Lizzy's Ups and Downs: NOT An Ordinary School Day [Hardcover]

Jessica Harper (Author), Lindsay Harper duPont (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

How do you feel when:

Your socks don't match?

You share snacks with your friends?

There's a boy like Ray in your class?

Your best friend moves away?

The Harper sisters show a school day's ups and downs with verve and warmth. The doings of Lizzy, Ruby, Claire, and Ray will give you lots to talk over -- and lots to laugh about too!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–The irrepressible Lizzy returns in this appealing look at the emotions she experiences during a less-than-perfect day. Arriving home from school, she settles down on the couch with her understanding mother and gives her the blow by blow, beginning with how she woke up late, wore mismatched socks, got four answers wrong on her spelling test, and had to say good-bye to her best friend. Lizzy also talks about how she practiced addition using jelly beans, learned a song in science, and played Twister with a friend. As she relates each experience in rhyming prose, the emotion linked to that moment is highlighted in capital letters (e.g., "FRUSTRATED," "EMBARRASSED," "JEALOUS," and "SILLY"). Now, cuddled up with her mother, she feels "FINE!" The softly colored illustrations feature charming details that draw readers in and bring Lizzy's classroom to life. Shown with short pigtails and an expressive, rosy-cheeked face, the child is adorable. The warm and loving relationship between mother and daughter is apparent in both the text and pictures. Children will enjoy sharing this book with their parents at bedtime as they talk over their feelings about what happened during their own busy day.–Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. The creators of Lizzy's Do's and Don'ts (2002) concentrate on a broader though related theme: emotions. As Lizzy and Mom lounge on the couch, Lizzy recalls what happened at school and how each incident made her feel. She's irritated when her umbrella breaks and she gets wet; she's sad because her friend is moving; she's nervous about reading her poem in class. But most of all, she's relieved when Mom tells her that everyone has "ups and downs." Each emotion descriptor appears in large type, begging to be discussed, and there's action aplenty in both the rhyming text and the art as the kids act out and act together. DuPont's brightly colored, cartoonlike pictures add a comfy note through an assortment of charming details (Lizzy's socks don't match, and her pigtails spring wildly from her head), and Lizzy's face and body language ensure that even some prereaders will understand what's going on. A good companion to Aliki's Feelings (1984). Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060520639
• ISBN-13: 978-0060520632
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,257,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jessica Harper



Jessica Harper wears many hats. As an actress she co-starred in Stardust Memories with Woody Allen, Pennies From Heaven with Steve Martin, My Favorite Year with Peter O'Toole, Minority Report with Tom Cruise and cult favorites 'Phantom of the Paradise' and 'Suspiria.' Harper won a Cable Ace Award for best actress in 'It's Garry Shandling's Show,' and her numerous other television appearances include a guest shot on Late Night With David Letterman. Her stage experience ranges from 'Hair' on Broadway to co-starring with Al Pacino in regional theatre.

After she became a mom in 1989, Jessica wrote and produced seven CDs of music for children, which have earned multiple awards and rave reviews from critics in Entertainment Weekly, Parenting, Family Fun, Billboard and others. TV Guide's Parent's Guide stated that 'her lyrics'rank with the best of contemporary children's poetry.' Of Harper's 2002 release, 'Inside Out,' Lynne Heffley of the LA Times said, 'Children's music doesn't get better than this.' People Magazine did a special feature on Harper, her music, and her focus on family.

Not busy enough just being an actress, recording artist , mom, and wife of a busy executive, Jessica became an award-winning author, penning seven picture books in the last decade, including the best-selling 'Nora's Room.' Her most recent book, 'A Place Called Kindergarten' (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006), received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly and a NAPPA Gold Award. Next on the agenda for Harper is a series of chapter books for young readers. The first, 'Uh-oh, Cleo,' will be published by G.P. Putnam's Sons this spring.

Jessica's charitable work includes a board position at PXE International (www.pxe.org) and weekly mentoring sessions with a teenage girl, under the auspices of WriteGirl (www.writegirl.org).

For lots more information, please visit Jessica's website: www.jessicaharper.com.