Fun / No Fun [Library Binding]

James Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1994 | Age Level: 7 and up

The author/artist once again answers the universal question, "What was it like when you were my age?" Readers of all ages will laugh at Stevenson's listings of those things that were fun, and those that were not--and will be amazed to find how little it all has changed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Those who cheered Stevenson's When I Was Nine and Don't You Know There's a War On? will find the author/artist's latest return trip to his childhood equal cause for celebration. Here Stevenson--helped by his characteristically winsome watercolors--playfully muses on what was "fun" and what was "no fun" when he was a boy, juxtaposing the two with engagingly dry humor. The "fun" list includes cowboy boots, baseball hat and cookies with raisins; the "no fun" equivalents are galoshes, cap with flaps and cookies with no raisins. Some of the author's reminiscences conjure up a vanished past ("The five-and-ten had small wires along the ceiling. Small boxes went rattling around the store to where people made change"), but many of his experiences could easily take place today ("Fun was being a Cub Scout. No fun was going to a Cub Scout meeting if you had to walk past tough kids to get there"). Adults as well as kids will grin knowingly at the affable Stevenson's observations. Definitely "fun" for all. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-As he did in When I Was Nine (Greenwillow, 1986), Stevenson discusses some of the activities and events of his youth. Readers, young and old alike, will appreciate comparing and contrasting their own experiences. Primitive childlike watercolors add to the realism of the story. They reflect a time when life was simpler (i.e., no Nintendo), but youngsters will readily identify with the universal feelings, even if they don't share the author's preferences of what is fun and what is not. A fine read-aloud choice or for one-on-one intergenerational sharing.
Marcia S. Rettig, South Buffalo Elementary School, Freeport, PA
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 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 1 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st edition (April 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688116744
• ISBN-13: 978-0688116743
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,133,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Is it Fun?, March 14, 2000

By 

alan lefenfeld (Cleveland,Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fun / No Fun (Library Binding)

Is it Fun?

This book explains how this author and illustrator's life was and what he liked and what he disliked. Or in his terms: Fun or No Fun. The book explains his colorful imagination. He made a go-cart from an old sled. He wasn't a couch potato and just sat down and watched TV. He was active; he liked to run and jump and do all sorts of things. One thing I don't like about this book is it leaves me with some unanswered questions, such as when he is talking about what dogs are fun and no fun, Mrs. Kellogg's dog doesn't really say anything. I would like to know why he never went near the dog.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun No Fun is Fun Fun Fun, April 25, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fun / No Fun (Library Binding)

James Stevenson's book is a great book to compare and contrast older days with present times. Kids and parents would have fun reading this book together.