10. Great Day for Up

10. Great Day for Up. Dr. Seuss. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. 1974. Random House. 36 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, early reader, beginning reader]

First sentence: Up! Up! The sun is getting up. The sun gets up. So UP with you!

Premise/plot: Do you like getting up in the morning? The book is gentle prompting to do just that. "Up" being the prominent word of the entire book. But does the narrator himself end up getting out of bed? Read and see for yourself!

My thoughts: I liked the "twist" ending. I did. Overall, I liked this one fine. I didn't love, love, love it. But it's certainly an entertaining enough read.

Have you read Great Day for UP! Did you like it? love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Berenstain Bears' New Baby

The Berenstain Bears' New Baby. Stan & Jan Berenstain. 1974. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Down a sunny dirt road, over a log bridge, up a grassy hill, deep in Bear Country, lived a family of bears--Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Small Bear. They lived in a large tree which Papa Bear had hollowed out and made into a house.

Premise/plot: Small Bear wakes up to discover that his once just-right bed is now too small. Papa Bear and Small Bear go out to the woods to chop down a tree to make a new just-right bed. Mama Bear--still silent--smiles contentedly as they go out for the day. But what will happen to Small Bear's bed?! Could Mama Bear have a secret?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. Sister Bear is adorable as a baby. This is an essential to read if you're going to read any of the books in the series.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Gorilla Did It

The Gorilla Did It. Barbara Shook Hazen. Illustrated by Ray Cruz. 1974. 32 pages. [Source: Childhood copy]

First sentence: Shhh! Go away. I can't play. I'm sleeping. Okay. But you've got to be quiet, or Mommy'll be mad.

Premise/plot: A little boy gets into trouble, but it's NOT his fault. The gorilla did it. Really. Or did he?!

Who made this mess?
The gorilla did it.
What gorilla?
The gorilla on my bike....
He didn't mean to.
It was an accident.
Just look! There's food all over the floor and grape juice under the radiator, and all your clean clothes are a sight! Don't tell me a gorilla did all this while you were sound asleep.
I wasn't asleep. He wouldn't let me. 

My thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED this book as a kid. I consider it one of my prized possessions. And I always feel better when I know where it is. The illustrations date this one a bit. I think books from this era can be spotted practically a mile away. But I love it just as much as ever. Even if I do want to give the characters a makeover. The illustrations are in black and white except for the gorilla which is printed in blue. 

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Three Little Kittens

Three Little Kittens. Illustrated by Lilian Obligado. 1974. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Three little kittens,
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost."
"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie."

Premise/plot: This picture book is the traditional nursery rhyme "Three Little Kittens." The illustrations are by Lilian Obligado.

My thoughts: I have never really thought about "The Three Little Kittens." That is I've never stopped to think if it was a favorite...or not. But when I saw this picture book at my local charity shop, I fell head over heels in love with the illustrations and had to have it. I ended up paying what it would have cost me in 1974--$1.50. I cannot praise the illustrations enough. I ADORED this one.

 Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers