Customer Reviews

Big Plans

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I got in trouble as a kid. It didn't happen too often, but it happened. "Mocked" the guitar player during the assembly (sincerest form of flattery, I say), got a bit too rough playing Ninja Turtles at recess - standard stuff. Like a bucket of cold water on the head, getting in trouble as a kid always reminds you of the fact that adults are unquestionably in charge. "Big Plans" exuberantly turns this notion on its head. In terms of read-aloud-ability, it will likely prove to be one of the highlights of Aught Eight.

The story begins with our unnamed protagonist stewing in Time Out. As the title suggests, he has a few ideas about how things should be, and is not afraid to share. Are they specific? Not at all. But you don't need details when you've got this kind of persistence. With the gusto of Alex Baldwin's character in "Glengarry Glen Ross", our hero's fantasy jumps into action. He's making it clear who's in charge, ordering people around and demanding to know if you're "in or out". Along the way he acquires a mynah bird sidekick, a skunk-coon cap, and a wake of adults impressed with his determination. He wins football games, crashes board meetings, and talks the President into handing over his job. All while never losing focus of his mission: to proclaim his big plans to the world.

A warning: this book is fairly relentless in its methods. It's not made for "quiet time in ye olde story corner". The fonts sizes vary between huge and massive. Lane Smith's collage illustrations fit right in and add to the craziness. It's fair to say that, if done correctly, you can expect to hear "A Clamor of Children" during this storytime. But that's the fun, right?

Lane Smith has been a favorite ever since STINKY CHEESE MAN found its way into our children's lives.
And about a year ago we discovered Bob Sheas' NEW SOCKS, which became an instant favorite in our house. A truly great nightly read aloud.

So we're beyond delighted to see two of our household favorites come together to work on this book.

All the great visuals of a Lane Smith classic with the laugh out loud read along style of Bob Shea...perfect.
Hope they're off somewhere working on another...ANOTHER I SAY!

BIG PLANS is a HUGE HIT in our household. Our 4-year-old has been learning phonetics in pre-school and -- after only one supervised read of BIG PLANS, I caught him sounding out the words himself -- "pre-reading" as they say. (He also walks around the house crowing the words "I got big plans!" -- and I'm happy to encourage his confidence and ambition.) We both love the rambunctious boy-energy of the book -- in the text and the big bold brilliant illustrations. I especially appreciate that the boy-hero's fantasies incorporate all the educational materials found in his classroom: the world, the moon, the birds, the words. (He's using stuff he learned at school.) BIG PLANS is a terrific read between father & son -- especially because the boy's "big plans" are so big that he needs to wear his dad's tie and shoes. As a parent who reads A LOT of books to my kid, I found BIG PLANS fun to read out loud -- big and animated. It also doesn't take forever to finish or put me to sleep in the process! I already picked up an extra copy for my nephew who graduates from high school this year. BIG PLANS makes the PERFECT GRADUATION PRESENT 'cause it's all about ambition and drive!

I love this book! We just randomly found it at a grocery store but now I'm buying more copies to give to friends. It's so funny and the pictures are great. My son's only 1 now but I'm sure he'll love it when he's bigger. It makes me laugh every time I read it.

A boy sits alone in a classroom corner, in trouble, again I'm sure, but it is there that he plans his BIG plans to tell the world his BIG plans! Step one is putting on his dad's shiniest tie and fanciest shoes. Step two is getting his side-kick the mynah bird and putting on his lucky, stinky hat, the skunk (whose name is Stinky luck). How far do these BIG plans go? From conquering Wall Street, to teaching the mynah bird football, to getting a helicopter, to becoming mayor and so much more, this boy sets out to tell the world that no corner can hold him back because "he's got BIG plans, BIG plans he says."

This is by far the funniest and most entertaining kids book we have. My 3 year old loves this book. Every time we read it he is cracking up laughing!! I always let him pick 3 books to read before bed time, every time he picks this book I get excited. This book is hilarious!! I guess you need to have a sense of humor as a parent to enjoy this book. AND be very animated when you read it to your child. FUN FUN FUN.

I love this book! My kids love it also and we all laugh as we read it. The boy in the book is hilarious. It is my children's favorite book. The entire is the thoughts of this little boy as he stands in the corner for a list of infractions he had to write on the chalk board. Pay attention to all the stuff in the first picture as he stand there. He incorporates them all into his day dream. You will love it and your kids will too. I highly recommend it...and so do my four girls and two boys.

You must own this, you will be reading it over and over. It is just the best. I love it and so does everyone in my home.

I found this book quite by accident at a book fair where it seemed an "okay" choice, as I needed something for the nephew. I read it at home that night and could not stop laughing. I have since read it to every one of my friends and several family members. I've been requested at several family functions I'm not even attending to read it over the phone for those who have not yet heard it. So good I had to buy two more copies - one for my mother who teaches elementary school and one for myself. Buy it as a gift for the little ones in your life, but know that you'll probably want one for you, too! Cute, quirky, and awesome illustrations to go with it. LOVE!

Take a small boy sitting in a corner of a classroom and let his imagination run wild---you have "BIG PLANS", I tell you! This book is as fun to read out loud as it is to read to yourself. Either way you can't help chuckling right out loud. My class of 3rd graders fell in love with this book!