April Foolishness
Author: Teresa Bateman
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Wescott
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: Fiction
Horn Book or Kirkus Review rating: Horn Book (3)
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Wescott
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: Fiction
Horn Book or Kirkus Review rating: Horn Book (3)
Summary: This is a story of a grandpa on his farm having an April Fool's Day that he will never forget with his granddaughter and wife.
Summary of Professional Reviews: It's April Fool's Day on the farm--or is it? This is the story of a grandpa who thinks he is ahead of the game when his granddaughter tells him that his farm is going nuts: "The cows are loose," "The pigs are in the tomatoes!" Grandpa knows that it is April 1st and he knows that his granddaughter is lying, but with a slight twist, his wife tells him that it is not April 1st. He runs out side to only see that he had fallen into his own joke. Horn says that "Wescott's illustrations are funny and whimsical." They match the fun rhyming that this story brings, but of course, grandma is the one that gets the last laugh.
Review by Katie Henderson: Grandpa knows that it is April Fool's Day and he is not okay with falling for any jokes this year. His granddaughter yells through the kitchen, "The cows are loose," "The pigs are in the tomatoes." Grandpa does not move because he know s that it is April Fool's Day. After his granddaughter yelling all this time, his wife tells him that April Fool's Day is tomorrow, and with a panic he runs outside only to see that he has fallen into his own joke. This story has plenty of rhyming that keeps the child reading on and on. It gives it a more rhythmic feel that a child would love. The comedy in the story matches the fun pictures that Wescott paints on each page, giving it that extra touch to make it complete.
This book would be useful when teaching...children about different farm animals. This book does a lot of mentioning of many different farm animals, like pigs, goats, and chickens. Another lesson that can be taught during this story is a lesson about April Fool's Day. I could teach the children about different April Fool's jokes that have been done in the past. I could also teach them when a joke has gone too far for April Fool's Day. Finally, I could have the children predict what would happen if it was not April Fool's Day. I could have them draw me pictures of what the back yard would look like or even have them explain it to me orally during a reading time.
Summary of Professional Reviews: It's April Fool's Day on the farm--or is it? This is the story of a grandpa who thinks he is ahead of the game when his granddaughter tells him that his farm is going nuts: "The cows are loose," "The pigs are in the tomatoes!" Grandpa knows that it is April 1st and he knows that his granddaughter is lying, but with a slight twist, his wife tells him that it is not April 1st. He runs out side to only see that he had fallen into his own joke. Horn says that "Wescott's illustrations are funny and whimsical." They match the fun rhyming that this story brings, but of course, grandma is the one that gets the last laugh.
Review by Katie Henderson: Grandpa knows that it is April Fool's Day and he is not okay with falling for any jokes this year. His granddaughter yells through the kitchen, "The cows are loose," "The pigs are in the tomatoes." Grandpa does not move because he know s that it is April Fool's Day. After his granddaughter yelling all this time, his wife tells him that April Fool's Day is tomorrow, and with a panic he runs outside only to see that he has fallen into his own joke. This story has plenty of rhyming that keeps the child reading on and on. It gives it a more rhythmic feel that a child would love. The comedy in the story matches the fun pictures that Wescott paints on each page, giving it that extra touch to make it complete.
This book would be useful when teaching...children about different farm animals. This book does a lot of mentioning of many different farm animals, like pigs, goats, and chickens. Another lesson that can be taught during this story is a lesson about April Fool's Day. I could teach the children about different April Fool's jokes that have been done in the past. I could also teach them when a joke has gone too far for April Fool's Day. Finally, I could have the children predict what would happen if it was not April Fool's Day. I could have them draw me pictures of what the back yard would look like or even have them explain it to me orally during a reading time.