Just Announced: The Children's & YA Book Awards Winners Explore Now

What James Likes Best

Add to Wishlist

What James Likes Best

Hardcover(Reissue)

$18.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

Hardcover(Reissue)
$18.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

SHIP THIS ITEM

Qualifies for Free Shipping

Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on June 25, 2024
PICK UP IN STORE

Store Pickup available after publication date.

Available within 2 business hours

Want it Today?
Check Store Availability

Related collections and offers

Overview

From award-winning author-illustrator Amy Schwartz comes a charming interactive picture book with four stories about a boy who shares special everyday experiences with friends and family—but what do you think he likes best?

When James visits his friends the twins, he gets to ride an express bus, play with toys, and eat yummy snacks. At Grandma’s house, he plays games and dress-up and even gets a gift. At the County Fair, there are trains, prizes, and pony rides to enjoy. And at Angela’s house, there are birds out the window and sweet treats in the oven. Young readers can think back on the many fun moments and encounters and choose what they think James enjoyed the most.

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665956253
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	06/25/2024
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	708,676
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Schwartz (1954–2023) was a beloved author and illustrator who made more than forty picture books, including Bea and Mr. Jones, a Reading Rainbow featured title; What James Likes Best, a Charlotte Zolotow Award winner; A Teeny Tiny Baby; I Can’t Wait!; Busy Babies; 13 Stories about Harris; 13 Stories About Ayana; and the 100 Things series. From the very beginning of her career, Amy had an impeccable eye and ear for the specific details of the lives of young children, and this gave her books a universal honesty that touched readers of all ages.

Amy Schwartz (1954–2023) was a beloved author and illustrator who made more than forty picture books, including Bea and Mr. Jones, a Reading Rainbow featured title; What James Likes Best, a Charlotte Zolotow Award winner; A Teeny Tiny Baby; I Can’t Wait!; Busy Babies; 13 Stories about Harris; 13 Stories About Ayana; and the 100 Things series. From the very beginning of her career, Amy had an impeccable eye and ear for the specific details of the lives of young children, and this gave her books a universal honesty that touched readers of all ages.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

Schwartz (Bea and Mr. Jones) sets the stage for these four simple stories of a winning preschooler right from the title page. She pictures a boy in a hooded red sweatshirt waiting with his mother at a bus stop, catty-corner from a flower shop. An alarmed look on the mother's face is wordlessly explained with a turn of the page: Daddy, who was seen picking out a flower arrangement, nearly missed the bus! Then, "They get off at a red brick house./ There are two babies inside./ The babies are the same size./ They are twins." In a voice perfectly pitched for a preschool audience, Schwartz describes the symmetry of the household ("They have/ two rocking horses,/ two jack-in-the-boxes,/ two toy clowns," etc.). She encourages audience participation by asking after each caper, "And what do you think James liked best?" Several pictures from the preceding tale suggest possibilities ("Was it the two toy clowns?"), but the author wisely indicates no one answer. Youngsters will easily identify with these familiar excursions (a visit to Grandma and Auntie, a trip to the county fair, a play date) and will happily play a role in deciding which aspect of each James likes best. Schwartz's mix of scene-setting full-page illustrations and humorous smaller vignettes will capture the attention of readers young and old. Beginning readers can sound out the text, while pre-readers can point out the items described. An engaging exploration of timeless and treasured childhood pastimes. Ages 2-5. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-James, an urban-dwelling preschooler, goes on various short outings with his parents. They take a bus to visit a family with twins, a taxi to Grandma's house, and a yellow car to the county fair. They walk next door to a red brick apartment building so he can play with his friend Angela. After each trip, readers are asked "And what do you think James liked best?" Four suggestions are given and listeners have the opportunity to make a personal choice (there are no "correct" answers). The realistic, brightly colored, gouache and pen-and-ink illustrations chronicle everyday events in the boy's life. Ample white space gives the book a sparkling clean, uncluttered look, and the pictures are large enough to be enjoyed by a group. A cheery, appealing addition that is perfectly in tune with a young child's sensibilities.-Janet M. Bair, Trumbull Library, CT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

James is on the go in these four short stories targeted toward the preschool set. Schwartz (The Boys Team, 2001, etc.) has provided a wonderful introduction to chapter form in chronicling James's travels on a bus to visit twins, in a taxi to visit Auntie, in the car to go to the fair, and walking to a play date. What makes these tales unique is the childlike voice Schwartz employs in her simple repetitive narrative, emphasizing the colors, toys, sounds, foods, places, and animals that young children find remarkable. An adult, for example, may not remember mistakenly turning the windshield wipers "on and off, on and off, on and off." For James, however, it might turn out to be the most memorable part of the day. Each vignette ends with the question-"And what do you think James liked best?"-along with four choices guaranteed to evoke reader participation such as, "Was it the corn on the cob? Or the green snake? Or the train? Or was it the windshield wipers?" The cartoon-like pen-and-ink drawings complemented with lively colored detail are sure to appeal to young children. Especially amusing are "Auntie's funny hair" and Mommy's reaction when James and his playmate throw toy fruit down the stairs. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Related Subjects

Customer Reviews