The Line Up Book [Hardcover]

Marisabina Russo (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 18, 1986 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 130L (What's this?)

"Lunch!" Sam heard his mother calling. But Sam was very busy. "Just a minute," he called back. Sam wasn't ready in a minute. Sam's mother was about to lose her patience, but when she saw what Sam had been doing, all was forgiven.

An ingenous first picture book with bold, brilliant illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Just when Sam has dumped his blocks on the floor, his mother calls him to lunch. Sam's not quite ready. He lines his blocks up; they stretch out from his bedroom door. His mother calls him again. "Just a minute," Sam calls back. He wants the line to be longer, and sees his books. Those line up all the way to the bathroom. Bath toys, shoes and boots, trucks and carsand Sam is almost to the kitchen. His mother is almost out of patience. She starts to count to three, while Sam tries to think of a way to bridge the gap between the last truck and the kitchen door. "He lay down on the floor with his hands over his head. Sam just reached the kitchen." On the count of "Three!" Sam's mother comes to see what has delayed him. "It's terrific," she says of the line, "But next time please come when I call you." Sam's dogged determination to finish his work adds an element of suspense to the story; the repeated calls of his mother will strike a familiar note, as will Sam's response, "Just a minute!" The paintings have a folk-art look and are full of homey touches: a checked tile floor, family photos and a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches. A focused concept, as precisely executed as Sam's final stretch to the kitchen.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1 A charming book. When Sam's mother calls him for lunch, he answers "Just a minute" (a refrain with which young children will surely identify). He then uses objects in his houseblocks, books, boots, trucksto make a line from his room to the kitchen. He completes the line by lying on the floor himself just as his mother is beginning to get angry. The reassurance of her reaction and Sam's pride in his innovative route combine to create a warm, satisfied feeling that makes up for the absence of any strong conflict or drama in the story. The artwork, done in cool, refreshing pastels that are accented by warm earth tones, complements the text nicely. The lack of outlines in the shapes contributes to the overall feeling of delicacy (perfect for a book with so slight a plot). While not an essential purchase, this book will be enjoyed by preschool children in both a story hour and one-on-one setting. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (August 18, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688062040
• ISBN-13: 978-0688062040
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsion becomes obsession becomes a very sweet tale April 26, 2005

By E. R. Bird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

You know, you go about attempting to read every great and significant English language children's picture book and you end up getting a little bit... um... big headed. I know I sure do. If you met me at a fancy dinner party and asked me my opinion on early vs. late Dr. Seuss or the finer points of why "Rainbow Fish" is the worst title ever written, I'd happily treat you to an hours long speech on such topics. But then I come across a fabulous, and not particularly recent, picture book and I have to admit that when it comes to the great children's books of this or any age, I'm still as ignorant as I ever was or ever will be. "The Line Up Book", proved this fact to me yet again. It's a fabulous title. A fun, funny, frantic tale of how one boy with slight obsessive compulsive tendencies reaches his goal without compromising his beliefs. And when was this lovely little work published, might you ask? Why 1986, of course. So the fact that more people don't know it is a serious matter indeed.

The very second that Sam dumps his blocks on the floor, he hears his mother calling him down for lunch. "Just a minute", he calls back. But a minute may be a little less time than he needs. Carefully, Sam lines up the blocks at strategic intervals, all the way to his bedroom door. "I need something else", he muses. Fortunately there are books nearby. These he lines up all the way to the bathroom. Next come bath toys. Then boots. Then cars and trucks. But a short distance from the kitchen door (where his mother is growing increasingly irate at being ignored) Sam finds he's stuck. There's nothing more to line up and he hasn't reached his goal. Fortunately, when lying his full length and stretching, Sam juuuust reaches the door with his body.... And his mother, while requesting that in the future, "please come when I call you", is very proud of her well-organized son.

There's a lot to like here. If you've a preschooler who likes their drama on a small small scale, "The Line Up Book" is ideal. The tension heightens as Sam's mother keeps yelling and threatening to count to three. His search in desperation for something else to line up is real and intense. Only with this nice ending (and understanding mama) does the book work as well as it does. Sam and his mother are an amiable crew. She sports a nice multi-patterned sweater, and he a lovely pair of violet overalls. I also loved the last picture in the story. There, at the table, Sam and mom smile at one another over their sandwiches and soup. Nothing more really needs to be said, and that's a-okay.

No, it's not going to earn itself any long thesis papers by kiddie lit scholars. But "The Line Up Book" is on the New York Public Library's list of "100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know" for 2004/05, and I for one approve heartily of its inclusion. It's a dear little book. The kind that everyone can love and few will find a drop of fault with. The very definition of sweet. Read more ›

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a line worth waiting on! July 22, 2012

By SDS

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I first became familiar with The Line Up Book when a parent brought the book to school, when it was her child's library day. The book was fabulous,it didn't contain too many words and the story is really cute. The children all enjoyed the book and were excited to see the line getting longer and longer with each new addition. The illustrations were simple, a good size, and colorful.I was thrilled to find the book on Amazon and ordered it immediately. I will be using the book as an introduction to help my three year old Preschool class visualize the concept of lining up. The illustrations open their eyes to the possibilities of objects in their environment they too can line up.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite Picture Book November 30, 2009

By River H.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I know many young children who love to line up their toys this way. This picture book about a boy finishing his line-up before he comes to lunch is absolutely darling. Marisabina Russo always writes such gentle, loving stories, and even in this one, when the mother has to ask the boy to "please come when I call you next time," the feeling of a kind, loving home is definitely there. My kids really enjoyed this book.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book became our family obsession October 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Oh Marisabina. She managed to tell a simple story as a great triumph. We obsessed on this book for years and STILL say in our house "I need something else.." Perfect pictures. Perfect book.