Knick Knack Paddywhack (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) [Hardcover]

Paul O. Zelinsky (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Series: New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)

A well-known nonsense verse becomes the basis for a wacky adventure in the hands of genius illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky. As a boy and his dog journey outside, a band of counting old men pops up - literally! - to play Knick-Knack according to the famous song. Brand-new cover art brings this interactive classic to a new generation of young readers. And with tabs to pull, flaps to lift, and wheels to spin, kids will be singing the tune of this unforgettable book all the way home.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three favorite school chants get the royal treatment from a trio of children's books veterans. Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky brilliantly reimagines the song as a boy's daydream, Knick-Knack Paddywhack!: A Moving Parts Book, with engineering by Andrew Baron. Youngsters lift a flap to "Give the dog a bone"; under the flap, the "old man [comes] rolling home" on a bicycle. The focus of the spread features a boy in striped pajamas who, when readers tug a pull-tab, reveals the old man holding the numeral one (and "play[ing] knick-knack" on the boy's thumb). The final spread shows 10 little old men rolling down the hillside.-- knick-knack" on the boy's thumb). The final spread shows 10 little old men rolling down the hillside.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-No bones about it, this glorious title is a paper-engineering and bookmaking marvel as well as a freewheeling romp. Adapting the traditional counting song, Zelinsky gets maximum mileage out of the minimal nonsense text, larding the visual narrative with dogs, bones, and plenty of old men, each of whom plays "knick-knack paddywhack" with a numerical instrument and uses a different wheeled conveyance to come "rolling home." The artwork uses warm, cheery tones on the full-bleed pages. A rosy-cheeked boy is the focus of each spread; readers follow as he and his dog head outside and have some adventures before rolling home on his skateboard. Pull-tabs and flaps abound as the wacky action plays out and a bevy of tiny men make their progressive appearances. Perfectly enchanting little miniatures and moving parts within the flaps reveal copious attention to detail and each spread invites repeated viewing. Kids will love to sing, count, and clap along.
Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 8 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (September 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469087
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469087
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not as toddler friendly as his classic wheels on the bus, October 20, 2002

By 

KNSudha (Saratoga, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Knick Knack Paddywhack (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This IS a beautiful book like all of his books, but while I love it, I can't let my 2 year old read and handle it with me. Now, my son CAN handle and work all of the various flaps and tabs on the Wheels on the bus book, and has been doing that since 10 months. These are just too tiny and somewhat delicate for daily handling like well loved books should have. I have to admit that I do have tape on my second copy of wheels on the bus, but that book did not attempt to fall apart at the very beginning.

ITs a gorgeous book with stunning effects and illustrations so go ahead and buy it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Work Of Art, January 25, 2006

By 

TJ's Mommy (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knick Knack Paddywhack (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

I bought this book based on reviews on this site of the author, Paul O. Zelinsky. I wasn't sure if it was age appropriate for my son (17 months), but he loves books and I just decided to give it a go. My husband and I opened it while our son was sleeping and we just LOVED it. The drawings are amazing and the engineering of the tab movement is unbelivevable. It had us in awe for 10 or 20 minutes. The book might not be kid friendly, but if you can hold your child for a few minutes and show them the movement of the pictures and read the story it will be great.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars preschool learning fun, March 9, 2006

By 

D. Short "missdawn" (Somerset, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Knick Knack Paddywhack (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

My preschool special ed students LOVE this book, they would read it 10 times each day if I allowed them to. It's fun, had wonderful pop-ups and pull tabs and reinforces beginning reading skills such as rhyming. A must for children who need encouragement to listen to stories.