Sam and the Big Kids
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Poor Sam! He wants to play with the big kids. "You are too small," they tell him. "Go home." But when the big kids need help, who saves the day? Sam, of course! New readers will relate to being excluded by older kids, and they'll cheer for Sam when he shows that he can help, even though he's not big. Watercolor illustrations with pen-and-ink highlight the subtle emotions in this charming book. An I Like to Read® book. Guided Reading Level E.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
What child hasn't felt the sting of being told to "get lost" by an older kid? In this I Like To Read book, that's the cross borne by bear cub Sam. "You are too small.... Go home," he hears over and over again as he follows his big sister and her friend through the forest. When the older bears get into some mild trouble, however they're stranded on an island when their rowboat floats away they turn to unwanted tagalong Sam: "The big kids called, Sammy! Sammy! Go get Mom!' " Readers will appreciate the impressive geographic features of McCully's (The Helpful Puppy) ink-and-watercolor renderings, and her approach to emotions, while understated, never fails to convey the older kids' casual cruelty and the impressiveness of Sam's leap into action. What's more, the author's willingness to avoid a hugging-learning moment in the wrap-up feels downright brave: Mom rows everyone home, the two older kids remain engaged with one another, and Sam, sitting behind his mother, is focused on feeding a fish. In short, life goes on. Ages 4 8.
