Author: Rosemary Wells
Series
Format- Paperback
Publisher- Puffin Pied Piper
First Published- January 1st, 1981
Pages- 28
Source- Own
Overview:
Timothy is on his way to his first day of school with new clothes his mother made him. When he meets Claude his "Hello!" gets the reaction of how you aren't supposed to wear a sunsuit on the first day of school. Every day he comes home upset by Claude's words and wishes he would mess up while his mother worries over him and tries to console him. But it's no use. Claude always does everything right academically, with sports, and has many friends around him. It's when he meets Violet who is also feeling the same kinds of things toward Grace who always everything perfect that he finds a true friend.
Review:
I've read this book a couple of times and I now can see the small controversy of it that I've seen in reviews. By laughing about Claude and Grace at the end of the book I could see how parents can interpret it as meaning that Timothy and Violet are acting mean themselves by laughing at someone who is different than them or is not so nice to them. You know you're supposed to forgive and forget and be nice to everyone.
I also see where others are coming from as well. They are laughing that they cared so much what they thought when they had each other. Frankly when I was a kid I just saw it as a nice story about a kid who goes to school who takes a while to find a friend. It's really about being the new kid, the outcast, the unpopular kid and how the popular kid might treat that type of person. In the end everything is resolved when you find someone like you. It's really a lovely story about finding good friends and accepting who you are isn't what you wear!
I haven't read this one myself but the illustrations look cute! Sounds like the book is sending out mixed messages though =/
ReplyDeleteI think the parent is most likely to think it's saying something it's not. Kids don't look into things that much.
DeleteI think that a lot of times, authors are trying to portray a situation that kids can relate to, and one that is fairly realistic. Let's face it, being the new kid or the outcast isn't all peachy. It's hard and you get made fun of.
ReplyDeleteSo true. It's unfortunate that it can happen at such a young age too.
DeleteI haven't read this one, but the illustrations look cute. I always think it is interesting to reread books from my childhood now that I am an adult. Adults definitely see things from a different perspective!
ReplyDelete