Ever Have One of Those Days? : a Kid's Picture Book Review
Written: Oct 24 '06 (Updated Nov 13 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: bright colorful illustrations, a "just-right" level of challenge for an early reader, cute and funny
Cons: is "it can always be worse" really a lesson we want to teach?
The Bottom Line: A cute book but not one that I would call captivating. Not in the same ballpark as "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" or "Eddie and Teddy".
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| jiastar's Full Review: A. J. Benjamin - Podria Haber Sido Peor/It Could H... |
Please note, as opposed to how the title appears here in Epinions, this book is written by A.H. Benjamin. Also, be aware, that this book is out-of-print both in the hardcover version I am reviewing as well as in the softcover edition.
Story Synopsis
A young boy mouse, named Mouse, travels back home to his mom after visiting his "town cousin" and along the way has a run of what he thinks is bad luck.
He falls off a thorny branch.
He falls into a hole.
He sits on a thistle.
He falls in a river.
He skids down a hill.
However as each mishap serves to save him from being somebody's lunch/dinner/snack, the repeating theme of the story is "it could have been worse".
Early Reader Suitability
My youngest daughter is in First Grade and had very little trouble reading this book out-loud to me earlier this evening.
The text is clear and of a larger than average font. Pages range in length from 7 to 33 words per page, with the average being about 15.
There are lots of lovely words describing emotions and actions. As some may be challenging for your own young reader be prepared to help them sound out the words that are new to them. While they may use these words in conversation, seeing them in print can be intimidating.
In the course of this 24 page story Mouse:
continued
grumbled
wailed
trotted
complained
staggered
"was scurrying"
and
"found a comfortable spot"
Illustrations
This book is illustrated by Tim Warnes. Page after page are filled with his vibrant pictures which often span two-pages.
Illustrations begin on the title page with young Mouse running along a thorny branch with a a lip-smacking cat sneaking up behind him and end with Mouse and his mother apparently dancing happily as the very same cat is again thwarted in his rodent dining by a mousetrap snapping on his nose.
In each scene in the book we find Mouse narrowly escaping being the foodstuff of various animals. He thinks he's the one having the bad luck, but it's actually the other way around.
The stalking kitty winds up tangled up in those thorny vines.
A swooping hawk winds up with an apparent concussion.
An attacking snake winds up with a mouthful of greens.
A lurching fish winds up with a twig stuck in his mouth.
A sneaky fox winds up being tormented by bees.
And each scene manages to convey not only the suspense of the close-call, which Mouse manages to stay oblivious to, but also the humor of how a small Mouse winds up getting one over on one predator after another.
Overall
I only gave this book 3 stars because it just wasn't a hit of any caliber for these readers.
It was about an adorable little mouse, but you don't get a change to care much about him before he's already getting into one mess or another.
It's a funny story, yes. But, part of the joke is that the mouse never sees the danger, and it is this part that I think would, for the most part, go right over the heads of the age group it was written for.
And finally, the apparent moral is that "it can always be worse". Ummmmm ... is it me or is this a strange moral for a kids book?
Yes Jimmy, you may have just fallen down and skinned your knee but "it could have been worse" you COULD have been run over by a truck.
The goal provided by my daughter's school is for her to read something every night. This book served that purpose well. It was quick to get through, just challenging enough, and amusing. The pictures were colorful and added to the story itself and to the humor.
However, that being said, and while I would still recommend this book to another parent of a first-grader, I can't say that either of us loved this book.
Related Reviews
Eddie and Teddy
The Flag We Love
Alice & Greta: a tale of two witches
If You Give a Pig a Pancake
The Night Before Valentine's Day
The Land of the Blue Flower
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jiastar
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Location: Monmouth County, NJ
Reviews written: 368
Trusted by: 126 members
About Me:
A wife ... a mom ... and a Witch
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