Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl (Easy-to-Read, Dial) [Hardcover]

Jean Van Leeuwen (Author), Ann Schweninger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Easy-to-Read, Dial

Finally, finally, finally it is the day Amanda has been waiting for--the first day of school! But someone on the bus doesn't look as happy as Amanda, so she uses her cheeriest, friendliest, most charming ways to warm the heart of that sad someone. 46 color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I have been waiting my whole life to go to school," declares an exuberant Amanda Pig as she prepares for her first day of school. And what a day it turns out to be! Up before the sun, Amanda can barely contain her excitement as she puts on her new purple dress, eats breakfast, and kisses her mom and dad good-bye. Once on board the school bus, she eagerly plops down in an empty seat for her first adventure of the day--befriending a frightened little girl who won't tell anyone her name. Blessed with a warm heart and a generous temperament, Amanda Pig is just about the best new friend any shy kid could have. In this warm, charmingly illustrated tale of the joys and challenges of a first day at school, Amanda gives her new pal a nickname--Lollypop--and then gently assures her, "School is fun. You will like it. You'll see."

Part of a series featuring our intrepid heroine--including Amanda Pig on Her Own, Tales of Amanda Pig, and Amanda Pig and Her Big Brother Oliver--this four-chapter, easy-to-read book follows Amanda and Lollypop through their action-packed first day. But will sad little Lollypop ever smile and reveal her true name? With the fun-loving Amanda Pig around to coax a few smiles and chase away the blues, there's no doubt everyone will soon be feeling better. (Ages 4 to 8) --Marianne Painter --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Outgoing Amanda befriends a shy girl pig on the first day of school in this Level 2 beginning reader. Ages 5-8. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803719809
• ISBN-13: 978-0803719804
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,043,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Choice to Help Get Ready for School, July 3, 2000

By 

Kristen Corey (Coventry, RI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amanda Pig, School Girl (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) (Mass Market Paperback)

We gave this book to our daughter just before she started kindergarten. It was perfect. The experiences that Amanda had with riding the bus and making friends helped her get ready for her own new adventures. The lighthearted easy-to-read pages made reading the book fun for her and the chapter book format was a terrific introduction to this style of reading. She read the book over and over and over again, giving her lots of practice before school even began. We love Amanda Pig!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprised This Isn't In Print - a review of "Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl", March 22, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Amanda Pig, School Girl (Puffin Easy-To-Read: Level 2 (Pb)) (Hardcover)

I am really surprised that this book is out of print. It's a cute little book about the first days of school and the adventures of Amanda Pig, a little girl who has been waiting and waiting until she is old enough to ride on the bus and go to school like her brother Oliver.

In regards to reading level I would say that this book is something a second grader might be reading. While the print is still fairly large there are quite a few words on some pages. See Amazon's "search inside this book" feature to judge for yourself.

Vocabulary includes words like: finally, ribbons, purple, animals, Alexander, laughing, lollipop, answer, skyscraper, suitcase, astronaut, and tomorrow.

Both of my children (boy and girl: 4 and 6 this month) enjoy this book and it is a fairly good read-aloud.

I particularly like that there is a chapter structure to the book as I think it gets new-readers prepared for the appearance of chapters in the future. In addition, I think the subplot about Lollipop's (Emily) shyness is dealt with nicely. As is Amanda's mistake of taking the teachers chair when the children gather for circle time. There is no hysterics or scolding, only a pointing out that Amanda made a mistake and that it is easily rectified.

Four Stars. Artwork is attractive and the stories are engaging for toddlers on up. Publishers Weekly has the reading level as appropriate for beginning readers (age 5 - 8) but I think that there are quite a few words per page and that it would be to much for a kindergartener and even most first graders.

4.0 out of 5 stars Amanda starts school and makes a new friend!, June 11, 2011

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Amanda Pig, School Girl (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is characterized as a Level Two reader, which is described as "reading together, short sentences, simple dialogue".
The stories are interesting with colorful and cute illustrations by Ann Schweninger. Here, Amanda Pig starts school and is very excited! She takes the school bus and meets a shy piglet named Lollypop, who soon becomes Amanda's best friend. The pair share adventures in school through four short chapters. I'd recommend this series to children who are beginning to develop some measure of independence in their reading and have completed the level one readers. It also makes an excellent read aloud for younger children.