Poppleton and Friends: Book 2 - Hardcover

Rylant, Cynthia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590847864 ISBN 13: 9780590847865

Publisher: Scholastic, 1997

Synopsis

A sequel to the popular children's book introduces the beloved pig's extraordinary friends and explains how Poppleton learns how to live to be one hundred years old. By the author of the Henry and Mudge series.

About this title

About the Author

As a child in West Virginia, Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant devoured comic books and paperback romances. She never dreamed of being a writer until she took one college English class. Then she became "hooked on great writing...I didn't know about this part of me until I went to college didn't know that I loved beautiful stories." One night, inspired by the Southern writer, James Agee, she wrote her first picture book, When I Was Young in the Mountains, which was an instant success. Since then, she's written more than 60 children's books and received numerous awards, including the Newbery and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award. With simplicity and grace, Rylant's books explore such subjects as aging, the trials of spirituality, the loss of a loved one, and the spirit and integrity of family life with all its joys and hardships. Rylant has said, "Books alter our hearts." Her books are a testament to this promise. Rylant lives in the Pacific Northwest. For more information about Cynthia Rylant, visit: scholastic.com/tradebooks

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 2. Poppleton is back. In the first story, the charming pig and his mouse friend, Hudson, travel to the shore where they find shells and eat cheese sandwiches. On the bus ride they meet a group of older ladies who teach them songs and dances and how to win at poker. In the second episode, Poppleton wrestles with the burden of dry skin. He combats it by pouring cooking oil over himself. But, alas, instead of curing the problem, it only makes him hungry for french fries. Cherry Sue, a llama, suggests honey as a cure, but honey makes him think of biscuits. Finally, Cherry Sue, good friend that she is, solves the problem with an amusing twist. In the third and final chapter, Poppleton hears on TV that eating grapefruit can increase one's lifespan. When the enthusiastic pig tastes one, though, his lips turn outside in, tears come to his eyes, and his face turns green. Hudson then supplies the answer to a long life: friends, of course. Teague's exuberant illustrations show the engaging characters enjoying life and one another. This is a wonderful, easy-to-read chapter book that will leave children laughing out loud.?Suzanne Hawley, Laurel Oak Elementary School, Naples, FL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this second outing for the kindly pig (Poppleton, 1997), readers learn that the keys to happiness are in sharing, kindness, and friendship. Rylant (see review above) features Poppleton's genial interactions with his friends Hudson, a mouse, and Cherry Sue, a llama, in three easy-to-read chapters. The first story is the strongest, when Poppleton boards a bus for the beach and a group of amiable older ladies share songs, poker secrets, and laughs with him and Hudson. At the beach, Poppleton and Hudson enjoy an easy companionship and then recall their good day for Cherry Sue when they return home. In the second story, good-natured Cherry Sue helps Poppleton battle ``dry skin'' while gently prompting the pig to clean up. In the final story, Poppleton discovers that friendship is the secret to living a long life, a comforting thoughtsimple and pure at heart. This is a far stronger showing than the first book, and Teague makes Rylant's characters all the more lovable. (Fiction. 6-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 1^-3. As with James Marshall's George and Martha stories and Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad tales, this new adventure about Poppleton pig and his buddies Hudson and Cherry Sue uses humor to show a special bond between friends. In "Shore Day," Poppleton and Hudson's day at the beach isn't complete until they stop at Cherry Sue's house to tell her what happened. In another story, Poppleton's dry, flaky skin has him worried until Cherry Sue discovers he is only sluffing off lint from his sweater. In "Grapefruit," the last and best of the three tales, Poppleton discovers the hard way that friends are the secret to a long life. An enlarged typeface and a limited controlled vocabulary combine with a generous number of cartoon-style illustrations to make this a perfect choice for beginning readers; the book will also be great for a story time focused on the theme of friendship. Lauren Peterson

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590847864
• ISBN 13: 9780590847865
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Teague Mark
• Number of pages: 48