A Strange Day [Hardcover]

Iris van der Heide (Author), Marijke ten Cate (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Jack is moping about the house, waiting for a letter that will tell him whether he won the drawing contest.  When he finally hears someone opening the mailbox, he rushes outside so fast that he doesn't even notice what a windy day it is.  All he know is that he has not heard from the contest.  the only thing in the mailbox is a letter from his aunt in Morocco. Jack strolls through town, brooding about his bad luck and paying no attention to anything around him.  But a lot is going on.  Jack won't know until later what a strange day it has been.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

VAN DER HEIDE, Iris. A Strange Day tr. from Dutch. illus. by Marijke ten Cate. unpaged. Boyds Mills/Lemniscaat 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-932425-94-9. LC number unavailable. Kindergarten-Grade 2–Young Jack has entered a drawing contest and is anxiously waiting to hear if he has won. However, the only thing in the mailbox is a postcard from his aunt in Morocco. Jack's disappointment distracts him from all that is going on around him, including a very windy day that has sent one more letter for him flying through the air. While the mail carrier goes to extreme lengths to capture it, Jack walks dejectedly through town, oblivious to the ways in which his own presence prevents little disasters. When he reaches out his hand, he absently stops a baby stroller from rolling into a pond; when bicycles crash and a dog flies out of one of the baskets, it lands safely in Jack's arms. By the time the boy returns home, the flyaway letter has been caught and placed in his mailbox. He is thrilled to learn that he is the winner, but when he looks up at the crowd gathered to honor him, he wonders how everyone else knew. In fact, they are all there to thank him for his good deeds. Both author and illustrator live in the Netherlands and this book reflects that setting. Sheep with expressive faces are everywhere. (Jack even stands on one to see into the mailbox.) Transportation seems to be by bicycle or by foot, although there are small boats along the little canal. This delightful story is simply told and illustrated with charm and humor, reminiscent of Bruce McMillan's The Problem with Chickens (Houghton, 2005). An entertaining read-aloud.–Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Lemniscaat USA; Translated, Illustrated edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932425942
• ISBN-13: 978-1932425949
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,125,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle color illustrations add a lovely touch to this charming, read-aloud story., April 13, 2007

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Strange Day (Hardcover)

Netherlands author Iris van der Heide presents A Strange Day, an engaging picturebook about a distracted young boy waiting for a very important letter - an envelop that will tell him whether he won the art contest that he entered. He's so wrapped up in his thoughts during the windy day that he doesn't notice the mailman chasing after a windblown letter, and is barely aware of stopping a runaway baby carriage, catching dog thrown clear of a bicycle accident, or other strange occurrences happening all around him. But everyone else is aware of his kindness, even though he is not! Gentle color illustrations add a lovely touch to this charming, read-aloud story.