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jstruzzi's review against another edition
I read this unique dragon story aloud to a group of second graders and they laughed. The teacher character is a bit marmish, but it's a fun read, especially for a class.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book about accepting and loving differences. I love the teacher. The illustrations are delightful.
beecheralyson's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book - there was a lot to find humorous. What I didn't like was everyone not acknowledging that Argus was obviously not a chick - especially the teacher. There are books that pull that aspect off more effectively. I didn't feel this one did. :-( Aside from that one aspect I really did like the book. Especially the repeating line "Mrs. Henshaw rushed over and rescued them."
tashrow's review
4.0
When her class at school does a science project with eggs, Sally’s egg looks very different from the regular white chicken eggs. Hers is much larger and polka-dotted. When the others eggs hatch, the fluffy yellow chicks emerge. When Sally’s egg hatches, out comes something scaly and green. Argus is completely different from the other chicks. He doesn’t eat seeds, instead he’s rather eat the other chicks. Perhaps even the students! Sally finds herself longing for a yellow, fluffy, normal chick of her own. But when Argus disappears, she realizes that he has become very special to her and that his own unique qualities are what make him himself.
Knudsen has created a picture book that is very funny. She plays up the humor of a dragon emerging from an egg in a classroom. I also enjoyed the role of the teacher, Mrs. Henshaw, who takes all of the differences and surprises in stride, managing all of the situations without getting flustered. It is as matter-of-fact a book about a dragon as you are likely to find, which is a large part of its charm.
Wesson’s illustrations have a light touch and lots of details. The yellow chicks are roly poly and jolly. Argus is not. Yet children will never be afraid of Argus because he wears a smile and has friendly yellow eyes. Another touch from Wesson are the graphs and measurements that the class makes of their “chicks.” Argus definitely does not conform.
A funny, wry book about differences and acceptance, this book will be welcome in libraries and classrooms as a way to discuss difficult subjects with humor. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
Knudsen has created a picture book that is very funny. She plays up the humor of a dragon emerging from an egg in a classroom. I also enjoyed the role of the teacher, Mrs. Henshaw, who takes all of the differences and surprises in stride, managing all of the situations without getting flustered. It is as matter-of-fact a book about a dragon as you are likely to find, which is a large part of its charm.
Wesson’s illustrations have a light touch and lots of details. The yellow chicks are roly poly and jolly. Argus is not. Yet children will never be afraid of Argus because he wears a smile and has friendly yellow eyes. Another touch from Wesson are the graphs and measurements that the class makes of their “chicks.” Argus definitely does not conform.
A funny, wry book about differences and acceptance, this book will be welcome in libraries and classrooms as a way to discuss difficult subjects with humor. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
5.0
All of Sally’s class was doing a science project with eggs. Sally’s egg looked different than the other children’s eggs. When the eggs hatched, Sally noticed that her chick, who she named Argus, looked different than the other chicks, green, scaly, and with big yellow eyes. Sally’s teacher reminded her that chicks can be different. Sally’s chick continued to be very different than the chicks of the other children, growing much larger than the other chicks, attempting to eat the other chicks, digging enormous holes in the ground rather than pecking quietly for insects.
I found the story to be a clever tale, with Sally’s teacher, quite oddly, refusing to accept Argus as anything other than a peculiar chick, despite the fact that the story takes place in a science class. Everyone loves a dragon, so I think this book will prove to be very popular with the children.
“’Good work, children,’ said Mrs. Henshaw. ‘Now let’s investigate what our little chicks like to eat.’
‘Mine likes seeds!’ said one boy.
‘Mine likes beetles!’ said another.
‘Mine is trying to eat the other chicks,’ said Sally.”
I found the story to be a clever tale, with Sally’s teacher, quite oddly, refusing to accept Argus as anything other than a peculiar chick, despite the fact that the story takes place in a science class. Everyone loves a dragon, so I think this book will prove to be very popular with the children.
“’Good work, children,’ said Mrs. Henshaw. ‘Now let’s investigate what our little chicks like to eat.’
‘Mine likes seeds!’ said one boy.
‘Mine likes beetles!’ said another.
‘Mine is trying to eat the other chicks,’ said Sally.”