Adam's Daycare [Paperback]

Julie Ovenell-Carter (Author), Ruth Ohi (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Adam's Daycare is a day in the life of a preschooler who visits a home daycare run by a loving, ordinary Daycare Diva. When Adam's mother drops him off at daycare, Ina lifts Adam to the window while he waves and waves until he can't see his mother's car any more. Then he runs upstairs to find his friends.

Over the course of the day, they build a fire engine to rescue Ina's dog from a burning building, construct crafts sprinkled with feathers and glitter, and enjoy a cupcake treat. At the end of the day, as Adam's mother drives him away, Adam waves and waves until he can't see Ina's house any more.

Each event is small from an adult's perspective, but important and absorbing for children. This is a warm and loving look at the everyday dramas of the millions of kids in daycare.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K?The plot of this book is one that many young children will identify with: being dropped off by a parent at a family-run daycare. Young Adam is seen in his daily routine at his caregiver's house with his friends Anna and Molly. The children play indoors during a rainy morning and venture outside for a walk to the mailbox when the weather improves. Lunch with birthday cupcakes for Molly and an afternoon spent in the backyard sandbox and then listening to stories when it begins to rain again round out Adam's day. The text is soothing and the illustrations convey a sense of coziness and caring found in Ina's gentle expressions and comforting presence. Adam's story will appeal to children already familiar with this type of daycare and serve as a positive introduction to those about to embark on a similar experience.?Maura Bresnahan, Topsfield Town Library, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 2^-4. Even though the day is gloomy and rainy, Ina's house is welcoming when Adam's mom drops him off on her way to work. At Ina's, there are toys, musical instruments, animals, and two other children Adam's age. There are rules to follow--wash hands before lunch--and craft projects, sandbox games, imaginative play, walking in puddles, and reading time. And there is sharing--of cupcakes and of Ina's lap. Ohi's paintings colorfully portray the warmth, clutter, and activity of Ina's child-oriented day care. Although Adam is happy to return home at day's end, he waves good-bye to Ina until he can't see her anymore, just as he waved his mom off in the morning. Ina's is ideal home care where no quarrels disrupt the day, where children are cared for and cared about, then reclaimed by loving parents. Picturing the best nurturing parents can hope to provide in their absence, the story will reassure children who are anticipating daily life away from home. Ellen Mandel --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550374443
• ISBN-13: 978-1550374445
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > First Day of School

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and loving book, July 17, 2009

By 

E. Wilson (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adam's Daycare (Paperback)

I bought this book for my child when she turned two and started daycare. This is a sweet book that starts with Adams mother dropping him off at daycare and takes you through all of the activities of the day and ends with the kids getting picked up one by one and Adam waiting patiently at the window for his mother who gives him a big hug when she arrives. The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is simple and poetic. It's a quiet slow paced read so it's perfect as a bedtime story. It really helped to reinforce that there a games and friends at daycare and that parents always come back.

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful protrayal of family life., May 26, 2008

By 

Diane Trimble (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adam's Daycare (Paperback)

This is a beautiful book, both for the illustrations and for the sentiments that are portrayed: a loving home, which just happens to offer daycare to some darling children. There are concerned, thoughtful parents (who spend time at drop-of and pick-up connecting with their children) and a woman who has all the right ideas about how to be with those children.

There is just enough messiness at Ina's house to make everyone feel comfortable: a dog who wanders around, children's naps starting in Ina's lap, the opportunity to go out in the rain to mail some letters (and incidentally spash in puddles), free play in the yard, and a special birthday celebration for one of the children.

But for me, the best part of the book is a comment that Ina makes about Adam when he spontaneously shares a cupcake: "...Adam has a good heart...". I heard my grand-daughter show her understanding of this (the essential nature of children) when she repeated it about her own brother a week or so later after he had showed a kindness.

This is the best kind of learning. It is a great book to read to any child (2 1/2 years and up), showing a loving, caring adult, regardless of whether they are familiar with daycare.