Don't Slam the Door! [Hardcover]

Dori Chaconas (Author), Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2010 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Slamming the screen door sets off a comical chain of cause-and-effect in this rollicking tale of a rambunctious family.

A slamming door may not seem like a big deal, but in this escalating tale, it can have far-reaching (and very funny) consequences — including a limping, yelping Pa; a scared, bee-stung bear; and a whole house plunged into pandemonium! In lively rhyme that’s perfect for reading aloud — complemented by Will Hillenbrand’s cozy, homespun illustrations — Dori Chaconas follows a pint-size narrator as she warns her family of the ever-more-outrageous effects of their actions. But despite her valiant efforts, things keep spiraling humorously out of control. Will she ever be able to get the house back in shape?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 In this rhyming story, Chaconas brings the domino effect to the farm. When a dog causes a screen door to slam and wake the cat, there's no end to the havoc. The cat puts knots in Ma's knitting yarn, resulting in painful lumpy socks that cause Dad to bump into a beehive, and so on: you get the picture. By the end of the story the cows are back in the barn, the feathers back in the pillow, and the pig-tailed narrator is exhausted from trying to keep order in her little world. The author's bouncy couplets are rhythmically consistent all the better for reading aloud. Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations with characteristic domestic details and expressive faces on both animal and human figures are a spot-on match to the narrative. More than just silly fun at home or at storytime, this title would be useful for teaching cause and effect and prediction. Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC
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From Booklist

“Please don’t slam the door! / Don’t slam that old screen door!” a young girl cries. After the dog ignores her plea, the resulting chain of events brings disaster after disaster on the girl’s house, each more fantastical than the last. Soon the living room is a tangle of knotted yarn, a swarm of bees has descended on a curious bear, and a herd of confused-looking cows has landed in the bedroom. The narrator decries each absurd happening in frantic rhyme (“Bees, don’t swarm and sting! / Don’t swarm and swoop and sting!”), and Hillenbrand’s full-bleed mixed-media illustrations slyly document the mounting chaos as the expressive animal and human characters find themselves in a fine mess. The girl’s struggle against a series of uncontrollable inevitabilities is nicely combined with sympathy and humor to keep things whimsical and light. At last, the young heroine takes command and, still in rhyme, restores order to the house . . . at least until the door slams again. Preschool-Grade 2. --Miriam Aronin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763637092
• ISBN-13: 978-0763637095
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.4 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Here we go again, February 18, 2011

By 

Madigan McGillicuddy "Librarian" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Slam the Door! (Hardcover)

I loved this book, which was so clearly inspired by The House That Jack Built. It tells the story of a chain reaction, where one misfortune leads to more disaster, until finally things are set to rights. And of course, there are plenty of repeated phrases, lending a bouncy, rhyming sense of fun.

A redhead girl warns readers, "Please don't slam the door! Don't slam that old screen door! A slamming door will wake the cat, and heaven knows, we don't want that, so please don't slam that door!" Naturally, an awake cat will want to play in balls of yarn, which will create knots in the yarn, meaning Pa's socks will end up knitted all lumpy, causing Pa to bump into the honey hive, where panicked bees will sting a bear who will run into the cows in the barn, who will, in turn, run for the safety of the feather bed inside the farmhouse. Luckily, the girl sorts everything out, shivvying everyone back to their proper places, and admonishing the dog as he leaves, "Don't ever slam that door! A slamming door will wake the cat, and heaven knows, we don't want that! We've been through this before!" Watercolor and colored pencil mixed-media illustrations featuring expressive human and animal faces with tiny dot-like eyes are slightly reminiscent of Tomie DePaola.

Keep the fun going and pair this with The Bicklebys' Birdbath by Andrea Perry, illustrated by Roberta Angaramo for even more rhyming cause-and-effect!

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively and clever, November 8, 2010

By 

Mazzie Bee "Teacher and Mom" (New Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Slam the Door! (Hardcover)

This book begins with the warning not to slam the door....because once it is, a whole chain of catastrophes occur! It's funny and fast paced. The rhyming text is clever and never forced. My 4 year old enjoys it tremendously, and even my 2 year old likes it because of the fantastic illustrations (many of farm animals.) We checked it out of the library, but have added it to our wish list for Xmas!