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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Newberg Public Library | NATURE BARROWS | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... West Salem Branch Library | JP Barrows | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
From the bestselling author Annie Barrows, What John Marco Saw is a captivating tale that celebrates the importance of slowing down.
Sometimes the smallest people have the biggest things to say: John Marco is small and everyone around him is big and busy-too busy to stop and listen. The thing is, John Marco is busy, too! He's busy noticing and exploring the world around him. Maybe everyone should slow down and pay attention to John Marco. If they do, they might witness some the incredible things John Marco sees.
* A stunning display of Barrows talent for creating stories that speak directly to young readers
* Features bright and richly illustrated pages that focus on John Marco's perspective and helps little minds connect with the story
* Annie Barrows has written many books for children, including the New York Times bestselling Ivy + Bean series--which has sold more than 5 million copies
Fans of Hungry Jim and What Can a Citizen Do? will also enjoy the charming illustrations and sweet storylines found in What John Marco Saw .
* Great family and classroom read-aloud book
* Books for kids ages 3-5
* Books for preschool and kindergarten students
Author Notes
Award winning author Annie Barrows was born in San Diego, California. She graduated from UC Berkeley. After graduation Annie became an editor editing books on a wide-range of topics. After she had edited a couple hundred books, she decided that that she could probably write one herself so she went to writing school. After writing several books for adults she decided she'd like to write for children.
Annie is the author of the Ivy and Bean Series which have won numerous awards including: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book, Booklist, Editor's Choice, Best Books of 2007 Kirkus Reviews, The Best Children's Book of 2006, Best Early Chapter Books, Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom, 2006, New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006. she is also the co-author of the New York Times bestselling novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Her title The Truth According to Us, also made The New York Times Best Seller List.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Young John Marco notices really amazing things in his daily life but unfortunately nobody in his big, bustling family wants to hear about them. He is rebuffed by his neighbor, Mr. Jordy, when he tries to tell him about the mind-blowing things he discovered digging in the mud. He next tries to chat with his mother about a very fat orange cat in the neighborhood but his mom is way too busy multitasking to give John Marco the attention he requires. In an unexpected twist, the little chap notices that a tree in his front yard is slowly falling down so he yells for all to come see it. At first, they don't believe him and then just like that, the tree comes crashing down. The book ends with that same orange cat telling the crowd that they should pay more attention; "Like John Marco does." Lemon's full-bleed digital illustrations are colorful and expansive and lend themselves to a storytime sharing. VERDICT This is a quirky tale that many little ones will relate to. An optional purchase.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI
Publisher's Weekly Review
John Marco is a vivid reporter on the world around him. He's just seen a large grasshopper with eyes "all black and bulgy," he tells his four older siblings, "and I could hear it chew, like this, ch-ch-ch." But because he's little, "nobody listened," writes Barrows (the Ivy and Bean series), making her picture book debut--not even when he sees an orange cat who "went prrr-rrup." When a tree in his front yard begins "falling down very slowly, but it was definitely falling down," John Marco decides that this time he is not going to be ignored. Lemon (Emma and Muse) draws the protagonist with his gap-toothed mouth wide open and arms outstretched, his T-shirt riding up to reveal his navel. The tree, meanwhile, is never shown in full-length "Timber!" mode; instead, Lemon focuses on a dense cluster of leafy branches that take over more and more of each page, and a discombobulated owl who survives the descent. It's a magical portrayal of one of those strange and giddy moments that makes an indelible impression on one's imagination. Best of all, it succeeds in proving that John Marco (and what he notices) is worth everyone's attention. Ages 3--5. (Oct.)
Kirkus Review
While all the older people around him are lost in their own worlds, little John Marco notices all the smalland bigthings around him.John Marco's siblings are older and louder than he is. They are interested in money, music, sports, and their smartphones but not in the things John Marco is interested in. Mr. Jordy, his neighbor, likes to sit on his porch and read the newspaper and whistle. But he too does not pay attention to John Marco. Even John Marco's mother is engrossed in the world of self-help books and finances and "doing four things at once." So when John Marco sees a grasshopper in the yard, or digs a hole and finds a bunch of worms and a rock with a white line on it, or spots a fat orange cat in the yard, nobody listens when he tries to tell them about it. It is only when he notices something really big that he finally gets their attentionthough he does have to yell, "The tree in the front yard is falling down!" before this happens. The cartoon illustrations playfully convey information that goes beyond the text and cleverly zoom in when John Marco is contemplating the small things, thus amplifying his world. The family is depicted with black hair and olive skin; Mr. Jordy is black.A sweet reminder to slow down and notice the world around us. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ivy and Bean author Barrows turns her sights to younger readers in her picture-book debut about an observant little boy trying to be heard. John Marco, brown-skinned and adorably missing a tooth, tries to share the amazing things he sees each day with the grown-ups he knows (older siblings, parents, a neighbor, etc.), but everyone is too busy to pay him any attention. This becomes a serious problem when he notices a tree beginning to fall in the front yard of his home. John dashes around trying to warn everyone, the increasingly large text reflecting the urgency in his voice, but to no avail. It's not until the tree crashes down that they finally listen to the little boy. Lemon really zeroes in on how John sees and experiences the world, while packing in situational humor as well. This text is ripe for discussions with children who find themselves around busy adults and feel the need to ask questions and express themselves. An engaging, playful, and relatable story that is pertinent to today's nonstop lifestyles.--Tiffany Flowers Copyright 2019 Booklist