Mini Monday #47

Mini Monday: Where my son and I do two “mini” reviews on two children’s books. Each book will get a Thumbs up, Middle Thumb, or Thumbs down rating!

Eddie Longpants by Mireille levert
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published August 9th 2005 by Groundwood Books
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Eddie Longpants is big, really big, with long legs, enormous feet, and gangly arms that dangle down from his shoulders and bump into everything. At school, his classmates find new and interesting ways to bully him each day, calling him a giraffe, a flagpole, or a stepladder. When their name-calling becomes too painful, Eddie takes refuge under his favorite tree. But one day the bullying goes too far and the teacher takes notice. Now Eddie must decide whether to turn the tables on his tormentors or show them that there’s more than one way to behave. Mireille Levert's lush illustrations illuminate this fresh and gentle story that teaches children to appreciate their differences and celebrate diversity

 

 

This is a good book to teach children not to bully and even though someone may be different looking they still have something good about them. Poor Eddie and his mom are teased by the bullies at school for being so big. The teacher hears this happening and sees how much it is upsetting Eddie and tries to intervene. When the bully gets himself into a situation that requires Eddies help, he learns how nice of a person Eddie really is.

 

The neat thing about this book is that it reads vertically. This really gives off a feeling of how tall Eddie and his family really are. The illustrations were nice. My son’s favorite part when the birds were landing on Eddie because he is so tall and calm.

 

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Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive the School Bus by John Grandits
Illustrated by Michael Allen Austin
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published July 4th 2011 by Clarion Books
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Kyle is dreading his first trip aboard the school bus. Luckily, his big brother, James, is a school bus expert. James gives Kyle ten rules for riding the bus that he absolutely, positively must obey if he wants to avoid getting laughed at or yelled at, pushed around, or even pounded. During his fateful ride, Kyle grapples with each unbreakable rule. Along the way, he discovers that the school bus isn’t so bad, and he may even have a thing or two to teach his brother.

 

This book would be a nice book to read to someone about to go into school or riding the bus for the first time. It should that things are not as bad as you think they will be. Kyle thinks things are going to be absolutely horrible because of all the things his big brother has told him. Not only does Kyle break all of the rules but he comes out fine in the end. He even learns something.

 

The illustrations in this book are neat and have a sort of abstract look to them in some parts. I like how there was use of animals in the story and matching illustrations. There are also certain areas where you can see the paint brush strokes which I think are a neat addition to the illustrations. My older son liked the very last page where he finds out Rule Eleven.

 

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