Amos McGee was an early riser. Every morning when the alarm clock clanged, he swung his legs out of bed and swapped his pajamas for a fresh-pressed uniform. He would wind his watch and set a pot of water to boil--saying to the sugar bowl, "A spoonful for my oatmeal, please, and two for my teacup."
Belly full and ready for the workday, he'd amble out the door.
Amos McGee stars in this understated charmer. He may be slightly predictable, but it's all good. For there's just something likable about him. He works at the zoo and all the animals love him. We meet many of his animal friends in the first half of the picture book. We see Amos McGee's daily routine. But then, readers see Amos on a day when he's not feeling his best. A day when he's not up to ambling out the door to the zoo. How will his absence be felt by those in his life? What will the animals do without him? Amos is so very good at taking care of them, can they return the favor? Can the animals take care of him for a change?! Readers may just be surprised at this playful twist!
As for my impressions of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, well, I liked it. I really liked it. I can't say it's love. Not like I loved Interrupting Chicken. But I did enjoy it. I liked the character of Amos McGee. I liked meeting all the animals. I thought it was fun. I thought it was cute. True, I thought it a little strange. Especially seeing all those animals on the bus! But I liked it all the same. I happened to like the text more than the art. But only slightly.
© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers
4 comments:
I've seen this one around, and it looks and sounds like a cute one!
I'll have to check this out. Followed you!
I would never have thought to compare Interrupting Chicken with Amos McGee. The Chicken is raucous and Amos is such a quiet book.
Just received my copies today of A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MC GEE and DAVE THE POTTER. Again Bryan Collier has crafted a magnificent book. He deserved at least the silver, especially as he was rooked for the gold with MARTIN'S BIG WORDS.
I do belive the Caldecott committe needs to give more silver medals. The last two years only two were given, which when you consider the great work out there, is counter-productive.
AMOS MC GEE and INTERRUPTING CHICKEN are wonderful but CHALK got robbed. And FLORA'S WINDY DAY, ART & MAX, CITY DOG COUNTRY FROG and ZEN GHOSTS could all have received a medal. To shut they all out is a how of ludicrous scrutiny.
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