Gooney Bird Greene

Rating:
Summary: How Ramseelbird fell under the spell of Gooney Bird Greene
Review: Author Lois Lowry is perhaps best known for her controversial, award winning, and often very interesting children's books. These books, on the whole tend to be written with the older child reader in mind. Swiveling her head a full 90 degrees to the left, Lowry has now decided to write a book with the younger child readers in mind. Hence, the creation and subsequent publication of the adorable, "Gooney Bird Greene". Tis a tale of one girl, her stories, and her awe-stricken/hand-raising/wide-eyed classmates.

When Gooney Bird Greene arrives in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class unannounced, nobody knows quite what to make of her. Decked out in pajamas and cowboy boots, and holding her lunch with a dictionary, she immediately becomes the class's star pupil. For you see, Gooney Bird Greene was blessed with the gift of storytelling. By sheer coincidence, Mrs. Pidgeon is attempting to teach the class all about the different parts of a story. As the book progresses and Gooney Bird tells her "absolutely true" tales, the book carefully examines what it is that makes a story either good or bad. By the end, Gooney Bird has influenced all the students (and even Mrs. Pidgeon) to tell their own stories just as she has.

The book's top notch, really. Both children and their parents reading this book will be entranced by the notion of how Gooney Bird's outrageously titled tales really do turn out to be true in the end. The tale entitled, "How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet" turns out to be about how Gooney Bird and her family moved from their small town of China in their car, and how GB accidentally flew out of the car while in the center of the family's old rolled up carpet. The tale, "Why Gooney Bird Was Late for School Because She Was Directing a Symphony Orchestra" is about how she directed a bus full of musicians to the local town hall where they were to play. You get the idea. The only tale GB tells that strains at its wording is, "Beloved Catman Is Consumed by a Cow", though you'll have to read it yourself to see if you agree with me or not.

When I first read the description of this book, I was greatly afraid that this would be a younger person's version of Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl". I thought (and was completely wrong) that the book was about a girl who's completely different from her classmates, they they all initially love her but then eventually despise her, and that she would befriend the trouble making kid and the shy and quiet kid in the course of her adventures. Wrong. Wrongdy wrong wrong. This book is, in fact, about a girl and the great awe inspiring talent of spinning a good yarn. Accompanying Ms. Lowry's adept words and motifs are the illustrations of Middy Thomas. These help to drill home the fact to kids of how very cool Gooney Bird really is. I highly recommend, by the way, that all you adults out there read the back inner flap of the book for the author/illustrator description. It's very amusing.

How rare to read a book that is intended for such a young audience but is still so well written. If you've a child that tells stories all the time and is the right age for this book (it's an early chapter book, so you can decide how well it fits them yourself) then I highly recommend that you go out and get this item immediately. Similarly, if you've any interest in all in teaching the kiddies about the parts and features of a good story, go and get yourself some "Gooney Bird Greene". I guarantee you that it exceeds and surpasses all expectations. And then some.

Rating:
Summary: How Ramseelbird fell under the spell of Gooney Bird Greene
Review: Author Lois Lowry is perhaps best known for her controversial, award winning, and often very interesting children's books. These books, on the whole tend to be written with the older child reader in mind. Swiveling her head a full 90 degrees to the left, Lowry has now decided to write a book with the younger child readers in mind. Hence, the creation and subsequent publication of the adorable, "Gooney Bird Greene". Tis a tale of one girl, her stories, and her awe-stricken/hand-raising/wide-eyed classmates.

When Gooney Bird Greene arrives in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class unannounced, nobody knows quite what to make of her. Decked out in pajamas and cowboy boots, and holding her lunch with a dictionary, she immediately becomes the class's star pupil. For you see, Gooney Bird Greene was blessed with the gift of storytelling. By sheer coincidence, Mrs. Pidgeon is attempting to teach the class all about the different parts of a story. As the book progresses and Gooney Bird tells her "absolutely true" tales, the book carefully examines what it is that makes a story either good or bad. By the end, Gooney Bird has influenced all the students (and even Mrs. Pidgeon) to tell their own stories just as she has.

The book's top notch, really. Both children and their parents reading this book will be entranced by the notion of how Gooney Bird's outrageously titled tales really do turn out to be true in the end. The tale entitled, "How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet" turns out to be about how Gooney Bird and her family moved from their small town of China in their car, and how GB accidentally flew out of the car while in the center of the family's old rolled up carpet. The tale, "Why Gooney Bird Was Late for School Because She Was Directing a Symphony Orchestra" is about how she directed a bus full of musicians to the local town hall where they were to play. You get the idea. The only tale GB tells that strains at its wording is, "Beloved Catman Is Consumed by a Cow", though you'll have to read it yourself to see if you agree with me or not.

When I first read the description of this book, I was greatly afraid that this would be a younger person's version of Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl". I thought (and was completely wrong) that the book was about a girl who's completely different from her classmates, they they all initially love her but then eventually despise her, and that she would befriend the trouble making kid and the shy and quiet kid in the course of her adventures. Wrong. Wrongdy wrong wrong. This book is, in fact, about a girl and the great awe inspiring talent of spinning a good yarn. Accompanying Ms. Lowry's adept words and motifs are the illustrations of Middy Thomas. These help to drill home the fact to kids of how very cool Gooney Bird really is. I highly recommend, by the way, that all you adults out there read the back inner flap of the book for the author/illustrator description. It's very amusing.

How rare to read a book that is intended for such a young audience but is still so well written. If you've a child that tells stories all the time and is the right age for this book (it's an early chapter book, so you can decide how well it fits them yourself) then I highly recommend that you go out and get this item immediately. Similarly, if you've any interest in all in teaching the kiddies about the parts and features of a good story, go and get yourself some "Gooney Bird Greene". I guarantee you that it exceeds and surpasses all expectations. And then some.

Rating:
Summary: You will love this story
Review: Gooney Bird Greene draws the reader into her world as readily as she draws her classmates into her stories. Gooney Bird dresses in amazing outfits and tells amazing "absolutely true" stories. The author plays with words in a charming way that younger readers will accept that older readers will appreciate. Middy Thomas adds charming illustrations that will make you want to turn the page to see what Gooney Bird is wearing NOW.

This book feels good in the hands and has an appealing look to it. If you have younger children to read to, this book will hold their attention and allows nice breaks for short attention spans.

Rating:
Summary: You will love this story
Review: Gooney Bird Greene draws the reader into her world as readily as she draws her classmates into her stories. Gooney Bird dresses in amazing outfits and tells amazing "absolutely true" stories. The author plays with words in a charming way that younger readers will accept that older readers will appreciate. Middy Thomas adds charming illustrations that will make you want to turn the page to see what Gooney Bird is wearing NOW.

This book feels good in the hands and has an appealing look to it. If you have younger children to read to, this book will hold their attention and allows nice breaks for short attention spans.

Rating:
Summary: Gooney Bird Greene
Review: Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowery, is an excellent book that will have students laughing out loud! This book is great for bringing out the quiet students in any class. Gooney Bird Greene is a new student in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class at Watertown Elementary School. She began very quickly to liven up the room with her fun-loving personality and outrageous choicde of clothing. The class is learning how to write stories and Gooney Bird Greene has a story to tell everyday. With her "true stories" she tells, the kids learn probably more about writing ideas than they would from the teacher alone. Gooney Bird Greene is an inspiration to all the students in the class, even the ones who would never speak up or tended to shy away from the rest of the class. I really enjoyed reading this book and you will to.

Rating:
Summary: Gooney Bird Greene
Review: Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowery, is an excellent book that will have students laughing out loud! This book is great for bringing out the quiet students in any class. Gooney Bird Greene is a new student in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class at Watertown Elementary School. She began very quickly to liven up the room with her fun-loving personality and outrageous choicde of clothing. The class is learning how to write stories and Gooney Bird Greene has a story to tell everyday. With her "true stories" she tells, the kids learn probably more about writing ideas than they would from the teacher alone. Gooney Bird Greene is an inspiration to all the students in the class, even the ones who would never speak up or tended to shy away from the rest of the class. I really enjoyed reading this book and you will to.

Rating:
Summary: The best book I have ever read!
Review: I bought this book for my second grader because it looked cute. She read it for a book report she was doing at school. After she was done she came to me and told me that I should read it because it was so good. I read it last night and it nearly brought me to tears! I loved it. It was so loving, and sweet, and educational in a completely fun way. Gooney Bird Greene, and the children in her class are how we all hope our children to be; individual, loving, curious, kind, respectful, etc.. Gooney Birds teacher is what every child's teacher should be; patient, loving, and not afraid to let a 2nd grader be smarter then herself! This is a must read for parents and children alike!!!

Rating:
Summary: Gooney Bird Greene-A lesson in storytelling
Review: I first chose to read _Gooney Bird Greene_ because it was written by Lois Lowry, the author who wrote _The Giver_, one of my favorite books. Although Lowry has written many books, I hadn't read anything else by her besides _The Giver_. I was surprised by _Gooney Bird Greene_ because it wasn't anything like _The Giver_. I really didn't expect it to be because _Gooney Bird Greene_ is a children's book, and I consider _The Giver_ to be more of a young adult book. However, I was far from disappointed with _Gooney Bird Greene_, and I became even more impressed with Lowry's ability as a writer.
The book begins with a teacher telling her students that they are going to write stories. Of course, Gooney Bird is the new girl in the school, and she is very interesting with her unique clothes. So, everyone wants to hear her stories. The students want to hear a story from Gooney Bird everyday. She tells many different stories from how she got her name to how she directed a symphony orchestra! Most importantly, Gooney Bird serves as an inspiration for the other students; she shows them that they too can tell a good story.
Gooney Bird Greene is a story about a young child who...tells stories. To some people this may sound boring, but it's an interesting little book because the character, Gooney Bird, is so well-developed. The stories she tells are "always true," she insists, but they are not always what the title suggests. For example, one story she titles "Beloved Catman is consumed by a Cow." From the title, you would think, as her classmates did, that her cat was eaten by a cow. But, her cat had "fallen in love" with the cow, so it was "consumed" by its love/fascination for the cow.
If you like a good story, I highly recommend this book, especially for young second grade students. I couldn't help but laugh at the character of Gooney Bird. Lowry gave such a great voice to this unique little girl. She really teaches us a good lesson in storytelling.

Rating:
Summary: Gooney Bird Green
Review: Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class will never be the same when Gooney Bird Greene arrives one October morning. She is recognized immediately because of the attire she is wearing and what appears in her lunch, items like suchi and avacodos. Gooney Bird demands she be "right smack in the middle of everything" and indeed she is. She becomes very popular among the other students, as well as, Mrs. Pidgeon for her ability to tell "absolutely true" stories. You won't want to the miss the adventure of her very interesting and detailed stories. For example, "How Gooney Bird Got Her Name" or "The Prince,the Palace, and the Diamond Earrings". She can really bring a crowd to life! I truly enjoyed the uniqueness of Gooney Bird's character and her ability to deomonstrate a proficient story. Lois Lowry has definently turned this second grader into a "hero". This is one you won't want to miss!

Rating:
Summary: Great to see a Lowry book for younger readers
Review: Talk about a versatile author! And laugh-out-loud funny, too. Teachers in grades 1-4 are going to love reading this one in classrooms. Gooney Bird is an endearing second-grader who has a lot of practical wisdom to dispense and is able to do it with verve and self-confidence (and while wearing a tutu!) Imagination really CAN change the tone of a classroom and this charming book will show everyone just how it does.