Reviews

• 2011年のコールデコット賞を受賞した、温かくて素敵な絵本です

  語数 441 YL 0.9 Amos McGeeさんは、動物園の飼育員です。毎朝、動物園に早めに着く ように早起きします。もちろん動物園での仕事はたくさんあるのですが、 Amosさんは動物たちとの日課を欠かしません。 象さんとはチェスをして、カメさんとは競争をして、恥ずかしがりやの ペンギンさんとは一緒に座ってあげて、アレルギー持ちのサイさんには ハンカチを貸して、フクロウさんにはお話を読んであげます。 動物たちも、愛情をたっぷりくれるAmosさんのことが大好きです。 そんなある日、Amosさんは風邪をひいてしまい、動物園に行けなくな ってしまいました。そんなAmosさんを心配して動物たちは…。 必要な時にそばにいてあげる。そんなメッセージが込められた温かい 絵本です。木版画と鉛筆で描いた繊細なイラストもとっても素敵です。 2011年のコールデコット賞受賞作品です。

• An Amazing Day

  The kids and I are all fascinated and grateful for this heartwarming picture story about Amos, a zoo caregiver who has established his relationship with his animal friends so deep that when Amos was sick one day, it was their turn to return his favor and care. Readers will see the cutest animals with distinguished personalities, big and small, sweet and wise, array from elephant, penguin, turtle to owl.., all present to Amos in their own different way on this difficult day, the best healing medicine of all - friendship, Abundant details within pages to make your heart and soul smile and it is very easy to see why this book has won the prestigious Caldecott award (2011).

• A beautiful story gloriously illustrated. It tells of love and care for each other in an amusing and imaginative way. Ignore how animals leave the zoo or an elephant entering a small room to visit a sick friend. Simply enjoy the story for what it is - love and concern.

• My kids (twins) are almost 21 months old and they fell in love with this book. To say they loved the illustrations would be putting it mildly. They look at the illustrations excitedly and scream with delight when they see something they recognise, like an owl, or the mouse or the red ballon, or the moon. I don't read the story out but rather I tell the tale in my own words, so that they can understand. I describe what everything is and talk about Amos and where he sleeps and what he wears and what he does and his friends the animals and how one day he was too tired to get out of bed. I love the book too. It evokes such beautiful sentiments. I can read it endlessly myself. So I have to say I give this book 5 stars and know that every parent is going to love showing this book to their kids from as young as 21 months old and perhaps even younger! Enjoy!

• Simple yet beautiful. This book is a delightful story for young readers.

• This is a beautiful copy of a beautiful story. This Caldcott winner is one of my favourite reads for my kids. The pictures are gorgeous,

• A Sick Day for Amos McGee thrust its way into my heart in January 2011 when it won the Caldecott Medal. I had run a mock Caldecott unit with my third grade class, and this book wasn’t even on our radar enough to put on our ballots. I had some definite favorites that year, both for the Caldecott Medal and for timeless books I wanted to make sure I bought for my own children (Art & Max; City Dog, Country Frog; Ballet For Martha; Mirror Mirror; It’s a Book; Ubiquitous), and I was initially crushed when some of those favorites weren’t recognized at the ALA awards… Until I went to the bookstore that afternoon, bought A Sick Day for Amos McGee, and realized how amazing it was. Though Philip Stead had published one book previously, A Sick Day for Amos McGee was his wife Erin’s first illustrated book… and both newbies hit the nail squarely on the head with this charming, timeless book. Amos McGee, zookeeper who will remind adults of Mr. Rogers, is one of the more endearing book characters I can think of. He wakes early each morning, greets even the items around his house and the bus driver, and is extraordinarily devoted to the animals at his zoo. He knows each one intimately, taking care to make them feel comfortable and loved. Until, one day… Amos McGee gets sick. Amos’s tenderness with his animal friends is reflected in the worry they feel about him and the actions they take to ensure that he too feels comfortable and loved. This is the kind of story that makes children and adults alike want to treat their friends and loved ones the same way Amos McGee does. And the illustrations! Erin’s pencil and woodblock prints are done with minimal, reserved color, but are full of details that render each reading of those story new and exciting. I didn’t notice the repeated inclusion of a red balloon, tiny bird, and mouse until the fourth or fifth time that I read the book! Tiny details aside, Erin’s sketches allow the sweet, caring personalities of each character to show through. Readers feel genuinely concerned about the rhino with a runny nose, depicted with constant concern or worry on his face reflecting just how sick he feels, and compassionate toward the shy penguin, drawn with his wings and toes pointed in, as if he’s trying to curl up small enough to go unnoticed. Philip and Erin Stead, thank you for this book. A story of the kindest of friends, timeless illustrations leaving you with more with every reading… It was an instant favorite with my room full of third graders, and it is now a favorite with my own children (2 and 4.5). Publishers recommend this for ages 4-8, but it can definitely be enjoyed younger and likely older too! If you If you loved A Sick Day for Amos McGee, check out Bear Has a Story To Tell, the duo’s second collaboration together. It’s every bit as charming of a friendship story with as many fun details that make it new and interesting to read each time. For that matter, I love every single book that Philip Stead has written and every book Erin Stead has illustrated!

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