Library Book: Peepers (Rise and Shine) - Hardcover

National Geographic Learning; Schifini, Alfredo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152602976 ISBN 13: 9780152602970

Publisher: National Geographic School Pub, 2010

Synopsis

Two boys help their father show tourists the changing fall leaves. They make fun of the tourists until they realize that their town really is beautiful.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Schifini assists schools across the nation and around the world in developing comprehensive language and literacy programs for English learners. He has worked as an ESL teacher, reading specialist, school administrator and university professor. Through an arrangement with California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, Dr. Schifini currently serves as program consultant to two large teacher-training efforts in the area of reading for second language speakers of English. His research interests include early literacy and language development and the integration of language and content-area instruction.

Reviews

Gr 1-3-Jim and Andy are obliged to help their father run Fred's Fall Color Tours in New England in October. Andy narrates in the present tense as they ride their bus through the familiar environs with the "Leaf Peepers." They think that everything is beautiful and photo-worthy, and the brothers snicker and mimic their superlatives behind their backs. Ransome's acrylic paintings are brightly realistic, capturing the brilliance of a fine rural autumn day. The intent of the story seems to be that the boys learn to appreciate the natural beauty around them in spite of themselves; however, they become aware of this only on the last two pages and, since they are embarrassed by their feelings, readers are likely also to be uncomfortable and unconvinced.

Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

In this somewhat sleepy story by the creators of Your Move, the young narrator and his brother, Jim, help their father with his business, bus rides for "Leaf Peepers" to view the fall foliage. The boys roll their eyes at the Peepers' awe and playfully mock their inevitable remark: "Oh!... Look! Look, how beautiful!" Though the brothers discover several diverting sights, for the most part they remain quite bored with the tour (which includes stops at a pond, cemetery, river and pumpkin patch) and readers may feel the same. As tourist season ends and Bunting's (Gleam and Glow, reviewed above) story winds to a close, the youngsters sit outdoors one chilly evening, admiring the starlit sky. Admitting his embarrassment at letting down his guard, the narrator notes, "I guess our winter sky is always like this, but I just never noticed. I'm seeing it now the way the Peepers would see it." At their best, Ransome's acrylic paintings present lifelike portraits of the characters and glimpses of vibrant fall colors dotting the landscape. Yet the vivid colors do not completely compensate for the uneventful plot. Ages 6-9.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 5-8. Every fall Jim and Andy work with their father, who runs Fred's Fall Color Tours. They help him take care of the truck and guide the tourists around their picturesque village. The boys don't understand why anyone would want to take a tour of fall leaves, and they make fun of the tourists, especially their love of nature. This year, though, the boys slowly start to see some of the beauty they've always taken for granted, and by the end of the book, they're almost as sappy as the tourists themselves. The acrylic illustrations are lush and colorful, evoking fall so well you can almost smell the bonfires. A good introduction to both New England and the joys of nature. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: National Geographic School Pub
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152602976
• ISBN 13: 9780152602970
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32