Amanda Pig on Her Own ANNOTATION
When her brother goes off to school, Amanda finds new things to do, including ballet dancing, cleaning her room, and making a very sad, mad day go away, with the help of hugs from Mother Pig.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Using their cache of already published easy-to-read books, Puffin launched their Easy-to-Read program. Favorite stories by such beloved authors as James Marshall, Jean Van Leeuwen, and Harriet Ziefert are certain to attract readers to this series. Though the quality of stories in this series is uneven, some of them are superb. Like most other beginning-to-read series, Puffin Easy-to-Read is divided into reading levels. Level 1 uses sentences with clear and simple words and illustrations that help the reader understand the story line. Level 2 is the springboard for emerging readers: the stories use longer sentences, yet maintain a vocabulary easy enough for the child to feel comfortable on his or her own. Level 3 offers more challenging sentences and longer stories. Kindergarten - Grade 3.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-- When Oliver Pig goes off on the school bus, Amanda Pig is on her own for the first time. She is at a loss without him until loving Mother Pig reminds her that ``you always have yourself'' and ``without him you can do things that just you like to do.'' Soon Amanda is ballet-dancing in her dress-up costume and is on to other independent activities. Oliver Pig is in kindergarten and off to a fine start. Four short chapters focus on his adventures as he leaves his loving family and enters the unknown world of the classroom, and Van Leeuwen is right on target in her descriptions of his nervousness. Making (and eating) his Puff-Doodle necklace is great fun, but dealing with bad boy Bernard is not so easy. Oliver perseveres, and by day's end he and Bernard are friends. Young listeners will sympathize with the characters, and independent readers will recall their younger days. As always, Schweninger uses warm colored pencils and soft watercolor washes that complement the soothing tone of the thoughtful texts. These are fine books for children to share with their parents or visa versa. --Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID