My kids are fans of Tedd Arnold's books, especially "Parts" and the "Fly Guy" series. I've read "Parts" to them so many times, I'm sure they must have it memorized, but they still wanted more. Luckily, there's "More Parts."
Synopsis:
Picking up where the first book left off, we see that our favorite little hypochondriac has found more things to worry about, due to some things he's heard people say, such as "I'll bet that broke your heart" and "It's sure to crack you up!" Once again, worried about falling apart, he resorts to taping, gluing and padding himself in an attempt to avoid such a terrible fate.
My Thoughts:
The first time I read the first "Parts" book to my kids, they were pretty concerned until they saw at the end of the book that the kid in the story was going to be okay. This time, since they knew what to expect, they laughed through the whole story.
This book is great for reassuring kids that figures of speech are not to be taken literally. As adults, it's easy to forget that the slightest things might cause anxiety for a child, so often we may not even think to explain some of the potentially distressing things our children hear in everyday conversations.
The part I really like is at the end of the story, when the boy's parents come in and ask him why he's so upset. When he tells them about the things he's heard, they are able to reassure him, once again, that he's not falling apart. Kids learn from this funny story that it's okay to talk to their parents about their concerns.
As usual, Tedd Arnold's colorful and silly illustrations highlight the fact that the boy's worries are really quite outlandish. By covering the pages in pure wackiness, he helps show children how far-fetched some of the things they fear really are.
The text, written in ballad meter, is too advanced for beginning readers to sound out, so it would need to be read aloud to them until they are reading well on their own.
The number of lines of text per page vary from none to six, making the story average in length for a read-aloud book. My kids have never become bored while listening to this story.
One cute detail in the illustrations is the inclusion of the first "Part" book lying open on the bed in the boy's bedroom, as if he'd been reading it, trying to allay his newfound fears. My kids were excited to see one of their own books pictured in the story.
I recommend this book for both boys and girls who occasionally need reassurance.
Written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold.
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.
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