Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone (Paperback)

~ (Author), Neal Layton (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jennifer Jones sits at the desk adjacent to the boy narrator, and her unrelenting, goo-goo-eyed ardor leaves him wishing "she could move to the jungle/ And live in a tree/ And talk to the monkeys/ Instead of to me." But when Jennifer moves to Europe instead-and, according to her letters, becomes the toast of the continent-the boy finds that the world is a much lonelier place. Losing himself in schoolwork is futile: "It's boring! It's lonely!/ I miss her a lot./ I wish she'd return/ To her usual spot." Wishinsky's (previously teamed with Layton for Nothing Scares Us) pithy rhymes spark Layton's pleasingly dizzying cartoons. His scratchy ink line brings a comic spontaneity and edginess to every scene, and succinctly conveys the boy's emotional writhing at the very thought of being the object of Jennifer's crush. Marginalia, clip art and photograph collages (Layton draws Jennifer on top of photos taken in various capital cities, savoring the pleasures of Europe) punctuate the pages and add a goofily alluring visual depth. As for Jennifer's true love, it finally does conquer all: when she sends notice that she's returning home, the boy runs out to buy a plethora of red hearts. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Percy can't get away from Jennifer Jones, who, as it is noted in the title, won't leave him alone. Through rhyming verse, he describes all the ways she shows how much she likes him, while he is totally turned off by her attention. When Jennifer's mother is transferred to Europe and the girl moves away, Percy mopes and misses her, and is delighted when he learns that she is returning home. However, his excitement does not really ring true-he has spent most of the book, after all, complaining about her. It is not clear whether he misses Jennifer Jones or the attention she bestows upon him. The illustrations are frenetic and cluttered, composed of childlike cartoons combined with some collages. The cartoons are stiff and unlifelike, almost resembling paper dolls. Don Gillmor's Yuck, a Love Story (Stoddart, 2000) is a much more successful story of a first crush.
Susan Marie Pitard, formerly at Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 39 pages
• Publisher: Corgi Childrens (February 5, 2004)
• ISBN-10: 0552547557
• ISBN-13: 978-0552547550
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,737,710 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have Worth every cent!, February 26, 2004

By	J. Blackburn (West Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

I came across this book while volunteering at a childrens book fair. I just fell in LOVE with it and had to buy it for myself! I have no children, but have read it to my nieces and they loved it too! I am proud to have this 'childrens book' on my bookshelf!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUCH a cute book!, February 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

This book is perfect for young children and the young at heart. Adults will love it as much as their children. I read it with first and second graders. They sympathized with the narrator's "Ewww, a girl LIKES me" feelings, and they giggled when he changed his mind. Boys and girls had different reactions over whether or not the narrator should tell his friends of his change of heart.

In a time when children would rather turn on the TV than listen to a good story, this one won over the crowd. They even asked me to "Read it again!"

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book... my sister is named Jennifer Jones, December 27, 2008

By	Tracie Jones "Tracie" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book as a unique gift for my younger sister, who is named Jennifer Jones. This is one of the cutest gifts I've ever gotten her, and I included it as part of a birthday present for her. She loved it and was shocked to find her name as part of this sweet children's story. She traveled through Europe and had adventures, too, in the way the character Jennifer did. I used to tell people "Jennifer Jones won't leave me alone" as she was my pesky little sister. Her boyfriend thought the book was very funny, too, when he read it, and he teased her about her "chasing" him into submission until he went out with her. Although in reality he had chased her as she was so sweet and endearing. :) (His words) I think the story is incredibly cute and also wonderful if there is a Jennifer Jones in your life as there is in mine.