Customer Reviews

Gooney Bird Greene

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4 star:		(3)
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Author Lois Lowry is perhaps best known for her controversial, award winning, and often very interesting children's books. These books, on the whole tend to be written with the older child reader in mind. Swiveling her head a full 90 degrees to the left, Lowry has now decided to write a book with the younger child readers in mind. Hence, the creation and subsequent publication of the adorable, "Gooney Bird Greene". Tis a tale of one girl, her stories, and her awe-stricken/hand-raising/wide-eyed classmates.

When Gooney Bird Greene arrives in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class unannounced, nobody knows quite what to make of her. Decked out in pajamas and cowboy boots, and holding her lunch with a dictionary, she immediately becomes the class's star pupil. For you see, Gooney Bird Greene was blessed with the gift of storytelling. By sheer coincidence, Mrs. Pidgeon is attempting to teach the class all about the different parts of a story. As the book progresses and Gooney Bird tells her "absolutely true" tales, the book carefully examines what it is that makes a story either good or bad. By the end, Gooney Bird has influenced all the students (and even Mrs. Pidgeon) to tell their own stories just as she has.

The book's top notch, really. Both children and their parents reading this book will be entranced by the notion of how Gooney Bird's outrageously titled tales really do turn out to be true in the end. The tale entitled, "How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet" turns out to be about how Gooney Bird and her family moved from their small town of China in their car, and how GB accidentally flew out of the car while in the center of the family's old rolled up carpet. The tale, "Why Gooney Bird Was Late for School Because She Was Directing a Symphony Orchestra" is about how she directed a bus full of musicians to the local town hall where they were to play. You get the idea. The only tale GB tells that strains at its wording is, "Beloved Catman Is Consumed by a Cow", though you'll have to read it yourself to see if you agree with me or not.

When I first read the description of this book, I was greatly afraid that this would be a younger person's version of Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl". I thought (and was completely wrong) that the book was about a girl who's completely different from her classmates, they they all initially love her but then eventually despise her, and that she would befriend the trouble making kid and the shy and quiet kid in the course of her adventures. Wrong. Wrongdy wrong wrong. This book is, in fact, about a girl and the great awe inspiring talent of spinning a good yarn. Accompanying Ms. Lowry's adept words and motifs are the illustrations of Middy Thomas. These help to drill home the fact to kids of how very cool Gooney Bird really is. I highly recommend, by the way, that all you adults out there read the back inner flap of the book for the author/illustrator description. It's very amusing.

How rare to read a book that is intended for such a young audience but is still so well written. If you've a child that tells stories all the time and is the right age for this book (it's an early chapter book, so you can decide how well it fits them yourself) then I highly recommend that you go out and get this item immediately. Similarly, if you've any interest in all in teaching the kiddies about the parts and features of a good story, go and get yourself some "Gooney Bird Greene". I guarantee you that it exceeds and surpasses all expectations. And then some.

Talk about a versatile author! And laugh-out-loud funny, too. Teachers in grades 1-4 are going to love reading this one in classrooms. Gooney Bird is an endearing second-grader who has a lot of practical wisdom to dispense and is able to do it with verve and self-confidence (and while wearing a tutu!) Imagination really CAN change the tone of a classroom and this charming book will show everyone just how it does.

This was a book recommended by my daughter's school librarian! We borrowed it on Friday and she finished reading it on the same day. She absolutely loved it! I read it after she read it and I LOVED it! It's great way to teach young children the art of telling stories and Gooney Bird Greene is such a FUN character! Each story she tells is absolutely true and they are absolutely fun stories! I have recommended this book to my daughter's other second grade friends and they all loved it! We enjoyed this book so much that I want to get a copy for my 3 year old so she can read it when she's old enough!

I bought this book for my second grader because it looked cute. She read it for a book report she was doing at school. After she was done she came to me and told me that I should read it because it was so good. I read it last night and it nearly brought me to tears! I loved it. It was so loving, and sweet, and educational in a completely fun way. Gooney Bird Greene, and the children in her class are how we all hope our children to be; individual, loving, curious, kind, respectful, etc.. Gooney Birds teacher is what every child's teacher should be; patient, loving, and not afraid to let a 2nd grader be smarter then herself! This is a must read for parents and children alike!!!

Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowery, is an excellent book that will have students laughing out loud! This book is great for bringing out the quiet students in any class. Gooney Bird Greene is a new student in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class at Watertown Elementary School. She began very quickly to liven up the room with her fun-loving personality and outrageous choicde of clothing. The class is learning how to write stories and Gooney Bird Greene has a story to tell everyday. With her "true stories" she tells, the kids learn probably more about writing ideas than they would from the teacher alone. Gooney Bird Greene is an inspiration to all the students in the class, even the ones who would never speak up or tended to shy away from the rest of the class. I really enjoyed reading this book and you will to.

Gooney Bird Greene
Gooney Bird is a funny story. You should read this book. I liked this book. It's about a girl that tells stories that are
funny. One of the stories was how Gooney Bird lost her cat on a flying carpet. She says all her stories are true. Gooney Bird moved from China to Watertown. Gooney Bird now goes to Watertown Elementery School. She is in second grade.Gooney Bird Greene is by Lois Lowery.

I read this book to my fourth graders, and they loved it! Gooney Bird is an original thinker who always tells the truth! We had fun speculating exactly how her "wild" tales could be true, before we read on.

Gooney Bird also discusses the ways to make writing better, and kids can learn from that as well. The book would be good to use in writing classes. Plus, it's just plain fun!

My daughter checked this out of her school library to read. She started to read it to me one night before bed and we fell in love with it. The next night she read to her father. I had read what I missed on my own to catch up to her because I didn't want to miss out! Gooney Bird is a truly delightful character. Her stories have the kind of unexpected surprises that thrilled my daughter. My daughter and I loved this book so much we had to go out and buy it for ourselves. We also bought the sequel which is just as good. We are anticipating the third book that comes out this spring!

Gooney Bird Greene is an excellent book to use for Third Grade!
The students love the quirky character and her unusual stories!
We even had a Gooney Bird Greene Garb Day and the students participated along with the teachers!
I highly recommend this book!

Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class will never be the same when Gooney Bird Greene arrives one October morning. She is recognized immediately because of the attire she is wearing and what appears in her lunch, items like suchi and avacodos. Gooney Bird demands she be "right smack in the middle of everything" and indeed she is. She becomes very popular among the other students, as well as, Mrs. Pidgeon for her ability to tell "absolutely true" stories. You won't want to the miss the adventure of her very interesting and detailed stories. For example, "How Gooney Bird Got Her Name" or "The Prince,the Palace, and the Diamond Earrings". She can really bring a crowd to life! I truly enjoyed the uniqueness of Gooney Bird's character and her ability to deomonstrate a proficient story. Lois Lowry has definently turned this second grader into a "hero". This is one you won't want to miss!