WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO ME? (Sesame Street Start-To-Read Books)

When his schoolmates laugh at him for not being able to hit a baseball, Grover is so upset that he is mean to his friend, Big Bird

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Grover comes to accept the fact that he may not succeed at everything he attempts. His happy anticipation of playing baseball with his new bat at the school picnic evaporates when he is the last one chosen to be on a team because of his inexperience. To make matters worse, he misses each time he swings, and the other children laugh at him. As he walks home, his unhappiness changes to anger. Oscar and Big Bird help Grover to recognize the cause of his feelings, and his mother reminds him that she loves him because he is himself. Hautzig's text can be read by beginning readers, but the book could also be read aloud and discussed with groups of young children. Clearly, the plot is of less importance than the message, but Hautzig handles Grover and his problems with a light touch and without preaching. Cooke's watercolors are adequate representations of the Muppets. This book successfully takes a situation familiar to children and expands it in a way that will be affirming to them. Consequently, although neither the text nor the illustrations are distinguished, the book itself may be useful in school and public libraries.Jean Hammond Zimmerman, Willett School Library, South River, N.J.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.