Never Spit On Your Shoes (Orchard Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Denys Cazet (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Orchard Paperbacks

"Arnie, a puppy, tells his mother about the first day of school. The two appear, with the text, in a cozy inset showing them snacking at home, while the rest of each double-spread is wide open to the chaos that ocurred in first grade. . . . Kids should love exploring the illustrations for more beginning school mayhem."--Kirkus Reviews, pointer review. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author/illustrator of Frosted Glass and A Fish in His Pocket again captures the humor and nuance of the early elementary years. Arnie arrives home exhausted. "How was Mr. First Grader's first day?" his mom inquires. And so this endearing book unfolds, with the conversation of Arnie and his mom (set off in a box) counterpointed with illustrations of how the day really progressed (with dialogue in cartoon-like balloons). The title reflects a class discussion during which the children--depicted as sweetly anthropomorphized animals--offer their own interpretations of school rules. Arnie's day is tough: mixing up the bathrooms, eating school lunch, tearfully watching the kindergarten bus leave, a tough P.E. class, falling asleep during story time. While the understated humor may have more direct appeal for parents and teachers, young readers will identify with the "day in the life" immediacy. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Arnie arrives home exhausted but proud of making it through the first day of first grade. Greeted by his loving mother, the two sit down for a snack and a good chat. While Arnie relates the day's activities, Mother listens, suitably impressed with the stories of the animal-filled class presided over by a kindly hippo. New friend Raymond is particularly impressive; it is he who can write backwards, rescues Arnie during P. E., and invents a new class rule: "Never spit on your shoes." Cazet has created another appealing hero with the appearance of young Arnie. Enthusiastic and excited about school, he is a typical first grader, always ready for a new experience. Cazet cleverly captures the classmates' personalities and antics through narration and illustration; cartoonlike captions highlight their humorous asides. The school settings are particularly warm and cheerful, if a bit chaotic. Funny without poking fun at young children, this oversized picture book will win new fans for Cazet, who hints of a sequel. Let's hope for the return of Arnie, Raymond, and their first-grade friends. --Jane Dyer Cook, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, CA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531070395
• ISBN-13: 978-0531070390
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Spit on Your Shoes, August 2, 2000

By 

Kristin (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Spit On Your Shoes (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

If you are a first grade teacher you will just love this book. Everything about it is so true. From the time the kids walk in the door they are asking, "Is it time for lunch? When do we play? Is it time to go home?...). This is great! Get it! Share it! Enjoy it!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very funny look at the trials of first grade, October 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Never Spit On Your Shoes (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

The title of this book put me off a bit but my first grader absolutely loved it. After I picked it up, I could see why. It is a terrifically funny, endearing look at the first day of first grade. A surefire winner among kids in the 5-6 age range.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Spit On Your Shoes, October 21, 2001

By 

Carolyn Simons (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Spit on Your Shoes (Hardcover)

My children (ages 2 1/2 to 7) love this book and request it's reading every day (sometimes more than once in a day!). The author has definitely had a Kindergarten to First Grader and knows first hand what their transition is like. Everytime we read it, we see something new and funny. It it a very funny book, and whether you're a kid or a parent, it's a must read.