I Wanna New Room [Hardcover]

Karen Kaufman Orloff (Author), David Catrow (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: December 2, 2010 | Age Range: 5 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 540L (What's this?)

Ever since their baby sister came along, Alex has been forced to share a room with his little brother, Ethan, and it's a nightmare. Ethan always breaks stuff, snores like a walrus, and sticks crayons up his nose. No hardworking, well-behaved, practically grown-up boy like Alex should have to put up with that!

Writing letters to his mom convinced her to let him get his pet iguana, so Alex puts pencil to paper again, this time determined to get his own room. Though all of his powers of persuasion can't get his dad to expand the house, he does come through with a fun alternative-a tree house!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3–In this companion to I Wanna Iguana (Putnam, 2004), irrepressible Alex is back with a new entreaty–his own room, puh-leez–played out in another series of letter exchanges. Now sharing a room with his younger brother in the wake of his sister's birth, Alex delivers his first written plea to Mom, who, in the depths of postpartum exhaustion, refers him to his father. Thus do Alex and his good-natured dad begin their own guy-to-guy letter exchange, with Alex detailing Ethan's various transgressions (“He sticks crayons up his nose and barks like a walrus!”) and his reasonable father reminding him that he was no different at the age of four. Back and forth go Alex's complaints and his father's practical rejoinders until Dad suggests that they build a tree house together, where surely Alex can find some peace and quiet. Indeed, it's too quiet–and Alex's final letter is to Ethan, inviting him to play in his new retreat. The last page shows the brothers happily ascending the tree-house ladder together. As spun out in the exchanges, the child vs. parent points of view and the sibling rivalry all ring hilariously true. Catrow's zany pencil and watercolor illustrations capture perfectly the madcap daydreams in Alex's head as well as the familiar detritus of a young boy's room. (The iguana still lives there!) A surefire kid-pleaser with a subtle, sweet lesson in peaceful coexistence.–Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

As in I Wanna Iguana (2004), this story about a child tired of sharing a room with his pesky little brother is told through letters and illustrated in energetic, cartoon-style illustrations. Alex pleads for his own room and complains about his little brother Ethan—“He sticks crayons up his nose and barks like a walrus”—while a fantastical double-page image shows Ethan as a walrus in action. Finally, Dad builds Alex a tree house, but once he is alone in his new space, Alex misses all the family chaos. The slapstick, sibling anger, and crowding issues are all spot-on. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (December 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399254056
• ISBN-13: 978-0399254055
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 0.4 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > New Baby

More About the Author

Karen Kaufman Orloff has written four books for children: "I Wanna Iguana," (G.P. Putnam, 2004), "If Mom Had Three Arms," (Sterling, 2006), "I Wanna New Room," (G.P. Putnam, Dec., 2010) and "Talk Oscar, Please!" (Sterling, March 2011). She has two forthcoming children's books from Peter Pauper Press, writes two columns for "The Poughkeepsie Journal" and teaches writing classes in Millbrook, NY for adults interested in children's publishing. Visit her website: www.karenkaufmanorloff.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Funny & Loving Children's Book January 2, 2011

By Debbie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karen Kaufman Orloff & David Catrow have done it again. This second book in the "I Wanna..." series is great fun. Alex is back with another request made through his hysterically funny letters. Mom, tired from dealing with his newborn sister, has referred him to Dad this time. The arrival of his sister has resulted in Alex having to share a room with his brother Ethan. Alex explains his difficulties with the arrangement and Dad decides that together they will build Alex a place of his own. (Alex eventually decides to share it with Ethan). I have laughed outloud along with the kids while reading this book. (I was happy to see the iguana from the first book in this one, but if you haven't read the first, you will still love this one on its own.) I highly recommend this funny and loving book that leaves its readers with a great feeling.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What will Alex want next? January 18, 2011

By Lori Calabrese "Children's Books Examiner" VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In I Wanna Iguana, Alex tries to convince his seemingly unshakable mother that he should be allowed to adopt a friend's baby iguana. Now, in the highly anticipated follow-up, I Wanna New Room, Alex longs for his own room.

In a series of letters, Alex attempts to convince his parents that he shouldn't have to share a room with his baby brother, Ethan. After all, when Ethan sleeps, he sounds like the cat coughing up fur balls. Ethan also sticks crayons up his nose and barks like a walrus! All poor Alex wants is his old room back.

Readers will be laughing out loud as they read Mom and Dad's replies, explaining that his new little sister, Annie needs her privacy to do girl stuff. But Alex will not be swayed and devises his own ways to handle the situation, which include taping the room, and pleading that even his friend Stinky's dog Lurch has his own room! After all, it's more than a room, it's the principle of the thing.

Alex eventually pulls it off and convinces his dad that he needs his own space. Dad builds Alex a special place of his own--a brand new tree house. But, in the end, Alex realizes, who will he play ping-pong with?

Every child longs for their own room, but sometimes it's just not possible. I Wanna New Room is a humorous book that can give kids a new outlook on the situation. The wonderful illustrations by David Catrow add to the flair and will have readers wondering, what will Alex want next?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wanna New Room October 27, 2012

By vicki h aiken

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book. I enjoy reading this book and also enjoy reading I Wanna A Iguana to my class. These books are wonderful tools to use when teaching persuasive writing. My students love to hear these books read over and over.