived backward and adventures galore.
Grades: 2-5
Guided Reading Level: G
Lexile: 530
Classroom Activity: Allow the students to imagine another encounter for Avon and Edward. Students will free write about how Avon and Edward will encounter and react to another animal and how it could help/hinder their situation and Avon’s journey to write.
RL.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate an understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RL.3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
RL.3.5 Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections.

[CynthyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little chapter book for children written by Avi. In many ways, I think adults might appreciate the wit and charm of this little story even more than children due to all the beautifully orchestrated puns that the story is built on. This book marches soundly in the ranks alongside THE PHANTOM TOLL BOOTH by Norton Juster and EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES: THE ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH TO PUNCTUATION by Lynne Truss. I'm a pushover for stories with clever, punny wordplay, so breezing through A BEGINNING, A MUDDLE, AND AN END: THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE WRITING was an enjoyable little diversion which I heartily recommend to other word aficionados. Plus, it's a cute story. This book is also absolutely clean!

[Kyisha Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book less than the last one but they are very similar. The first was more about adventures and this one about writing. It may have helped if I had not read them one after the other. Still cute overall.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Very fast read that was almost entirely puns, most of which would probably go right over the heads of the intended middle grade audience. Cute, but that's about it.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story that also teaches some tips on writing.

[Jamie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever little book. Edward the Snail wants to write but is crashing into all the familiar obstacles. Fortunately, his snail pail Avon is there to offer philosophical advice and provide witty verbal sparring to help Edward down the path of enlightenment. Avi fills the pages with fantastic little puns and wordplay. It feels like old timey radio (and maybe television) the way the two cahracters bandy about with words. If you enjoy the sort of humor you found on old Muppet Show episodes, you'll love this little gem.

[Mary Etta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful conversation of puns, punctuation, idioms, etc. between a snail and an ant. Thanks Harriet for the recommendation.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

More genius brilliance from Edward Ant, and Avon Snail.

[Jessi Dazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

my 6 year old giggled all the way through this.

[Rob Brock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped for more from the continued adventures of Avon the Snail and Edward the Ant. I read the first book to my younger boys and my nephews on a family vacation, and I mentioned how each of the short chapters seemed like a setup for a pun or a dad joke. Not to be outdone, each paragraph - or even each sentence - here seems to attempt to achieve the same level of humor, and many of the short chapters feel more wearisome that humorous as a result. This sequel has the subtitle “The Right Way to Write Writing”, and I guess I thought the little book might offer some insights from a well established and successful writer of young adult literature. Indeed, the preface from the author indicates the book’s title came from a letter from a young fan who used the word “muddle”, and the author thought that word was a wonderfully appropriate description of the writing process. Unfortunately, there is no gold here - just a muddle of jokes that don’t know when to quit. That said, if you are a lover of puns and silly wordplay, this might just be your thing...

[dollgowns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really liked A Beginning, A Muddle, And An End: The Right Way To Write Writing because of how funny it was and how much the title meant. The title is correct of course. All stories need a beginning, a muddle, and an end. When I first saw the book I thought that the title had been misspelled but I think I understand it. When writers write they usually start out with the grand idea of writing a book. But the thing is that writers usually have trouble writing the said book and the term having trouble is also known as in a muddle. Another thing is that I really liked the characters, Edward and Avon. They were funny and logical, or as logical talking animals can be, and were very likable. I think most people wold very much like Edward and Avon. The snail and ant who embark on the journey their writing takes them. The idea of writing is something many think about but the journey it carries the writer through isn't always tolerable. Some aspiring writers find that sadly they do not have what it takes along the journey and give up but I think that everyone could be a writer if the just have the right idea. And yes, I think that Edward's Idea was the best written idea that I've seen because the calligraphy is quite spectacular.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a let down after the first one. I feel like the first was a story while this was a series of vignettes for writers. Perhaps if I hadn't read them back-to-back I would feel differently about this one. So for me, it was just "OK" hence 2 stars - maybe like 2.5. While the first book had a gentle humor with some word play, this packed in a pun or Abbott and Costello type word misunderstanding into basically every line. It was the word play equivalent of a fire hose versus a sprinkler. It felt like it was trying way too hard to be clever. I will say that if you're a writer, you will laugh with pain as Avon's writerly struggles hit far too close to home.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was good with many plays on words. It might be hard for a younger reader to read but funny and easy for a good reader. It's about a snail named Avon and an ant named Edward. Avon wants to become a writer but finds out writing is very hard. They go through adventures to find ideas to write about. They travel around to write a few words. And Avon is very impressed with his book with a word. Something.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute book, but not quite what I expected. From the subtitle, I was expecting a book of writing advice and anecdotes, but it turned out to be a cute little book about two friends having an adventure with some writing involved. There were some wonderful nuggets sprinkled in the book, but if I had read the blurb before picking it up, I probably wouldn't have read it at all. It just wasn't what it appeared to be.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avon and Edward are so funny! In these books there's so much clever nonsense, little wordplays and puns, and much talk about nothing, but it's very entertaining. Poor creatures; they are clueless, but adorable. We enjoyed reading aloud both books about them and wish there were more Avon and Edward stories. :-)

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a classic, love the writing topic! This book is about a ant named Edward and a snail named Avon. They go along a series of adventures to try to help Avon learn to write, comedy between the two included, definitely recommended. People who love the concept of writing with comedy, this is the read for you.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play with words may not be worthy of a Broadway play, but Avon's efforts to write the right way hit the right spot.


The anteater and fish encounters were unexpected and dramatic, which may make me have to eat my first words. I would be interested in hearing the story of Avon's life, but I suppose it was not meant to be.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I really prefer The End of the Beginning, I do still like this book a lot. I read it out loud to my 8-year-old daughter, but I feel a lot of it went over her head. My 12-year-old son overheard some and laughed out loud several times (and I, as an adult, enjoyed a lot of the subtle humor and insights).

[Andrea Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Avon the snail and his best pal Edward Ant! I really must own both books and read them again and again. This would be a great gift for any English major or author. The play on words and bending of the english language is just fantastic!!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know how the characters in the Winnie the Pooh stories say things that seem silly on the surface but are really quite deep? This book feels like an attempt at that, except that what the characters say really does seem very trite and silly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story about writing. Great play on words with a snail and an ant. Lot's of information to think about when writing! Kids should read this with a parent as some of the ideas may go over their heads. I laughed out loud so many times. So creative!

[Josh Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy the process of writing you will enjoy this book. A series of creative quips lead you through the use of a variety of writing techniques. Not really a great book if you don’t enjoy writing … to that end, more for my wife than for me. 😊

[Rebecca Fisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very innovative, and a hilarious play on words. I've read this book twice. Great wit and wisdom from two unlikely characters. Now, I have to read more of Avi's books.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So clever!

[mobydickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the best in picture books! A clever story about writing and our beloved snail and ant.

[Carly Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute idea! The plot of the story was a bit silly, but I enjoyed seeing how many different ways words could be used, perceived and twisted around! Such fun!