A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Stead, Philip C. and Stead, Erin E., A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Roaring Brook Press, 2010, 32 pgs.

Summary: Amos McGee is an animal keeper at the zoo. Amos is a typical animal keeper, he doesn’t just feed the animals, he also does things for each of the animals depending on what they need. He plays chess with the elephant, and runs races with the tortoise. He sits with the penguin and lends a hand to the rhinoceros, and never forgets to read stories to the owl. Then one day Amos is sick and can’t get out of bed. The animals wonder where Amos is! Who will sit with the penguin and read to owl? So the animals decide to go visit Amos and see if everything is ok. When they discover that Amos is sick, they do for him what he does for them every day. They take care of Amos until he feels better.

Evaluation: This book was the most wonderful picture book I have read recently. The illustrations add so much to this book and the detail down to the little mouse and Amos’s bunny slippers is hard to miss. The story is truly a sweet story that I can’t wait to read to my own child some day.

Annotation: What happens when you are sick? Who takes care of you?

Significance of Book: This book truly teaches caring. The little things that Amos does each day for the animals are not necessary, but they are what make his relationship with the animals so special.

Genre/subject: fiction, animals, kindness

Awards:

National:

· ALA Notable Children's Books: 2011,

· Caldecott Medal: 2011,

· Charlotte Zolotow Honor: 2011,

· NY Times Best Illustrated Books: 2010

Why I selected the book: I picked this book for the illustrations. The animals are so adorable and “warm”.

Price: $ 16.99