Giant Children [Hardcover]

Brod Bagert (Author), Tedd Arnold (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

There's a turtle named Jaws, a dinosaur canary, an alien playing Spaceball, and a no-show tooth fairy. A buffalo's in the library chomping on the books, and a princess has karate skills that rival her good looks. These characters and many more are found in this rambunctious and irresistible collection of poems that look at our world through a child's wide eyes.

Brod Bagert, a favorite in classrooms throughout the country, and Tedd Arnold, creator of the beloved Parts and More Parts, are friends who have happily teamed up-with hilarious, inspired results.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This deliciously over-the-top poetry collection explores the nerve-wracking world of school-age children. The narrator of the opening titular poem is the classroom hamster: "Pages turn at giant speed/ As giant children learn to read." Bagert's (Chicken Socks: And Other Contagious Poems) uncomplicated style of verse addresses such diverse topics as sibling feuds and wild imaginations, monster trucks and the Tooth Fairy, as it humorously handles the more anxious side of growing up, including the mixed blessing of landing the lead in the school play. Arnold's signature style seems particularly well suited to the stage-frightened fellow waiting in the wings ("So here I am on stage,/ And the play's about to start./ My life was so much simpler/ Before I got this part"). The squiggling lines seem to indicate the actor's nerves gone haywire. Bagert delivers the requisite gross-out with "Booger Love" (complete with warning label that the poem "not, under any circumstances, be recited to a grown-up!"). The characters' pop-eyes sitting atop oversize heads help express the ever-changing emotions of childhood. Arnold selects just the right moment in each poem to dramatize and his exaggerated portraits help readers focus on the hyperbole of the poetry. A funny peek at the pleasures and (growing) pains of childhood. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Colored-pencil art with watercolor washes provides simple yet hilarious interpretation of Bagert's mixed bag of poems. Bookended by selections narrated by a class hamster (thus the title verse), the poet explores home and school life, from a teacher in a hula skirt and baby brother's diapers to imagination and dreams. Of the 23 offerings, few miss the mark as entertainment or food for thought. Be aware that "Booger Love" explores every possible nasty application. Kids will automatically memorize these offerings and soon believe a line from "The Buffalo in the Library," "-poetry is the food I need/To feed my hungry head."-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1St Edition edition (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803725566
• ISBN-13: 978-0803725560
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #808,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tedd Arnold's sweet illustrations with some poems tacked on, October 23, 2002

By 

Gorilla800lbs (Fair Lawn, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Giant Children (Hardcover)

Tedd Arnold has forevermore immortalized himself through his Huggly series masterpieces, as well as jewels like Parts and More Parts, Inside The House That Is Haunted, Inside The Zoo In The City. If you don't know what I am talking about right now, please rush and do a search for these titles here at Amazon, and I guarantee you that your child and yourself will be delighted to no end with the charming stories and Mr.Arnold's trademark "watercolor and pencil wiggle" illustrations, original and visually delicious.
Having said that, let's return back to the subject of the book "Giant Children" by Brod Bagert. I would bottom line the value of this book this way: it's biggest quality comes from the fact that the illustrations were done by Tedd Arnold. If not for the elaborate and loving touch of the pictures he provides, the book itself would be a nothing-to-write-home-about collection of verses ranging from passable ("Giant Children", "Chocolate Maniac") to bland ("Buffalo In The Library"). Mr.Bagert seeks to make schoolchildren, a stable of his audience, to identify with the poems, and goes overboard with "Booger Love", which even my 2nd-grader son found gross.

The quality of the poems non-withstanding, the book still scores a major win with the kids due to the illustrations, like I said. If you and your children appreciate Tedd Arnold's style, this book is going to be a great value for you. He even sneaks Huggly into the illustration for "Spaceball"!! If you don't care about Mr.Arnold's works now and just want a new book for your kid, it will also do just nicely. Mostly all poems are written in an easy to follow syllable and straightforward vocabulary, and are approachable for most 6-7-year-olds. Click that "Add to cart" button!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, January 11, 2006

By 

Kristilee Jansen "Mustang Sally" (Port Richey, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giant Children (Hardcover)

This book is one of the best books you can read to an audience! The book is read from a voice. The voice is either a little sibling, kindergardener or another character. When the reader becomes that character, the story involves humor and excitment! I have seen the book performed by the author hisself and the effect on the students and staff was remarkeable. If you can become this voice and encourage your students to read, this is the book for you! The students will be encouraged to create their own poem with matching illustrations and want to perform for you!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry with a silly attitude, December 16, 2004

By 

Emily Hawkins "moreta2" (Indianapolis, Indiana, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giant Children (Hardcover)

The first thing that stands out about this book of poetry is Tedd Arnold's typical illustration style. The children are shaped like sausages with arms and legs with HUGE bug eyes. However, they are expressive little children who do things that kids will laugh at. If you get someone to read these poems aloud with a lot of expression, then it is a riot. My favorite one for gross-out factor is "Booger Love." I was the aide to a wonderful school teacher who read these poems to her kids during a free moment, and they LOVED them. Try it on your own kids today!