The Backward Day<small> by Ruth Krauss</small>

If you like the The Carrot Seed, you ought to take a look at Ruth Krauss' The Backward Day. It's a little gem of a book that has the same 'classic' feel as Carrot; and both my children -- currently 6 and 8-- enjoyed it.

The story is about a little boy who wakes up one day and says to himself, "Today is backward day". He then proceeds to get up, put on his clothes backwards, with underwear over suit over coat! After which he goes downstairs -- backwards, of course! -- where his family joins him in more funny chaos.

The Backward Day doesn't last past breakfast, but it's a fun romp for children who love the idea of the 'world turned upside down'... or is that 'front-side back'.

The Skinny:::
This is a appealing story that is a Good Read-A-Loud. It takes about 10 minutes from start to finish and the words just roll off the tongue. The artwork by Marc Simont is simple and charming. All said though, I think this one is better borrowed from the library as children are likely to outgrow it quickly.

Reading Level: I could find no Reading Level for "The Backward Day". I would guess 3rd Grade as the vocabulary doesn't hold many surprises. The print is large enough that I can read it without my glasses, but on some of the pages there are as many as 3 paragraphs. Here is an example so you can judge for yourself:

Then his father went to the place that was
the little boy's place at the table. He turned the
little boy's chair backward to the table and sat. He
tied the little boy's napkin backward around his neck.

His mother went to the place that was his
baby sister's place at the table. She turned his
baby sister's high-chair backward to the table
and sat. She tied his baby sister's bib backward
around her

Ruth Krauss is an amazing author. One who manages to constantly find themes that resonant with young children. A member of the famous Bank Street School, she penned such works as The Carrot Seed and A Hole Is to Dig.

Pam T
Somewhere in the X-burbs

The Backward Day