Amanda Pig and Her Best Friend Lollipop (Easy-to-Read, Dial) [Hardcover]

Jean Van Leeuwen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Easy-to-Read, Dial

At Amanda's house the two new best friends play make-believe, swing high up into the sky, and dance dizzying pirouettes. But Amanda thinks Lollipop's house is even better! Lollipop has a purple room and a baby sister. Amanda likes Lollipop's house so much, the girls decide to have their very first sleepover. But will Amanda miss her family and her own little bed? In this latest addition to a beloved and acclaimed series, young readers share the happiness of special friends and loving families. A starred School Library Journal review of Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl proclaimed, The author's many followers will applaud this addition.They're sure to look forward to seeing more of Lollipop.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2AFour delightful stories featuring these porcine pals. When Lollipop comes to visit, she is so shy that she will only whisper into Amanda's ear. A fall from a swing and Mother's comforting arms help the little pig to open up. In the second story, the companions play with their dolls and Lollipop breaks through her shyness to defend their toys against Amanda's older brother. In another chapter, Amanda likes Lollipop's house much better than her own; she especially likes playing with her friend's baby sister. In the final episode, Amanda is frightened during a sleepover at Lollipop's and calls her father to come and get her. The simple language captures the warmth and caring between these two friends. The dialogue is realistic and playful, as Amanda unintentionally comes up with rhyming phrases ("This is the very best day....Lollipop is coming to play"). The appealing watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations depict situations that will seem familiar to children. A comfortable, reassuring book for beginning readers.AJanet M. Bair, Trumbull Library, CT
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 1^-2. When Lollipop comes over to play at Amanda's house, she's initially so shy that she won't speak to Amanda's mother or brother but whispers what she has to say into her friend's ear. Finally, she finds her voice when she yells at Amanda's brother, Oliver. Visiting at Lollipop's house, Amanda Pig finds everything to her liking, from Lollipop's purple bedroom to her baby sister. Invited for a sleepover, though, she finds that she likes to go back to her house at night. Written with simplicity and affection, the four short stories will appeal to many young children, even those too young to read on their own. The rounded lines and vivid colors of the illustrations give the book a cozy, inviting look. A pleasant entry in the continuing series about Oliver and Amanda Pig. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803719825
• ISBN-13: 978-0803719828
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,879,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2* When Pigs Play, An Easy-to-Read Book, September 8, 2004

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amanda Pig and Her Best Friend Lollipop (Penguin Young Readers, L3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Little Amanda the pig invites her best friend Lollipop to her house for the first time in Van Leeuwen's fond depiction of the toddler scene. High on the cute-ometer, the stories draw on familiar 2-4 year old play and social situations including playing with dolls, being initially shy at a friend's house, swinging, eating treats, dealing with a boisterous boy, and teaching a baby to talk, all culminating in a sleepover at Lollipop's. Parents may feel a tinge of recognition at the interrupted sleepover, as Amanda calls home late at night after imagining a monster!

Most toddlers will identify with these little pigs, and parents and other readers will probably enjoy sharing the four related short chapters with small fry. The book nicely shows the value of friendship. These two piglets really like each other and are exposed to new things through playing together. Although, there's nothing groundbreaking or especially inventive about the book, but it's a pleasant enough story with small soothing pictures. A Dial "Easy-to-Read Book", rated at grade level 1.8, "Amanda" is 48 pages long with a picture on each page. A good book for the beginning reader!

4.0 out of 5 stars Amanda Pig and friend Lollipop have fun together!, January 31, 2011

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amanda Pig and Her Best Friend Lollipop (Penguin Young Readers, L3) (Mass Market Paperback)

My kindergartner has recently discovered the Oliver and Amanda Pig books and loves them all. The stories are interesting and engage my daughter's attention. She also loves readers which are illustrated, and this book contains colorful and cute illustrations by Ann Schweninger. This book contains four charming stories centering on Amanda and her best friend Lollipop as they have playdates, a sleepover, etc. Young children will easily relate to these stories and the charming illustrations enhance the text. Beginning readers who have moved on from the level one readers will enjoy trying to read this book on their own or with some assistance. It also makes an excellent read aloud for younger children.

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful for boys and girls, February 16, 2010

By 

Vickie Tsui (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amanda Pig and Her Best Friend Lollipop (Penguin Young Readers, L3) (Mass Market Paperback)

My three-year-old son has enjoyed all of the Oliver and Amanda Pig books, and so have I. Oliver and Amanda live in an idealized all-American family, with parents in traditional roles. However, the stories describe realistic aspects of relationships which can be identified by most children and adults - the frustration of a mother over her naughty kids, the battles between siblings, the closeness as well as boundary between friends. Not all conflicts get resolved by Father's words of wisdom or by a tearful embrace. OK, some of them do. But some conflicts just continue and are an important part of growing up.

Even though my son mostly enjoys stereotypically "boy" books (Thomas the Train, No David, etc.), he loves even this particular Oliver and Amanda book, which focuses on Amanda and her girlfriend Lollipop. He laughed, read and re-read the part where Oliver kept annoying Amanda and Lollipop, for example by sitting on their dolls ("You squashed our babies!"). My son also found it extremely funny that Lollipop's baby sister kept babbling non-sense whenever Amanda tried to teach her real words.

I especially appreciated the last story, in which Amanda goes for a sleep-over at Lollipop's house, finds her best friend comfortably asleep in minutes while her eyes stayed wide open to stare at the unfamiliar (thus frightening) surroundings. She ended up calling Father to pick her up. Their conversation on the way back was terse, yet Amanda's comfort and relief are tangible. After all the previous stories in this book illustrated the importance of friendship, the last story wrapped up to remind us of the necessity of family.