Sunnyside Up (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

Summertime. It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Richard "Beast" Best and Matthew Jackson can't wait to dive into Emily Arrow's cool blue pool. But when they get there, Mrs. Arrow tells them that Emily has gone off to summer school.



Summer school! How could they forget? That's exactly where they should be right now. Sitting in class, Beast still thinks summertime is the best time, and he and Matthew can always go swimming in the afternoon. But then Matthew gives Beast some bad news. It's up to Beast to think of a way to help Matthew fast--before the summer is ruined.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 The eleventh book in this series finds ``Beast'' (Richard Best) so excited about summer vacation that he and his friend, Matthew, almost forget to go to summer school the first morning. Even with summer school (which gets an honest if not exciting presentation here), Beast is sure that this will be the best summer yet. Then he learns that Matthew will be moving away. The boys decide to hide Matthew in the Bests' garage. Both boys soon realize this solution will not work and bid each other a tearful goodbye. Giff handles well one of the common occurances of childhooda good friend's moving away. The ending is realistic, as Beast remembers their summer adventures and realizes how much he will miss Matthew. Especially helpful is the boys' learning that it is all right to cry when they are sad. Those readers who have enjoyed the previous Polk Street School adventures will like this one also, and public and school libraries will want to add it. This series is just right for beginning readers who are looking for a book with chapters that is not too difficult to read. Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Oreg.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Summertime. It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Richard "Beast" Best and Matthew Jackson can't wait to dive into Emily Arrow's cool blue pool. But when they get there, Mrs. Arrow tells them that Emily has gone off to summer school.

Summer school! How could they forget? That's exactly where they should be right now. Sitting in class, Beast still thinks summertime is the best time, and he and Matthew can always go swimming in the afternoon. But then Matthew gives Beast some bad news. It's up to Beast to think of a way to help Matthew fast--before the summer is ruined.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (June 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440484065
• ISBN-13: 978-0440484066
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.2 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Moving

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The saddest of all the other Polk Street books, December 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sunnyside Up (The Kids of the Polk Street School) (Paperback)

It's summer vacation and school's out but Richard, Matthew and a handful of other kids have summer school. Richard is depressed. Mrs. Paris, his reading teacher gives him good advice on how to handle changes and things he doesn't like. Then Richard's friend Matthew says that he is moving to Ohio. Matthew doesn't want to go and Richard fixes up a place for Matthew to live in his garage. It's a good book with a non-saccarine ending. There are a lot of good messages to the readers, such as it is okay to cry. That's the best advice! I think I cried when I read this about Richard's best buddy Matthew moving away and although it seems an un-satisfying ending to this book, be sure to check out the other Polk Street books, and there are two books about Matthew's adventures in his new town, Deposit, Ohio ("Matthew Jackson Meets The Wall" and "Shark In School"--both delightful!) Beast and Matthew stay in touch even across time and distance!!