Books › Never spit on your shoes
Never spit on your shoes
32 pages
A playful, ironic look at the hilarious gap between a child's calm recounting of their day and the actual chaos that ensued.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like being let in on a wonderful, chaotic secret. The experience hinges on a brilliant structural irony, where the simple, understated text of a child recounting a tiring first day of school is completely upended by the wild mayhem depicted in the illustrations. It is a brisk, energetic read that perfectly captures the overwhelming, bustling atmosphere of a classroom full of young animals. The mood is cheerful and playful, inviting the reader to spot the hilarious discrepancies between what is being said and what actually happened. It will delight young children who love visual gags and parents who know all too well that a child's simple summary of their day often leaves out the most spectacular details.
- Mood
- energetic
- chaotic
- cheerful
- lighthearted
- Tone
- ironic
- playful
- humorous
- understated
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- first day of school · childhood perspective · hidden mayhem · unreliable narrators
- The writing
- Simple and straightforward, serving as a deadpan counterpoint to the wild visual storytelling.
- The arc
- Begins with a deceptively calm recounting of a tiring day and builds into a delightful appreciation of unstated chaos.
- Who it's for
- Young readers experiencing the overwhelming energy of school and adults who love the humorous disconnect between a child's words and reality.
About the book
First grader Arnie tells his mother about his tiring first day at school, while the illustrations reveal the mayhem he is leaving out of his account.
Description from Open Library.
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