Bad Day at Riverbend [Hardcover]

Chris Van Allsburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 1995 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Riverbend was a quiet little town, the kind of place where one day was just like all the rest and nothing ever happened. Occasionally the stagecoach rolled through, but it never stopped, because no one ever came to Riverbend and no one ever left. The day the stagecoach stood motionless in the center of town, Sheriff Ned Hardy knew something was terribly wrong. What was the mysterious substance on both coach and horses? It would not come off. Soon it was everywhere in the tidy little village. Something had to be done, and Sheriff Hardy aimed to do it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Van Allsburg cuts loose with this inventive spoof that will keep readers guessing right up to the end. Riverbend is "the kind of place where one day was just like the rest," and it looks it, too-a simple collection of block houses and buildings outlined in black and white. Color soon appears on the scene, however, in the form of scribbles-"great stripes of some kind of shiny, greasy slime"-that puzzle and alarm the residents of Riverbend. Sheriff Ned Hardy aims to put an end to the mystery, and rides out with a posse in search of the answer. Turns out he and his townsfolk are actually trapped in a coloring book, a fact readers discover as the point of view shifts, pulls back and reveals a crayon-wielding hand coloring the pages with glee. Van Allsburg clearly had fun with this one, and readers likely will too. All ages.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?In this fantastical Wild West story set in an actual coloring book, the "quiet little town" of Riverbend is mysteriously invaded by a slimy substance?crayon marks from a child's scribbles?that has the effect of stunning and paralyzing people and animals. Sheriff Ned Hardy and his men set out to get to the bottom of what has been terrorizing the town. In the end, they, too, are stopped in their tracks by the waxy slime as a child, armed with a full range of crayolas, is shown coloring in the last page of her "Cowboy Coloring Book." The illustrations of the town that readers see in the first pages are, appropriately, clean black-line drawings?not the rich, multidimensional illustrations usually associated with Van Allsburg's work. Like Jumanji (1981) and Ben's Dream (1982, both Houghton), this book's creative plot steps beyond the boundaries of reality, and because of its spare, coloring-book context, the artwork must also go beyond the artist's typical style. Larger collections will want to keep up with Van Allsburg's innovativeness, but this effort is pretty much a one-trick pony that most libraries can easily skip.?Christina Linz, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1ST edition (October 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039567347X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395673478
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 1982, Jumanji won the National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg was formerly an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Picture Book, October 11, 2000

By 

delta (Memphis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Day at Riverbend (Hardcover)

I have loved this wonderful book since it came out. This is a grownup's book masquerading as a kiddie book. The children I know have not liked the book, but the adults howl over it. It's one of those books children don't really get because it subtly makes fun of kids...but that is what the fun is all about.

One past reviewer said this was not Chris Van Allsburg's typical illustration. There IS no typical Van Allsburg illustration. All of his books are totally unique. You will not find a copycat book in his whole award winning collection.

The whole point of this delightful books is that it mirrors a child's coloring book. The opening pages are uncolored and shows the typical western town with the peaceful citizens living their quiet daily lives with the usual sheriff in attendance to round up the bad guys. Suddenly a horse and rider pull into town. Hanging from the horse are greasy colored strips hanging from him. The rider was in the same terrible condition. He looked awful. The rider tells the sheriff that he was riding along minding his own business, when suddenly there came a sudden bright light and then he was attacked. The sheriff knows he must act at once to save the town from this terrible unknown threat. I won't tell you the ending.

If you are reading this book in a bookstore, be prepared for people to stare as you double over with tears streaming down your face.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children's book? This one's for baby-boomer adults!, September 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bad Day at Riverbend (Hardcover)

I'm 40-something. Grew up with Westerns and coloring books and a little brother. This book appealed to me as an adult. I could imagine someone taking an old coloring book a little kid had scribbled in and making a wonderful tale of it. Chris Van Allsburg did a fine job. Hey, little kids might even like it!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bad Day is an amusing tale that shouldn't be missed!, September 3, 1999

By 

Ricardo and Jake (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Day at Riverbend (Hardcover)

When I first got this book, I thought my mother had made a mistake and picked up one that had been scribbled in. Boy was I in for a treat when I discovered what was really going on in Riverbend. It'll keep you guessing right up to the punch line. You gotta get it!