The Sloppy Copy Slipup [Hardcover]

DyAnne DiSalvo (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Brian Higman, also known as Big Hig, has a problem. He does not have his sloppy copy writing assignment ready to turn in, and his teacher, Miss Fromme, is not one to listen to excuses. But Brian has really good reasons this time. Between the antics of his impossible five-year-old brother and his teenage brother’s rock-and-roll band rehearsing at his house, not to mention the fact that his life savings have gone missing, it was impossible to get any homework done over the weekend. It takes all of Brian’s imaginative powers and storytelling techniques to prevent him from getting a zero. And it takes some inspiration on Miss Fromme’s part to coax Brian into turning his excuse into an actual sloppy copy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5 Brian Higman, aka Big Hig, has a big problem. He doesn't have the rough draft (sloppy copy) of his writing assignment ready to turn in. He has a reason, but his teacher brooks no excuses. What's he going to do? In a straightforward narrative, Brian tells Miss Fromme and his classmates the story of his frenetic weekend, which involved one emergency after another, essentially creating a verbal sloppy copy. Sprinkled throughout the text are headlines and articles that Brian imagines he would use if he were writing for a newspaper. The tale is peppered with the funny antics of Brian's pesky little brother and his dog, Patches. The plot is clever and original, though the narrator's storytelling skills seem well above elementary level. The last chapter presents Big Hig's 'Facts' for Writing, tips that could help any student with an assignment. Humorous black-and-white drawings appear throughout. The book's storytelling aspects are reminiscent of those in Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird Green (Houghton, 2002). Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. DiSalvo, best know for her picture books, offers a humorous chapter book about conquering writer's block and finding stories in the everyday. Brian Higman ("Big Hig") has once again arrived at school without his writing assignment: "The problem is that I never have anything exciting to write about." He launches into a lengthy excuse to Miss Fromme and his class, describing why he couldn't complete his work: his younger brother's shenanigans; his older brother's noisy band; the nail-biting disappearance of his life savings, preventing his long-awaited purchase of a guitar. His story is so compelling that the class begs to hear installments throughout the day, and after school, Miss Fromme helps Brian see that his ordinary life is the stuff of great stories. DiSalvo combines spot-on humor, vivid classroom scenes, and tension that builds from the first page, and Brian's story, though not always seamlessly integrated, will keep children eagerly engaged. A list of writing tips and DiSalvo's winning pencil drawings round out this appealing title for young readers and writers. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 103 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823419479
• ISBN-13: 978-0823419470
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,473,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sloppy Copy Slipup, July 19, 2008

By 

Margaret Zeidman (Palm Beach, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sloppy Copy Slipup (Hardcover)

A terrific read for children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.This is a story about a boy who is not sure of himself when it comes to putting his ideas on paper and how he overcomes this insecurity. The author does an exceptional job of drawing the reader into the story through wit, suspense and the telling of a tale that captures the attention of the school age child. Not only is the book fun to read but it may help children in this age group overcome their own obstacles to writing.
An outstanding book, well written and illustrated and most importantly it may help your child become more confident in their own ability to "tell a story" and commit it to paper. Exceptional...5 stars!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, June 27, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sloppy Copy Slipup (Hardcover)

My daughter is taking a creative writing class over the summer, and I'm buying several copies for the class.
Excellent role model and story for children that love not only to read, but to express themselves on paper.

Highly recommended for grades 2-6

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illustrates the creative process for writing for kids, June 27, 2008

By 

Patricia L. Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sloppy Copy Slipup (Hardcover)

An entertaining read for children. Details the creative writing process for kids in a way that they can relate to and makes the point that the best writing is writing what you know. The author writes in a simple and clear style and presents advanced writing techniques in an engaging manner so they are accessible to younger children (and perhaps parents). I highly recommend this book. I've bought it for my nieces. Anne/NJ