The Big Idea (The West Side Kids ; 1) [Library Binding]

Ellen Schecter (Author), Bob Dorsey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: The West Side Kids ; 1

Young Luz wants to rid her neighborhood lot of all the filth and garbage lying around and replace it with a beautiful garden, but none of her friends seem to want to help, and she begins to fear that her big idea may never become a reality.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?Luz lives in a large city where it's hard for her to find any sign of spring. One day, as she gazes at a vacant lot on her block, she fondly remembers her grandfather's garden in Puerto Rico and is inspired to turn the deserted eyesore into an oasis. A police officer tells her of a local group, the Green Giants, who investigate the property and help her begin the long process. She finds that getting people to help her do the work is even harder than gaining permission to try. But she perseveres, and as the garden begins to take shape, more and more neighbors pitch in. The story is primarily a vehicle to promote Schecter's advocacy of turning vacant lots into gardens; there is even an address given at the end for people interested in doing so. Nevertheless, the story is entertaining, and it carries a good message. The author does not gloss over the amount of work involved or the difficulty of finding willing participants.?Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2^-5. In another installment in the West Side Kids chapter-book series (see Orgel, above), a spunky Hispanic girl living in an inner city is determined to transform a vacant, junk-filled lot near her home into a community garden. Luzita's vision is fed by memories of her grandmother's garden back in Puerto Rico--the lovely flowers, the birds, the tree frogs, and the games they once played. Her mother is reluctant to let her tackle such a project, but Luzita manages to enlist her father's support. She wants her best friend's help, too, but Rosie is moving soon and doesn't want to invest in something she won't be around to see. The vigorous first-person narrative develops the sturdy determination of the lively eight-year-old, who eventually seeks the help of Green Giants, an organization that sponsors city projects. Readers will appreciate Luzita's triumph as the garden finally comes together and her neighbors, brother, and even her best friend succumb to her joyful dream. Shelley Townsend-Hudson

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 76 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (Juv) (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786820853
• ISBN-13: 978-0786820856
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,001,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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