Amos McGee Misses the Bus
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Amos McGee Misses the Bus, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead, is a charming companion story to the 2011 Caldecott Medal winner for best picture book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee. The story centers on the way Amos, the zookeeper, and his animal friends care for one another. Both Amos and the animals go out of their way to consider the others' feelings. They worry about each other, do nice things for each other, and work together as a team. The story is simple and the watercolor illustrations are warm and inviting.
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What's the story?
In AMOS MCGEE MISSES THE BUS, Amos can't sleep because he's too excited about an outing he's planning for the zoo animals. When he's late the next day, the animals worry about the tired zookeeper. Will his work get done so everyone gets to go to the beach?
Is it any good?
This sweet story of a zookeeper and his animals caring for each other is one readers will enjoy picking up again and again. There are many simple examples of how to be a good friend in Amos McGee Misses the Bus that parents will enjoy sharing with their toddlers and preschoolers. The characters do thoughtful things for one another, including planning surprises, finding lost things, and helping with work. They worry about each other, work together as a team, and find enjoyment in the happiness of others. The soft watercolor illustrations do a wonderful job of conveying the gentle tone of this book and the sparse use of color adds a lot of visual interest to this simple story.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about what it means to be a good friend in Amos McGee Misses the Bus. Look at the pictures of the animals when Amos is talking to them, are they being good listeners? How can you tell? What other things do they do to be good friends?
Did you think Amos and the animals were going to have time for an outing after he slept in? How did the animals use teamwork to get everything done?
What were some of your favorite things in the book? Did you like that not every part of the pictures were colored in? Why do you think the author used the phrase "Beep-beep!" several times?
Book details
- Author: Philip C. Stead
- Illustrator: Erin E. Stead
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Friendship, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: November 23, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 6
- Number of pages: 48
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback
- Last updated: January 1, 2022
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