Purple Climbing Days (The Kids of the Polk Street School) [Paperback]

Patricia Reilly Giff (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: The Kids of the Polk Street School

What's worse than a blue Monday?  For Richard "Beast" Best, it's a purple Monday spent climbing a fat brown rope with fat brown knots.



Beast wishes he could climb up that rope like Emily Arrow and Matthew Jackson.  Just looking at it hanging down from the gym ceiling makes him dizzy



Beast is afraid and hopes his friends won't find out.  But Mrs. Miller, the meanest substitute teacher in the whole school, finds out his secret and tells him to meet her in the gym after school.  Miller the Killer. What will she do to him?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4 Richard (the beast) Best and the kids of the Polk Street School are back. Richard's crisis this time is that he is terrified of climbing the knotted rope that hangs from the gym ceiling. Richard overcomes his fear of the dreaded rope with the help of one of the school's most feared substitute teachers. Giff writes about the concerns of second and third graders with a sure hand. Fans of the Polk Street School will be happy to have another installment, and new fans will be made if this is used as a read-aloud for primary grade children. Candy Colborn, Cottonwood Creek Elementary School, Englewood, Colo.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

What's worse than a blue Monday? For Richard "Beast" Best, it's a purple Monday spent climbing a fat brown rope with fat brown knots.

Beast wishes he could climb up that rope like Emily Arrow and Matthew Jackson. Just looking at it hanging down from the gym ceiling makes him dizzy

Beast is afraid and hopes his friends won't find out. But Mrs. Miller, the meanest substitute teacher in the whole school, finds out his secret and tells him to meet her in the gym after school. Miller the Killer. What will she do to him?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; may 1985 edition (April 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440473098
• ISBN-13: 978-0440473091
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Chapter Book, November 25, 2011

By 

LoveKinderKids - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Purple Climbing Days (The Kids of the Polk Street School) (Paperback)

I started reading a chapter a day with the Candy Corn book before Thanksgiving. This series has been a wonderful way to get early readers interested in books. The students are learning the names of the community in the Kids of Polk Street School and can't wait for the next chapter, then the next book.

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent series for the young'ins..., March 2, 2005

By 

Ebay's Modor1 "--Mod" (Marshalltown, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Purple Climbing Days (The Kids of the Polk Street School) (Paperback)

In my elementary school days; I enjoyed several authors; among them; Edward Packard; Beverly Cleary; and Particia Reilly Giff.

In this installment of "Kids at Polk Street School", the focal point is on Richard; afraid of climbing ropes. Giff successfully emphasizes with a common fear of elementary students--I never scrounged up the courage to climb the ropes at my elementary school--and I may go back some day to do so.

While I see where Giff is coming from; points off for the "cliche" of bad school lunches, and mean substitute teachers.

Still, the series is decent for those in grades 2-5.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent; kids that age can identify with Richard, March 6, 2000

By 

Amy Flink "Mrs. Snowman" (Snohomish, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Purple Climbing Days (The Kids of the Polk Street School) (Paperback)

I read this about 11 yrs back in 4th grade. I could relate to it because the school gym at my school had a climbing rope, too. This story helps kids to face their everyday fears. RIchard learns a lot about himself and even about the school's "mean" sub, who helps Richard face his fears!