"Any young child could enjoy this attractive picture book, with its here-and-now text and its sunny artwork, created with acrylics, collage, and digital elements. But the book’s most enthusiastic audience will be those preschoolers who study the illustrations to learn about hand tools in all their varied forms. A real find for young tool fans."-Booklist
"This is a book that will delight young children who like to help out with home projects or who are fascinated with tools and building. It is a wonderful introduction to simple tools and builds a sophisticated vocabulary for junior carpenters. A solid addition for picture book collections."—School Library Journal
"The artwork, done in a pastel-colored palette, is full of attractive little details, from the patterning on the tool displays to the labels on the window. . . Accessible for all, from the happy shopper to the tool-obsessed."-Kirkus Reviews
“Rockwell's 1979 classic gets a makeover with new illustrations and an updated story. . . . Its quiet clarity is sure to attract newcomers who appreciate the simpler pace of life it reflects.” —Kirkus Reviews on At the Supermarket
“The brightly colored gouache illustrations on white backgrounds show the child helping to fill the cart and feature such items as produce and a container of ice cream alone on the page, making identification easy. This is a fun, educational read-aloud.” —School Library Journal on At the Supermarket
“Iwai's writing debut beautifully depicts the loving relationship between a mother and daughter… Ordinariness made extraordinary.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on Soup Day
“A perfect meal and a perfect book.” —School Library Journal on Soup Day
01/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—When a young family moves to a larger home, there are many repairs to be done. The story is narrated by a boy, who, with his little sister Flora, helps Daddy go to the hardware store to purchase what they will need to make the necessary renovations. With straightforward language and simply composed mixed-media illustrations, Rockwell describes the tools needed for each project and the reasons for the choices that are made. When Daddy and the children get home, Mom reminds them that they have forgotten an important purchase. So the three builders head back to the hardware store. This is a book that will delight young children who like to help out with home projects or who are fascinated with tools and building. It is a wonderful introduction to simple tools and builds a sophisticated vocabulary for junior carpenters. VERDICT A solid addition for picture book collections.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME
2015-12-08
Dad, daughter, and son head to the hardware store to find tools for home repair. It's a bigger house for this growing family of five (plus two cats and a dog), but their new home is in need of some fixing. So it's off to the hardware store—a charming mom-and-pop shop full of colorful curiosities. There, brother and sister examine walls of hammers and screwdrivers, poke through bins of brads, and learn about levels. Their list complete, they arrive home only to realize an item is missing, and it's back to the store they go. The artwork, done in a pastel-colored palette, is full of attractive little details, from the patterning on the tool displays to the labels on the window. Captioned spot illustrations depicting the differences among certain tools will delight readers both young and old. Like Taro Gomi, Iwai makes no attempt to light her artwork with shading. Still, objects distinguish themselves as she skillfully applies pattern and color. It's an appealing environment that, while stylized, feels real as the mother sits on the floor breast-feeding, tools strewn around, reminding her husband of the forgotten item. Dad has white skin and sandy hair, while brother and sister share the dark hair and almond eyes of their mother. Accessible for all, from the happy shopper to the tool-obsessed. (Picture book. 3-7)
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