Title: Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels
Reviewed by: Terese Wylie
Author: Jamie Michalak
Illustrator: Frank Remkiewicz
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Fiction; Beginner Chapter Book
Kirkus Review: Star Review
Summary: In this beginner chapter book, we go on an adventure with Joe the giraffe and Sparky the turtle as they take to the city in Joe's new car, a prize he won from a contest he answered. After going shopping, getting fast food, and going back home to Safari Land.
Summary of Kirkus Review: Joe, the adventure seeking giraffe, and Sparky, the safe loving turtle, are an unlikely pair who go on an adventure in this four chapter book where Joe is convinced he won a car in a contest. In each chapter we learn about another part of their adventure: from the mall, to getting fast food, and going back to Safari Land. Readers who are ready for more words on the page will enjoy Joe's innocence and how he breaks Sparky "out of his shell".
Review by Terese Wylie: Michalak's story of two unlikely friends who set fourth on an adventure when Joe thinks he wins a contest creates an enjoyable and adorable story of a giraffe and a turtle breaking out of their home and going on an adventure. Remkiewicz's illustrations bring the whole story to life and makes all four chapters even more enjoyable and sometimes take over for the text. This book is perfect for the beginner reader.
Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels is a perfect book to keep inside the classroom for students to read on their own or to expand the class's reading level with more words on the pages and having the books divided into chapters. Also as teachers, we can use this book as a base to inspire a creative writing assignment.
Author: Jamie Michalak
Illustrator: Frank Remkiewicz
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Fiction; Beginner Chapter Book
Kirkus Review: Star Review
Summary: In this beginner chapter book, we go on an adventure with Joe the giraffe and Sparky the turtle as they take to the city in Joe's new car, a prize he won from a contest he answered. After going shopping, getting fast food, and going back home to Safari Land.
Summary of Kirkus Review: Joe, the adventure seeking giraffe, and Sparky, the safe loving turtle, are an unlikely pair who go on an adventure in this four chapter book where Joe is convinced he won a car in a contest. In each chapter we learn about another part of their adventure: from the mall, to getting fast food, and going back to Safari Land. Readers who are ready for more words on the page will enjoy Joe's innocence and how he breaks Sparky "out of his shell".
Review by Terese Wylie: Michalak's story of two unlikely friends who set fourth on an adventure when Joe thinks he wins a contest creates an enjoyable and adorable story of a giraffe and a turtle breaking out of their home and going on an adventure. Remkiewicz's illustrations bring the whole story to life and makes all four chapters even more enjoyable and sometimes take over for the text. This book is perfect for the beginner reader.
Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels is a perfect book to keep inside the classroom for students to read on their own or to expand the class's reading level with more words on the pages and having the books divided into chapters. Also as teachers, we can use this book as a base to inspire a creative writing assignment.