The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip facts for kids
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US release cover
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| Author | George Saunders |
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| Illustrator | Lane Smith |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Villard Books |
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Publication date
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August 15, 2000 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 96 |
| ISBN | 0-375-50383-8 |
The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip is a children's book written by George Saunders. It was his first book made especially for young readers. This story explores themes of kindness and how people treat each other.
Contents
What is The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip About?
The story takes place in a small village called Frip. This village has only three houses right by the sea. The people of Frip depend completely on their goats. They sell goat's milk to make a living.
However, life in Frip is not easy. The village is often visited by strange creatures called "gappers." Gappers look like spiky fish. They crawl out of the sea and jump onto the backs of the goats.
Who are the Gappers?
Gappers are not very smart creatures. But they get incredibly excited when they are on a goat. They cling tightly to the goats and make a very loud, high-pitched shriek of joy. This noise is very annoying and makes it hard for the goats to be milked.
To keep the goats healthy and happy, the children of Frip have a big job. Eight times every day, they must brush the gappers off the goats. They put the gappers into special "gapper sacks." Then, they throw the gappers back into the sea from a high cliff. It is a lot of work for the kids!
The Problem for Capable and Her Father
One day, something changes. One gapper, who is a little bit smarter than the others, notices something important. One of the houses in Frip is closer to the sea than the others. This house belongs to a girl named Capable and her father.
Because their house is closer, the gappers decide to focus all their attention there. They completely overwhelm the goats in Capable's shack. This means Capable and her father have a huge problem. Their goats are covered in gappers, making it impossible to get milk.
How the Neighbors React
The owners of the other two houses are very selfish. They are happy that the gappers are no longer bothering their goats. They don't have to deal with the problem anymore. They think only about themselves.
When Capable bravely asks her neighbors for help, they refuse. They show their true colors. They are not willing to help someone in need, even when their friend is struggling. The story shows how important it is to be kind and help others.
