Customer Reviews

June 29, 1999

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By April, most of the children in my kindergarten knew that they had learned absolutely everything about David Wiesner's "Tuesday". I surprised them one Tuesday, with this book, and let them know it was by the same author. "Will there be frogs?" the children clamored. We shared the book, and with growing excitement some of the children exclaimed as we turned the page and I read the date, "That's your birthday! Did Mr. David, the author know that? Did he put it there 'cuz he knows you love frogs and his Tuesday book?"
I must confess, I do not know how the author chose that date to evaluate plants.
This book was a hit in my classroom, a treasured favorite, even though it was a bit beyond K level scientific data collections. We planted seeds, and of course, the children adored the ending, which i shall not give away. We did many extension activities such as veggie trays and a big salad day. Bring this book to your classroom, or your home, and celebrate an oft ignored part of the food pyramid.

It all started in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey on May 11, 1999. Holly Evans launched her science experiment, flats of vegetable seedlings carried up into the ionosphere by weather balloons, to study "the effects of extra-terrestrial conditions on vegetable growth and development." Fast forward to June 29. All over the country, enormous vegetables are seen floating to earth. "Cucumbers circle Kalamazoo. Lima bearns loom over Levittown. Artichokes advance on Anchorage. Parsnips pass by Providence. And broccoli lands with a big bounce in Holly Evans's backyard." But when "arugula covers Ashtabula" , Holly begins to wonder about this veggie phenomenon. Arugula was not a part of her experiment..... David Wiesner's makes June 29th an unforgettable day in his entertaining classic, and imaginations will soar with each delightful page turn. His minimal text, with its witty, dead-pan delivery, is filled with clever wordplay and alliteration. But it's Mr Wiesner's marvelous illustrations that really make this book stand out and sparkle, and youngsters will enjoy lingering over each outrageously detailed and humorous picture. With an inventive twist at the end to bring the whole story to its logical, though fantastic, conclusion, June 29, 1999 is a masterpiece you and your family don't want to miss.

A beautiful science fiction story that is a superb springboard for an integrated unit. Teachers have used it from the graduate level courses to elementary school classes. Teachers & students wants to test Holly's science experiment for themselves to see if they can grow giant veggies!

In the story June 29, 1999 Holly experiments with making plants grow in outer space. Then one day she goes to school and shows her class her experiment. The class is speechless. Then on June 29, 1999 a hiker goes on a hike and sees giant turnips. In Ottumwa Tony Kramer thinks he grows the giant lettuce. Then on TV Holly was shocked at what she saw. One night Holly was wondering who sent the giant vegetables down. Do you know who sent the giant vegetables to earth? You might be surprised. I think that the story was great and it was funny at the end once you know who sent the giant vegetables.

I have read this book to my son, who is 4 years old, several times. He loved it. The cover of the book was not very appealing for him at first. But, the story was very interesting and he loved the pictures inside the book. I would definetely recommend it to everyone. It is an imaginative and fun book...

This is a great idea for a story that worked quite well. The pictures are lovely to look at too. I loved the ending. There are so many children's books out there of varying quality, so I was pleased to come across this little gem.

David Wiesner books are imaginative and thought provoking. Each of my boys (7 & 4) enjoys them in different ways. We have fun talking about the pictures and making up story lines.

David Wiesner's June 29, 1999 tells the story of Holly Evans who decides to conduct a science experiment that involves the launching of vegetable seedlings into outer space. Seven days later, Holly presents her science experiment to her class, explaining that she is trying to experiment with "extra-terrestrial conditions on vegetables." Holly's experiment causes a chain of events to occur that challenge what is scientifically possible. A few months after presenting her experiment to her class, giant vegetables are spotted in the sky. However, Holly notices that some of these giant vegetables are different from ones that she launched. Thinking that her experiment failed, Holly wonders where the other vegetables came from. At the end of the book, the reader learns that aliens were cooking and accidentally released their vegetables into outer space. The aliens, worried that they no longer have any food, rejoice when they see Holly's vegetables arrive. It turns out that Holly's experiment was successful after all!
This book is an excellent example of science fiction because it demonstrates the impact science can have when it is implemented in an extraordinary and imaginative ways. One thing that makes this book so incredible is Wiesner's brilliant illustrations. His use of color in combination with his attention to detail, make his pictures bring this story to life. Because Wiesner does such an excellent job of depicting the giant vegetables, it is easy to imagine the affects of Holly's experiment. One of the reasons why this book is considered science fiction is because it revolves around a " what if" scenario, in other words an experiment. It was Holly's curiosity and desire to see what would happen if she launched seedlings in the sky that caused the chain of event to occur. Her curiosity not only makes her a recognizable character and but it also allows the reader to identify with her. While giant vegetables, floating in the sky is not a realistic scenario, the way in which the characters reaction remains consistent throughout this hypothetical situation.
Wiesner's interesting combination of pictures and text makes this book incredibly unique and captivating. This story would be a great to design a vocabulary lesson around because of all the vegetables that are mentioned throughout the story. One writing tool that the author uses throughout the story is alliteration. For example, at one point it the story "parsnips pass by providence." Children could work on creating their own alliterations, mimicking the style of the author. This book could also be used to introduce a lesson on nutrition and vegetables. For example, children could learn about less commonly known vegetables such as rutabagas. Each child could bring in a vegetable that is mention in the story and the use it as inspiration for their own science fiction story. This unique book is great for inspiring creativity and would be excellent for encouraging independent reading or group discussion.

I'm very familiar with this product, being a recently retired second grade teacher. David Wiesner has a fine sense of imagination. Though this book employs a written story, many of his books do not have (or need) them.

Just because the date is gone, done give this book a pass. Holly Evans has a great science project with unbelievable results. I read June 29, 1999 on that date because it begged me to do so & what an amazing visual adventure it turned out to be! This otherworldy story will be with us for a long time. I encourage you to read it - it'll change your point of view about vegetables! ..................