Nit-Pickin' [Hardcover]

Nancy Van Laan (Author), George Booth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up

I was scritcha-scratchin'
while a batch-a bugs
was hatchin',
yes, those cooties were
attachin' to my head.

When nits attack,
no one is safe --

and if the lice don't get you,
the cures surely will....

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Children who have experienced an invasion of nits will readily empathize with the dilemma facing the red-haired protagonist in this rollicking look at a lice infestation and the drastic steps one family takes to remove the bugs. Told in verse, using the voice of a young girl who consistently drops her "g's," this humorous tale has a down-home comic charm: "I was scritcha-scratchin'/while a batch-a bugs/was hatchin',/yes, those cooties were/attachin' to my head." The lively text is complemented by the over-the-top antics observed in Booth's cartoon illustrations. The grandmother's facial expressions are particularly giggle-inducing. The top margin of each page is a close-up view of the nit-infested scalp that detail-oriented readers will enjoy studying. Libraries looking for a humorous introduction to the topic will want to consider purchasing this book for a laugh-filled lesson on a common childhood condition.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Van Laan’s raucous rhyme is pure slapstick, delivered with a repeated chant (“Cooties were a-crawlin’ / on my head, on my head”), and New Yorker cartoonist Booth’s wild, pen-and-ink, computer-enhanced pictures depict each family member trying a different solution to get rid of a little girl’s lice: Gramma slops on mayo; Gramps pours on kerosene. Finally, the poor child yells at everyone to leave her alone, and her dog brings her the “Rid Nit Shampoo,” which works perfectly: “Nope, no cooties are a-crawlin’ on my head.” The final, hilarious illustration shows tombstones in memory of those itchy nits. The visual and verbal humor here are a great way to deal with the crawly mess, and the information scattered through the book will help, too. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689838980
• ISBN-13: 978-0689838989
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,411,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My Four Yr Old LOVES this story!, August 2, 2010

By 

Schelmy (THE South) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nit-Pickin' (Hardcover)

<3 I can't say enough, except that we have checked this out from the library 8 times. She wants it for her own and never gets tired of the illustrations (so funny) and story (gross but informative LOL). We have it again right at the moment.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a perfect way to "talk" to children about one of those big crisis situations many children and parents face ..., October 22, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nit-Pickin' (Hardcover)

Some things can drive a little girl practically insane and one of those things are named COOTIES! Those nasty bugs were a-crawlin' on her head and driving her crazy.

"I was scritcha-scratchin'
while a batch-a bugs
was hatchin',
yes, those cooties were
attachin' to my head."

No one even noticed her crisis except perhaps the dog and her pet turtle. Daddy, Mama, her sister, Gramma and Gramps were all busy doing their own thing. All of a sudden Gramma noticed. "There's bugs throwin' a picnic on your head." Everyone soon jumped into action and had ways to get those "itty-bitty nitties" out of her hair and some of those ways were not all that fun! Nope, not fun at all.

I found myself chuckling several times reading this book (well, maybe honking.) It was a perfect way to "talk" to children about lice. As a parent and former teacher who has experienced this "crisis" with many children, I feel it would be a welcome comic relief. The comedy we see in many situations often comes at a much later date, but this book would be a nice way to bridge from the upset to the laughter.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nit Wit, June 1, 2009

By 

Sharon Yokelson "justonemom" (Dunwoody, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nit-Pickin' (Hardcover)

This is a very cleverly written book. Very funny and takes some of the yuk out of having lice. Gave it as a gift to the school nurse.