Three Cool Kids [Hardcover]

Rebecca Emberley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995 | Age Level: 4 and up

Tiring of their dusty urban lot, Big, Middle, and Little, three city goats with attitudes, plan to move to a green, grassy place that is blocked to them by a mean sewer rat who will not let anyone pass, in a modern version of the folktale about the three Billy Goats Gruff.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This visually appealing volume revisits?and revises?The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The "kids" of the title are young, city-dwelling goats named Big, Middle and Little Cool; they have decided to abandon their empty lot for greener urban pastures. Unfortunately, a huge sewer rat lives between them and their destination, and as they trot past its lair, the rat threatens to eat each of them for dinner. The goats, of course, persevere and triumph. The text is somewhat banal, but Emberley (City Sounds; Jungle Sounds) generously compensates with inventive art. Eye-catching collages of textured paper in neutral colors evoke a rundown urban environment?pebbly gray stock represents cement; thin strips criss-cross to form a lattice fence. Neatly snipped corrugated cardboard suggests the kids' horns, fibrous material their coats and cottony tufts their beards. Big Cool nibbles a real shaft of grain, and Middle Cool sports "jingly silver bracelets." Crisp, craftsy and, sure, cool. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?A hip, inner-city version of Three Billy Goats Gruff, in which rumors of an ugly sewer rat prevent three kids from crossing the street, where the grass in a vacant lot really is greener?and more abundant. Finally, desperate for a better grazing area, the trio muster their courage and take the big step, thus enabling them to confront and banish the bully. Large, crisp collages made from paper, corrugated cardboard, and natural objects bring the goats to vibrant life and create the perfect backdrops for the action. And the goats?Big, "both bossy and saucy"; Middle, vain and demure; and Little, adoring and endearing?burst from the pages. Little, clad in his red hightop sneakers, is particularly appealing, while the rodent looks appropriately malicious. The text is witty, the illustrations whimsical, and the combination utterly charming. Three cheers for Three Cool Kids.?Trev Jones, School Library Journal
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company; 1st edition (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316236667
• ISBN-13: 978-0316236669
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,194,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rebecca Emberley is the author and illustrator of numerous books for children, including a bestselling bi-lingual series. She comes from a family of artists, including her father Ed Emberley, her brother Michael Emberley, and sister in law Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, all children's book illustrators and her daughter Adrian Emberley and husband Peter Black, both singer-songwriters. Sometimes they work on projects together. With all this creative energy surrounding her, Rebecca is kept very busy. When not creating more books for children she also does some graphic design, dabbles in everything from silk screening to music production, travels, and looks for opportunities to work with her family. She currently lives in Maine with her husband, but will soon be traveling for a while, observing, writing and looking for new and exciting ideas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good twist, April 21, 2000

By 

Ruhama Kordatzky "librariane" (Burlington, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Three Cool Kids (Hardcover)

Tired of the same old stories? Then try Three Cool Kids--most children love the fractured fairy tales (just look at the popularity of The Stinky Cheese Man), and this one will be no exception. With big, bold illustrations, this book works for either a classroom, storytime, or a 'cuddle' reading. Children may need to hear the original Billy Goats Gruff first to catch the connection, but even if this one is read first, kids will still love it!