When Jonathan's mother pops out to the shop for a can of noodles, she tells him not to make a mess. But then a subway stop just opens up in his apartment wall, and chaos ensures. At first Jonathan's mother doesn't believe him, but then she witnesses the phenomenon herself. Seeking answers at City Hall, Jonathan is told by the mayor that everything is controlled by the computer, and that there is nothing to be done. Then he discovers who controls the computer, fetches him some jam, and gets the problem solved. At least, for him...

Originally published in 1981, this entertaining picture-book from Canadian author/illustrator team Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko has that surreal sense of humor I have come to associate with their work. The matter-of-fact madness of the hi-jinks here contrasts nicely with Jonathan's civic-minded response, as he heads to City Hall for an answer. The subway commuters here look a little dated - very 80s in their appearance - but otherwise this one holds up quite well, especially with that hilarious ending, in which Jonathan convinces the computer man to switch the subway stop to the Mayor's office! Recommended to Munsch/Martchenko fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books with a somewhat oddball sense of humor. ( )

This book has all the classic Munsch traits - an exceedingly improbable situation (subways keep opening up into Jonathan's apartment, making progressively greater and greater messes), useless adults (his mother blames HIM for the impossible mess, and at city hall he's told the routes can't be changed), and a silly solution (he bribes the man who makes the maps to move the station to the mayor's office. LOL!)

It's great. Silly, fun, over-the-top, and no pretense at a moral. Plus, bonus - trains! If you're a fan of Munsch, you know you want this. ( )