Book Details
Written by
Illustrated by
Genre
More details

Ira Says Goodbye (by Bernard Waber)

common sense media says

Best for children dealing with moves.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that realistic conversations, first-person narrative, and, of course, Ira himself engage kids.

Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.

More on Ira Says Goodbye

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about farewells. Have you ever had to say goodbye to a friend because one of you was moving? If so, were you able to keep in touch? What helps soothe you when you say farewell to teachers, friends, or visitors?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Ira gets a bad surprise when he learns that his best friend and next-door neighbor, Reggie, is moving away. Reggie and Ira have shared everything: a tree house, a secret hiding place, birthday parties, and baseball cards.

Then, Ira gets an even worse surprise: Reggie suddenly seems to reject all the things they have in common and goes on endlessly about the wonders of his new community, Greendale. To Ira, it's "as if Reggie had already moved away," and he begins to convince himself that he will be glad to see Reggie leave.

Reggie's true feelings come out only on moving day, when he and Ira renew their friendship. Supportive parents, the telephone, and the fact that Reggie is still close enough for weekend visits provide a comforting resolution to a difficult experience.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Much of the charm of Bernard Waber's earlier book, Ira Sleeps Over, remains. Ira is a memorable character -- funny, reflective, and smart in some ways and clueless in others. The illustrations reinforce the down-to-earth quality of the story and the everyday lives of the characters.

The more serious subject, of course, makes IRA SAYS GOODBYE a less fun read than Ira Sleeps Over. This is a welcome book for adults wanting to ease children through a separation from friends, an increasingly common scenario in our mobile society. However, the treatment of the situation seems formulaic, and the plot, which has Reggie moving only about an hour away, seems to raise some unrealistic expectations.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Bernard Waber
Illustrator: Bernard Waber
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
Publication date: January 1, 1988
Number of pages: 38
Paperback price: $5.95

This review was written by Linda Rahm-Crites
 
 

Review It

 

Review Ira Says Goodbye





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

There aren’t any reviews yet. Ask your friends to review this title.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you read Ira Says Goodbye?


Already read it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age