Viper (Puffin Easy-To-Read - Level 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lisa Thiesing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2003 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Puffin Easy-To-Read - Level 2

When the phone rings, Peggy answers it. "I am zee Viper," a voice says. "I vill come in one year." "Zee Viper" keeps calling, and he tells Peggy that he will arrive in one month . . .then one week . . . then one day! Who-or what-is the Viper? Kids will love this easy-to-read retelling of an old campfire tale. It's a little bit scary and a whole lot funny!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Thiesing has taken a story she heard years ago at summer camp and converted it into an easy-reader that is bound to appeal to children who love a spooky tale. Peggy Pig receives a phone call one Friday and hears a voice hissing, "I am zee Viper. I vill come in 1 year." At first she is unconcerned; bright illustrations portray her going through daily activities nonchalantly. But as the phone calls persist, fear creeps in. The Viper reminds her of his coming-"in 1 month," "in 1 veek," "in 3 days-." At the final countdown, the pages become black, showing only numerals of a digital clock and wide, anxious eyes. An eerie shadow on the window shade scares Peggy until she looks through the peephole and sees Willy the Window Wiper coming to do his yearly service on her home. There will be children who don't quite catch the humor at first reading, but once the joke is realized they will clamor to read it again to unsuspecting friends and adults. Few beginning readers are as good as this one to promote reading with expression. Librarians will appreciate a plug for dictionaries as Peggy looks up the word "viper." This book is absolutely delightful.
Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. K-2. Based on an old tale the author used to hear at summer camp, this simple Dutton Easy Reader is a hilarious read-aloud thriller with mounting tension and a surprise ending. Peggy the Pig gets a scary phone call. A husky voice hisses, "I am zee Viper. I vill come in 1 year." One year is 365 days, so Peggy doesn't worry much, but she looks up viper in the dictionary and discovers that it's "a fanged, poisonous snake!" Then the calls come more often, culminating with "I am at your door." In contrast, the clear, bright line-and-watercolor pictures couldn't be more cheerful and cozy as Peggy soaks in a bubble bath or indulges in a little snack. The climactic double-page spread has the chill of a Halloween nightmare, but it leads to an ending so silly that the story is sure to become part of family folklore. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (November 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142501573
• ISBN-13: 978-0142501573
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 5.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,332,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My Kindergarten Class Loved This Book!, October 20, 2009

By 

Sawyer "book lover" (Aurora, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viper (Puffin Easy-To-Read - Level 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I teach children of kindergarten age and younger and they all LOVED this book! After I read it they begged me to read it again! The ending made me and another teacher laugh out loud. Fun story!

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it and so did my 5 year old, September 8, 2008

By 

Anthony Stark "mom of two boys" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viper (Puffin Easy-To-Read - Level 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I think I've read this book a dozen times to my five year since I've gotten it. He loves it and so do I...not your typical reader book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Read Aloud Ever!, October 13, 2005

By 

childslibrarian "childslibrarian" (Downingtown, Pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viper (Puffin Easy-To-Read - Level 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a librarian and just yesterday I had children rolling on the floor while I was reading this book. A best buy for libraries!