Parents -- Juvenile fiction. |
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction. |
Parents -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile fiction. |
Children's stories. |
Fiction. |
Available:*
Audience | Shelf Location | Material Type | Shelf Number | Current Location |
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Kids/Juvenile | Picture books | Book | E NUMEROFF | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Full of fun, whimsical details and a relatable cast of characters, Would I Trade My Parents? will resonate with parents and kids alike, as readers remember why they would never trade their parents for the world!
What child hasn't thought about trading his or her parents for the ones next door? Who wouldn't be discouraged if their parents didn't allow them to have pets or go camping or drink chocolate milk before dinner?
In the newest picture book by New York Times #1 bestselling author Laura Numeroff, a little boy ponders why his friends' parents are so special and why sometimes he wishes he could trade . . . But then he remembers his very own parents and all the amazing things that only they know how to do--like the way they always read with him or leave notes in his lunch box or take him on family bike rides. In fact, his parents are the best of all!
F&P level: K
F&P genre: RF
Author Notes
Laura Numeroff is the New York Times bestselling author of The Jellybeans and the Big Dance, When Sheep Sleep, and the If You Give a . . . series. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
James Bernardin is the illustrator of the bestselling The Legend of the Candy Cane. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-A nameless bespectacled boy recites the virtues of his friends' parents. Jason's dad builds houses, and his mom makes blueberry pancakes. Katie's mom is a dentist who drives a convertible, and her dad is an eye doctor. Katie is allowed to watch TV until 8 p.m. Sydney's mom is a hairdresser; her dad is a plumber. They square dance in the basement. And so on. The narrator wishes that his parents would do all these things. Finally he describes his parents. Mom teaches French and the piano and plays duets with him. Dad is a writer who talks to his son about everything. Mom puts notes in his lunchbox, and Dad reads to him every night. On weekends, they all go for bike rides. So no, the boy would not want to trade them. "I KNOW they're the best!" The illustrations are large and clear, made with acrylics and a digital paint program. They simply illustrate the text; there's nothing extra to peruse. This is a straightforward retelling of a common childhood exercise in wishful thinking.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
What child hasn't indulged in the delicious treachery of wishing for different parents? The young narrator in this reverie considers how good some of his friends have it, with parents who are more lenient (Katie's "let her watch TV until eight o'clock"), more adventurous (avid campers and convertible owners) or more handy (a plumber, an architect, a hairstylist). The boy even entertains envy for a kid whose parents are divorced: mom is a pet shop owner and dad makes sure "they have a great time when they're together." But in the end, the narrator sticks with the thoughtful, attentive pair he was issued at birth, because "I KNOW they're the best!" Grown-up readers may find that wrapup immensely reassuring, and everyone will enjoy Bernardin's lively slice-of-life drawings, which have touches of Mad magazine-style exaggeration. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
In this pleasing exploration of what makes parents special, the narrator's friends have parents who do wonderful things like make blueberry pancakes, drive cool convertibles, and paint pictures. They let their children drink chocolate milk before dinner and sleep under the stars. They have interesting occupations one is a photographer, and another a hairdresser. The main character then considers the merits of his own parents. His mother is a French teacher: Not only is she smart, but she also tells great jokes. His father is a writer who knows a lot about nature. With a little more thought, he decides, I wouldn't trade my parents. I know they're the best. Taking a break from her If You Give a . . . series, Numeroff uses straightforward text with simple vocabulary and short sentences that children just beyond the beginning-to-read stage can master on their own. Bernardin's digitally enhanced acrylics are crisp and expressive and feature a cast of appealing characters, which will help make this popular for reading aloud.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2009 Booklist