Plot Summary - The main character Amos is an older man and zoo keeper who makes time to visit his animal friends in the Zoo each day. He plays chess with an elephant, runs races with a tortoise, sits with a shy penguin, lends a handkerchief to a rhinoceros, and reads bedtime stories to an owl. One day Amos wakes up sick and is unable to visit the Zoo. The animals at the zoo wonder what happened to him and decide to visit Amos instead. When the animals visit Amos at his house they take care of him the same way he took care of them.
Personal Reaction - This book is a great children’s book that I would recommend to any parent, teacher, or librarian. The pictures and words are geared toward young and early elementary children, but the message speaks to any age. The way that Amos and his friends take care of each other reminds the reader that we should be kind to each other, spend time with our friends, and take care of them when they need it.
Memorable Literary Element - A Sick Day for Amos McGee has a flowing text that is enjoyable but might be difficult for young readers to read on their own. The author shows the reader the importance of friendship and dedication to ones friends through the relationship between the main character, Amos, and the animals. The animals in this story are given human characteristics such as being a shy penguin or an owl that is afraid of the dark, which young readers can relate too.
Illustrations - The illustrations in A Sick Day for Amos McGee are beautiful black and white pictures with different elements drawn in color. Erin Stead uses a woodblock print technique and sketches to create the pictures.
Review - Horn Book Magazine: "Erin Stead's attentively detailed pencil and woodblock illustrations reveal character and enhance the cozy mood of Philip Stead's gentle text.
Promotion - This book can be used to help teach young children about the order of events in the beginning middle and end of a story and could also be used to make text to self connections about the order of events in ones day.
Lesson Idea: Separate a poster board into three columns beginning, middle, and end. Using index cards the teacher writes what Amos does throughout the story. (Ex. Wakes up early and eats breakfast. Rides the bus. Plays chess with the elephant.) Then together the class reads and puts the index cards in the right columns. The teacher could also talk about the daily routines of the class and make a list of all the activities the students do each day.
Personal Reaction - This book is a great children’s book that I would recommend to any parent, teacher, or librarian. The pictures and words are geared toward young and early elementary children, but the message speaks to any age. The way that Amos and his friends take care of each other reminds the reader that we should be kind to each other, spend time with our friends, and take care of them when they need it.
Memorable Literary Element - A Sick Day for Amos McGee has a flowing text that is enjoyable but might be difficult for young readers to read on their own. The author shows the reader the importance of friendship and dedication to ones friends through the relationship between the main character, Amos, and the animals. The animals in this story are given human characteristics such as being a shy penguin or an owl that is afraid of the dark, which young readers can relate too.
Illustrations - The illustrations in A Sick Day for Amos McGee are beautiful black and white pictures with different elements drawn in color. Erin Stead uses a woodblock print technique and sketches to create the pictures.
Review - Horn Book Magazine: "Erin Stead's attentively detailed pencil and woodblock illustrations reveal character and enhance the cozy mood of Philip Stead's gentle text.
Promotion - This book can be used to help teach young children about the order of events in the beginning middle and end of a story and could also be used to make text to self connections about the order of events in ones day.
Lesson Idea: Separate a poster board into three columns beginning, middle, and end. Using index cards the teacher writes what Amos does throughout the story. (Ex. Wakes up early and eats breakfast. Rides the bus. Plays chess with the elephant.) Then together the class reads and puts the index cards in the right columns. The teacher could also talk about the daily routines of the class and make a list of all the activities the students do each day.