Archibald Frisby (Reading Rainbow Books) [Paperback]

Michael Chesworth (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 1996 | Age Level: 5 and up | Series: Reading Rainbow Books

Archibald Frisby, mad about science and wise beyond his years, is sent to camp to have fun and ends up broadening the horizons of his fellow campers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Imagining a science-obsessed boy's stay at Camp Woopeekooshun, Chesworth "teasingly teaches the reader that science is ... a part of everyday life," said PW. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-Archibald Frisby is a smart and well-read lad with a unique way of looking at the world. He views his cat in terms of its skeletal structure, he has dismantled every kitchen appliance in the name of science, and he'd rather read Spores Illustrated than participate in sports. His mother, horrified by his obsession with all things scientific, turns off his computer and boots him off to camp. While other kids sit around a fire, Archibald gazes at constellations and turns nature walks into opportunities to contemplate photosynthesis. His eccentricity endears him to the other campers, especially when his grasp of physics helps them to beat the counselors in a game of baseball. The story is clever, but slight. The full-color illustrations combine cartoonlike figures with gimmicky scientific charts and explanations. The concept seems a bit too esoteric for its picture-book format. Some readers might be amused by it, but for a more successful assimilation of science and entertainment, stick with Joanna Cole's "Magic School Bus" series (Scholastic).
Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (March 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374404364
• ISBN-13: 978-0374404369
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 10.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,138,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Science is fun!, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Archibald Frisby (Hardcover)

This is a story about a boy who likes science. There is a real joy in science and the author illustrates that joy in the activities of Archibald. Archibald's mother is concerned that her son is so wrapped up in his reading and his way of looking at things, she sends him to camp to try to be a "normal kid." She wanted him to have a good time. But, Archibald shows his Mom and the other campers that science and "having a good time" can go together. This is a book that celebrates the joy of science and is something of a rarity in books for children of this age group. I highly recommend it and think that the comments made by the "Horn Book" above are a little too harsh. A few lines of the text may have some forced rhyming. But, that doesn't lessen the value of this book. The Horn reviewers probably didn't do well in their science courses in College but did well in poetry.

4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and interesting read, December 4, 2008

By 

Bo Bipidty (Ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Archibald Frisby (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

Very nice book showing that science and fun can be one and the same. However, you should know that this is a rhyming picture book best suited to ages 5-7. There is only 4 lines per page in the 32 page book, so it is closer to a long poem than a story book. The rhymes are cute and funny such as: He had taken apart every kitchen appliance: they had given their lives in the interest of science. This book will be on the top of my list to give as a gift to a beginning reader.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book to Introduce Sciene!, August 29, 2007

By 

K. Doenges - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Archibald Frisby (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book to introduce kids to the concept of "science." I am a teacher and I used this book to explain to my Kindergarten students what science is and what we would be learning about. Even though the language was above them, they still understood the concept and were very engaged in the book.