Dirt Boy (School & Library Binding)

~ (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) "Fister Farnello loved dirt..." (more)
Key Phrases: Fister Farnello

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Fister Farnello loves dirt. One day he escapes his bath and runs into the woods where he meets a giant named Dirt Man, and the two become instant friends. They spend days playing until Fister becomes so filthy that even his own mother does not recognize him. Even the birds and mice that have taken up residence in his hair begin to complain. When moss appears in his bellybutton and a thick green cloud of stink comes out of his mouth instead of words, Dirt Boy can't take it anymore. He runs through the woods and back to his house. At first, his mother thinks he is a monster, but when she sprays him with a hose, "the faint shape of a certain long-lost boy" is revealed. "It took twenty-three bars of soap, sixteen bottles of shampoo, one hundred and seventy-nine gallons of bathwater, forty-four million bubbles, and eleven tubes of toothpaste to finally get Fister Farnello clean." This is a witty fantasy about a topic with which children are quite familiar. The bright, bold watercolor-and-gouache illustrations in various shades of green and brown capture the essence of filth. In addition, Manders used "acrylic paint, crackle medium, modeling paste, colored pencils, sponges, fingers, and old toothbrushes" to create Dirt Boy. Wacky depictions of filthy Fister and the giant will amuse children. An engaging tale appropriate for reading aloud.
Olga R. Barnes, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

The squishy delight of wallowing in mud and mess is the elemental appeal for young preschoolers in this mucky picture book. Fister escapes authority, his "clean-and-mean mother" who tries to force him into the bath. He runs away to the woods, where he finds a home in the bellybutton of a giant, who hasn't taken a bath in a thousand years. They play dirt games. When birds nest in Fister's hair and mice snuggle on his body, he begins to feel icky and slimy, and when the giant begins to use the word delicious, Fister runs home to mother, who scrubs and scrubs him deliciously clean. The pictures--in watercolor and gouache--glory in the dirt. There are close-ups of the giant's teeth covered in green gunk, of mushrooms sprouting from the boy's toes, and of Fister's stinky breath blowing out in a thick, green cloud. The story stays true to the slapstick fun of getting dirty, even as it admits to the coziness and comfort of being clean. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• School & Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613757351
• ISBN-13: 978-0613757355
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,243,459 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1//2* Stronger Than Dirt, November 5, 2001

By	M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Dirt Boy (Library Binding)

The delightfully gross tale of Finster Farnello-who revels in dirt-and his mother who calls him "you smelly-stinky-mucky-gritty-grimy-grubby-little-dirt-boy." (This book can be fun to read.)

In a slightly disturbing twist, Finster runs away from home and meets Dirt Man, who hasn't taken a bath in 1,000 years. Finster copies the giant until his body grows weeds, moss, and slime. Unfortunately, his filth is appetizing to the Giant!

There is a happy ending, as Finster discovers that while he "still likes to get dirty... he also likes to get clean." 30 pages, and vivid pictures constructed with such media as gouache, acrylic, crackle medium, modeling paste, sponges, fingers, old toothbrushes, and watercolor. The plot could have been more clever, but, judging by the other reviews here, kids just eat this one up!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slangerup is a Slanger-champ with Dirt Boy, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dirt Boy (Library Binding)

The Lengend of Dirt Boy is less a story and more a parable. Encouraging little boys to keep clean is as easy as pole vaulting to Neptune. Slangerup's tale of a boy who refuses to clean up (and the resulting consequences) is a welcome means to educate as well as entertain. I'm not sure if it's enough to keep kids clean, but it sure has me scrubbing behind the ears. The House of Harper eagerly awaits Slangerup's next offering.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dirt Boy, March 23, 2000

By	Ms. Haraway's Class (Millington, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dirt Boy (Library Binding)

This is a really cool book. We liked it when he was in the giant's bellybutton. Everyone would like this book because it is funny and teaches you to take a bath and brush your teeth when you get dirty. Second Grade