Customer Reviews

Late for School

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Steve Martin's LATE FOR SCHOOL pairs fun drawings by C.F. Payne with a CD with the song performed by author Steve Martin as it tells of a boy who always finds it a challenge to get to school on time. Fun lyrics receive Payne's equally fun drawings in a multimedia presentation perfect for gift-giving.

We checked this out from the Library and listened to the CD and read the book at least 25 times (I'm being VERY conservative) daily until we had to return it. I made sure that we had our own copy before I returned the book, because my son (3) and daughter (5) would have lost their tiny minds if 'Late for School' just disappeared.

Our 3 year old sings the 'Late for school' song all day, as do I. The kids correct us when we muck it up. My daughter wanted me to get more books and music by Steve Martin because 'he sings better than Hannah Montana'.

We read 25-50 new books a week. We buy the ones we know we'll read many weeks and years to come. The kids have never been so enthusiastic about a book or song. 'Late for School' is their absolute favorite. Payne is a favorite illustrator and a great choice for the book. We all hope that the writer will create more banjo / children's books if only to give us a new song to get stuck in our heads!

Update: Two months later and we still listen 'Late for School' daily. We make up our own lyrics now using the melody for our silly songs that we create throughout the day.

The kids started showing interest in making music and are starting guitar lessons next week. Their singing has improved and increased as well. This new musical interest began with their love for 'Late for School' and I give it and the author full credit and my gratitude.

'Late for School' makes a great gift for boys or girls! Enjoy it.

I teach elementary music, and I'm going to use this story to start my bluegrass unit. It has great vocabulary and wonderful illustrations!

Purchase for my husband and daughter to read together, he is a big fan of Steve Martin. Very well illustrated, great song.

My daughter is only 5 but after hearing this song played on KidsPlace Live on Sirius - we had to have the book which came with a cd of the song. So funny! Now that we're looking at starting kindergarten soon, I'm pretty sure she won't want to be "late for school!"

Got to see this Live! Steve martin and his band was fantastic. My kids were laughing at the music and at the pictures. Love, love, love this story. Very entertaining! 8 thumbs up (me, Josiah, Caelan, and Gabriel.) LOL.

I have been a fan of Steve Martin for as long as I can remember. Whether it was "happy feet" or his part in "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" I found him not only extremely funny but extremely talented as well. He had an extremely sucessful comedy career, and extremely successful acting career and an extremely successful music career. So, when I heard that he had become an author (a few years ago) it didn't really surprise me. I mean, is there anything this man can't do?

I was offered the chance to review Late for School and I jumped at the chance. Not only is it written by one of my favorite people, but is a kids book as well. So, I grabbed my 5 and 6 year old girls and we sat down and read the story. They liked it but when I told them I was going to put in the CD that came with the book so they could sing along that really got their interest. What a great idea - my 5 year old hasn't stopped singing pieces of it since...and they both haven't stopped begging me to play it, over, and over, and over again. Maybe I shouldn't have been so anxious to review this one, lol! But seriously, the story is really cute but when put to song it really comes to life. And the illustrations are fabulous!

Late for School by Steve Martin is a funny rendering of the classic yarn about waking up thinking you are late for school. In the rush to get to school on time, the young boy, jumps a fence, encounters a swimming pool and catches a ride on a kite, making it to school with just a few minutes to spare only to discover that there is no school because it's SATURDAY! Martin's trademark humor translates well to children.

The illustrations by C. F. Payne are a great companion to the story. Also included is a CD of Martin playing the banjo and singing the story. Both the book and the CD are perfect "read alouds" that students and adults alike will love.

Recommended for Kindergarten and up.

Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5

My grandpa had just died and I was taking my grandma up to Traverse City to visit with family. My little cousin who was 5 years old at the time kept wanting to hear "grandpa's song!" which was Late for school by Steve Martin. We all piled into the car to pick up his sister from kindergarten and on the way my cousin and I started making motions to this song. Later we had to go back to my cousins school to watch her school play. Again on our way there they wanted "Number 4" they would shout, "Grandma! Number 4, Number 4!" And ever since then when we all get into the car all they want to here is song number 4 on Steve Martins Banjo cd. When the book came out my grandma and I rushed to Barnes and Noble to pick up the book so that for Christmas they could have the book.
Every time I hear this song or see this book I can't help but think of my grandpa who played banjo like Steve Martin and my cousins who always wanted to hear Number 4!

Very enjoyable work by a man of many talents. Great read for all ages, just fun! Buy it!