**Warning: possible spoilers**The Sneetches and Other Stories
is one of the Seuss books for older children. It contains 4 Stories: The Sneetches, The Zax, Too Many Daves, and What was I Scared Of?The Sneetches -- might have been the precursor of that Star Trek episode where the white-on-the-left-side, black-on-the-right-side people were in conflict with the black-on-the-left-side, white-on-the-right-side group. Except in this case we have Sneetches with and without belly-stars.
The star-less bellies are snubbed until Sylvester McMonkey McBean appears on the scene with a machine that for a little cash will add --or takeaway!-- belly stars.
As you can imagine chaos ensues when everyone suddenly finds that they look the same. Previously starred Sneetches get their stars removed and these trailblazers are soon followed so that again, everyone looks the same. Things go back and forth until McBean picks up and leaves -- with everyone's cash!
The Zax -- is a funny story about a North-going Zax who meets a South-going Zax. The pair meet face to face out in the middle of an empty plain and neither will budge a bit so that they can pass one another and get on with their 'going'. In fact, they stay that way until the plain is no longer empty, and they are surrounded by a busy city.
Too Many Daves -- is hilarious kid-stuff. It is about a mom who named all of her 23 sons, Dave.
What Was I Scared Of? -- is a wonderful story. It begins with one of Seuss's little guys entering a scary, dark forest. He is walking along when he suddenly spies pants! This wouldn't be a big deal normally except that these pants start following him, and there is no one in them!
And then they moved! Those empty pants!
They kind of started jumping.
And then my heart, I must admit,
It kind of started thumping.
So I got out. I got out fast
As fast as I could go, sir.
I wasn't scared. But pants like that
I did not care for. No, sir.
I won't tell you how it ends, but it's a great kid's story which is even a little heartwarming.
Considerations :::
The Accelerated Reading designation (wiki) for The Sneetches and Other Stories is 3.4 which means that the "average" 3rd Grader in the 4th month of the school year should be able to read this themselves without becoming too frustrated by the vocabulary.
It can be read to any age.
2 comments :
Ah, the Sneetches -- love the *spoiler alert*!
As usual, thanks for the great book recommendations (especially when we're heading for the library!)
Oh JK, if you are heading out to the library be on the look out for two new books by Mo Willems, of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" fame.
He recently published "Pigeon Wants a Puppy" and "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed". They're both cute, but the pigeon book has my kids doubled over with giggles. (My kids are 6 and 8)
About the spoiler alert: I recently had someone 'jump all over me' for talking about the plot of a book for preschoolers. Go figure. In any case, I am sensitive to others concerns.
Thanks for the comment! You made my day :)
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