First There Was Frances - Softcover

Graham, Bob

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0006627862 ISBN 13: 9780006627869

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1987

Synopsis

Frances lives alone in plenty of space at the edge of the city, but is joined, one at a time, by so many other people and animals that they all move to the country.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Frances lives alone in a small city house, but she meets Graham, and he brings Teak, a stray dog, then come two children, then Grandma, then two goats, two guinea pigs, two alley cats, subsequent assorted progeny, a canary and a ferret. Understandably, things get a bit hectic. Then the horses arrive, whereupon all make a sensible, if tardy, move to the country. The brief text good-naturedly points out some problems of coexistence ("Katy the goat lived in the laundry, and ate cake. She also ate Grandma's flowers"), and the illustrations, scribbly, energetic, increasingly crowded (and reminiscent of Quentin Blake's work), present an expressive, cheerful, extended (not to say overrun) family with humor and understanding. John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

First came Frances, who lives alone near the city until Graham moves in. Over the course of the book their family grows and grows with children and Grandma and animals of every type: Teak, the dog; Katy, the goat; Errol and Berryl, the guinea pigs; Triller, the canary; Nugget, the billy goat; Toyful, the alley cat; and on and on until the horses arrive. That's when they move to the country. The suspense builds with the turning of each page; as each character arrives, even young children will sense that something's got to give. Graham's zany pictures carry the story to its surprising but perfectly natural end.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0006627862
• ISBN 13: 9780006627869
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32