Common Sense Note
This fast-paced, exhilarating tale keeps readers enthralled as the boys ingeniously evade the bullies. Expressive, full-color illustrations heighten the suspense.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ann Marie Sammataro
The universal appeal of this story reaches beyond gender, race, and locale. Whether city dwellers or suburbans, whether male or female, and regardless of ethnicity, most children have had encounters with bullies of some sort and can empathize with Peter and Archie's predicament. Kids will be rooting for the intrepid duo throughout their adrenaline-pumping adventure. The triumph over the bullies is rewarding and empowering for children.
The multitextured illustrations of this work earned Ezra Jack Keats a Caldecott Honor award. Using vibrant colors that fill every inch of the pages, Keats recreates the city streets that are Archie and Peter's playground. Dark colors dominate, from the sky's smoky blue to the dusky taupes of the looming buildings. Cut paper layered over the paintings adds to their dimensionality.
Keats's attention to detail, such as crayon scribbles overlaid on paintings of walls to simulate graffiti, contributes to the realism of the work and captures readers' attention.
Want more Keats? Whistle for Willie is another tale about Peter and his dog. And John Nickle's The Ant Bully is a cautionary tale for bullies. For another story about a resourceful underdog outsmarting bullies, try Barbara Bottner's Bootsie Barker Bites.
From The Book
Peter raced to the hideout. He sank down as low as he could. Footsteps!
Plot Summary:
Two small boys, outnumbered and outweighed, outsmart their tormentors in a riveting tale that reminds readers that brainpower is more effective than brute power. Richly colored and highly detailed illustrations provide a vivid portrayal of an urban landscape.
Rate It!
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ViolenceA bully knocks Peter down. The illustration shows only a clenched fist at the end of the bully's outstretched arm. Shadowy illustrations of the big boys. |
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Social BehaviorPeter readily prepares to fight with the older boys, but he and Archie eventually succeed through cleverness, not through physical force. |
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