Good Friday to you, folks!
In case anyone is wondering, it’s snowing again! I think there’s a trainee in charge of Spring this year who must have misread the job description!
As luck would have it, since it’s snowing, I have to drive to New York City today… which makes me think of cars… which makes me think of this book! Perfect for cars and inclement weather 🙂
Ready? Fasten your seat belts because here we go! 🙂
My Side Of The Car
Written By: Kate Feiffer
Illustrated By: Jules Feiffer
Candlewick, April 2011, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: patience, imagination, father-daughter love, optimism
Opening: “My dad and I are going to the zoo. We’ve tried to go to the zoo before. But we never get there. Something always happens.”
Brief Synopsis: Sadie and her dad are going to the zoo. Their plans have been thwarted three previous times, but this time they’re really going. Except… on the way… it starts to rain. They can’t go to the zoo in the rain. But Sadie’s not about to let the fact that her dad sees rain deter her. “I look out my window, and the sun is shining on my side of the car. People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car.” While her dad sees nothing but rain, Sadie sees people mowing their laws and eating ice cream. Is it raining or not? Will Sadie and her dad get to the zoo this time or will they have to wait for another day?
Links To Resources: Fun Zoo-Related Activities, Zoo Lessons And Activities, a page in the back of the book tells the true story of what happened (which is always fun :))
Why I Like This Book: Anyone who has lived with kids knows that their perception of reality is not necessarily the same as yours… especially when they really want something! 🙂 What’s wonderful about this book is both Sadie’s determined optimism and her father’s patience and his loving understanding of how she needs to cope with her disappointment. This book is also delightful because it’s written and illustrated by a father-daughter team about an incident that actually happened. I’m not going to tell you whether they get to the zoo or not, though. You’ll have to go read the book 🙂
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Now then. I’m going to be like Sadie and see nothing but sunshine and daffodils on my side of the car! No snow! 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, now I’m hooked. I have to find this book to see if they make it to the zoo. Good luck with the sun and daffodils on your side of the car! Safe travels.
Love the idea of this
Sent from my iPad Joan Leotta Author, Story performer http://Www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
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Safe travels Susanna! No snow here yet, but thanks for the heads up about upstate – we’re driving north today. Whatever are we thinking! Here’s hoping for snowdrops, not snowflakes, on all sides of the car.
What a clever idea for a book! Love the theme. Have a safe trip to NYC.
I want to see all the wonderful things that Sadie sees on her side of the car 🙂
What fun timing. I am presenting a rain themed story time at my library next week. I just checked this book out yesterday, but haven’t read it yet. Now I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m rather fond of your PPBF pick too! Greetings from snowing-one-more-time Colorado!
Oh, I like this. One should never underestimate the dogged, determined imagination of a kid.
We had some snow earlier in the week…and tornado like winds the other night. But I guarantee that warmer weather is coming, Susanna!
What a fun book…I remember traveling as a kid…my sister ALWAYS saw the rain and I ALWAYS saw the sunshine.
Sorry you have to hike to the city…hope you have smooth travels.
I love this story by Kate.
Have a safe trip.
I’m “sort of” fondly remembering my childhood days when my sister and I thought of the backseat of the family car as your side and my side. And yes, the view we both saw looked quite different. I, of course, must find out if they make it to the zoo because I know if they don’t the ending will still delight me.
Thanks, Susanna! This is one of my favorites!
I love Jules Feiffer illustrations. (I think the Feiffers are from Wisconsin!) Looks like a great read; at first look I’m reminded of the time that my sister and I were fighting in the third seat row of our station wagon and Dad threatened to put us out and make us walk if we didn’t stop fighting. We didn’t, and he did! We had to walk alongside of the car for the next stretch. Be safe on the road!