Once Upon a Saturday [Hardcover]

Leslie Lammle (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

It's Saturday at last—no school, no homework, no lessons.

The day belongs to June. She can search for wild animals, learn how to fly, or maybe even discover long-lost treasure. But before she is free to enjoy her day, June must face one big problem: her list of chores! Luckily, the only thing bigger than June's list of chores is her imagination, and she finds that with a little ingenuity even humdrum activities like eating her breakfast, sweeping the leaves, and cleaning her room can become an adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Imagination runs rampant in this story that describes a child's Saturday morning. Faced with a list of chores to complete before she can play, June proceeds to lighten her tasks by imagining a huge bird teaching her to fly to the mailbox, a genial wind blowing her and the leaves across the steps of her house and into a field, and monsters cleaning under her bed. When she and her dog finish their work, they face the front door ready to begin the day. Colorful, humorous cartoon illustrations with plenty to look at fill the pages, contrasting reality with June's fantasies in a style a little reminiscent of William Joyce's. Although not an essential purchase, the book should find many small adherents.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

June is a girl with a big imagination who is ready for adventure, but first she must get through a list of chores that seems overwhelming. For chore number one, she enlists the help of a crow to show her the shortest route to the mailbox and, by flying like the crow, she goes quickly to the mailbox and back. Then she calls upon the wind to help her sweep the front steps. Finally, she sorts the toys under her bed and is ready to begin her adventures. Softly tinted cartoon-style watercolors present June’s world, chores and all, as appealing and fantastical places. With her round head and spindly appendages, clothed in a pink party dress with an aviator’s helmet and goggles, June is as unique as her fantasies. Whether one takes this as a fantasy or as a tale about dealing with the tasks at hand before delving into life’s adventures, it is a treat. Grades K-2. --Randall Enos

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061251909
• ISBN-13: 978-0061251900
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,353,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Encourages doing chores & having fun, January 2, 2012

By 

Chelsie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Once Upon a Saturday (Hardcover)

I like that this book shows that working can be fun. The little girl in the book is full of imagination while doing her chores. She has an adventure with each task she needs to complete. The illistrations are really cute, and my kids enjoy reading this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, January 24, 2011

By 

Mike K - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Once Upon a Saturday (Hardcover)

I gave my 6 year old niece several books for Christmas and this was one of them. It's one of her favorites and she loves the story and the pictures. I'm told by her mother she has read this book a bunch of times.

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully told story supported by even more delightful pictures, October 16, 2009

By 

Deborah Sandford "Marian the Librarian" (Madison, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon a Saturday (Hardcover)

Waking up on a Saturday morning, June daydreams in bed about the wonderful adventures that might encompass her day. Then she remembers the list of chores she needs to complete before she can play. June infuses imaginative helpers and scenarios to help make the chores fun and accomplish them more quickly. There is much to look at in the humorous watercolor cartoons which depict this little girl whose expressions are endearing. Her mother and a pet dog make realistic supporting characters. A delightful story upheld with equally delightful pictures, we'll want to see much more from this author/artist.