Yellowbelly and Plum Go to School [Hardcover]

Nathan Hale (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: July 5, 2007 | Age Range: 3 and up

Yellowbelly’s stuffed bear Plum is his best friend in the world. They do everything together. So when it’s time to go off to school for the first time, Yellowbelly can’t imagine not taking Plum along. At school they learn lots of fun new things, and they both make lots of new friends.

When Plum disappears, Yellowbelly is upset at first. But Plum has been off learning games that the two friends never played before. And when the two are joyfully reunited, Yellowbelly teaches everyone their old games, while Plum can teach Yellowbelly his new ones.

A fun, joyful story about school and friendship that introduces two lovable new characters.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (July 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039924624X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246241
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nathan Hale is the creator of The Devil You Know and illustrator of the upcoming graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge by Newbery Honor winner Shannon Hale (no relation) and her husband, Dean. Nathan lives with his wife and children in Provo, Utah.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (July 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039924624X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246241
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nathan Hale is the author and illustrator of many exciting graphic novels and picture books for children, including One Dead Spy and Big Bad Ironclad (the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series), Yellowbelly and Plum go to School, the Twelve Bots of Christmas and The Devil You Know.

He is the illustrator of the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel, Calamity Jack. He also illustrated Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody, The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas, Animal House and many others.

Learn more at www.spacestationnathan.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic fun! September 19, 2007

By Woglet

Format:Hardcover

I just literally stumbled across this book at a friend's house and was enchanted by it! Her son asked me to read it to him, while mine started to wander off, but two pages in both boys were hooked. The illustrations are amazing and the story is a delight. I've been telling everyone about it all day, "And then Plum was a frisbee!" I'm buying this for my son right away, and will probably buy Hale's other books as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than Just a "First Day of School" Book September 13, 2008

By Candace Ryan

Format:Hardcover

A year ago, before my son started preschool, I checked out a ton of books from the library that dealt with a child's first first day of school.

As we read through these books together, one in particular stood out-- Nathan Hale's Yellowbelly and Plum Go to School. This was the only book of the lot that my son requested, "Read dat again!"

What happens when Yellowbelly gets separated from his best friend on their first day of school?

Yellowbelly and Plum is a world made of pages, one that is intuitively child-like, but never childish. For my son, the immensely loveable Yellowbelly and his quiet, but devoted friend, Plum, continue their school adventures even after the book is closed. Yes, Yellowbelly is the stuff that imaginary friends are made of.

Nathan Hale's talents as an illustrator are many, not the least of which is his prolific sense of imagination. Yellowbelly and Plum attend a unique school populated by a student body of diverse children and cuddly creatures. These creatures range from dinosaurs, animals, and insects, to plants, robots, and monsters (the super sweet kind).

The center spread features a wonderful Where's Waldo-esque scene that will keep you and your child intricately involved in discovering who's on the schoolyard. The fun grows when you can ask each other questions like: How many dinosaurs do you see? Where is the pink octopus? Where is the boy with a spider design on his t-shirt? (Semi-Spoiler********look on these same pages for characters from other Nathan Hale books.)

Hale's images richly reveal character, develop story, and illuminate the words all within an economy of text. Adding to his illustrative talents, Hale displays pitch-perfect story sense.... Every scene contributes to a building momentum that concludes in both a clever and emotionally satisfying way.

The greatest thing about Yellowbelly and Plum Go to School is that it isn't just a "first day of school" book. This title can be read throughout the year as an endearing tale of friendship and the wonder of new experiences. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will hook your kids October 28, 2008

By Armchair Interviews

Format:Hardcover

Cudddly Yellowbelly's wide smile graces the cover of this children's story about getting out and growing up a little bit.

Nathan Hale clearly conveys a small child's attachment to their blanket, dolly or special stuffed friend and their apprehension to interact with others. Little ones will relate to Yellowbelly's affection for Plum and they will enjoy the vibrant illustrations.

Yellowbelly is an imaginative fuzzy spotted yellow creature-a monster of sorts, a cross between a bear and a leopard with a beaver-like tail. Plum is a small stuffed purple bear who goes everywhere with Yellowbelly, even to school.

One day at recess, the two become separated. In a panic, Yellowbelly is worried that Plum is lost. Plum is staying very busy playing with new friends.

Upon their reunion, Plum and Yellowbelly teach their friends how to play some of their favorite games and Yellowbelly learns new games from Plum's friends.

I enjoyed this story. It reminded me of simple carefree days with small children. The tone and flow of the book was like a walk in the park. Youngsters will laugh at Yellowbelly and Plum. They may dare to make new friends and try new things, discovering fun beyond the security of their favorite toy.

Armchair Interviews says: A good way to teach children about change.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Where, oh where is Plum? October 11, 2008

By Tara A. Green VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Yellowbelly is a kind of large cat (possibly a cheetah?) and Plum is his beloved purple teddy bear with a red star on his tummy. They enjoy playing a variety of unusual games, such as "envelope" (stuffing oneself into a narrow space), "meteor shower" (emptying the contents of a container onto someone's head) and "orthodontist" (which perhaps needs to be seen to be believed).

This story is about their first day of school. My two four year olds were very surprised that the kids in Yellowbelly's class are a mixture of human children and various animals. Some of these animals look very strange, and "Stitch" from Lilo and Stitch would not look at all out of place in the class. Everything goes according to plan on the first day until Plum goes missing in the playground. Fortunately, everything works out well in the end, and Yellowbelly finds some new recruits for his unusual hobbies.

One of the best features of this book is the illustrations. The detailed playground scene on one double page, which shows many of these characters, could easily be the subject of a 30 minute discussion. I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!!! May 13, 2008

By L. A. DeVries

Format:Hardcover

This is a great book! The pictures alone are worth purchasing it. We just happened to check it out at our local library. My girls wanted it read over and over to them. I knew I had to go to Amazon & get it!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My kids' favorite book December 9, 2008

By Tiffany de Berry

Format:Hardcover

This is, hands down, my kids' favorite book. They ask for it pretty much every night!

It is a joyous occasion to read it with my little girls because (1) they have perma-smiles on, courtesy of the fun story and funny illustrations and (2) it is creative and clever enough to entertain the adult "reader*" even if its the nine hundredth read (*my girls know the story so well that they read most of it by themselves).

I agree with all the previous reviewers' endorsements and won't repeat their praise. Personally, I particularly appreciate that on his first day of school, Yellowbelly is excited and gregarious and not at all nervous, but his plush friend Plum is shy. So kids learn that it's OK to be shy, but they're inspired to be bold and fearless in new situations and to create their own fun.