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Uh-oh, Cleo
Saturdays are usually nothing but fun in the Small household. Cleo and her twin brother, Jack, always play games, torture their older sister, and then bike to the best Candy store in town. But this Saturday is different. Jack decided to Spider-Man up the toy shelf and made the whole thing tip over. And one of the things that flew off hit Cleo in the head, making her bleed and everything. As her mom ?Your story?s kinda gory, but it has a moral, which
Beware a day that starts out normal. It might end in stitches!? Cleo?s unique voice and lively narration will pull chapter book readers into her amusing stories of life in a big family that has many uh-oh moments.
Beware a day that starts out normal. It might end in stitches!? Cleo?s unique voice and lively narration will pull chapter book readers into her amusing stories of life in a big family that has many uh-oh moments.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2008
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 25, 2021
There are lots of chapter book series out there. What makes this one special? 1) Cleo's voice is authentic and relatable. Young readers will love her like they do Junie B. Jones and Stink Moody. 2) She is part of a big family. This is a unique experience for many readers and broadens their perspective. 3) Cleo's parents are present and engaged -- you can't say that for a good number of parents in books, sadly. 4) The relationship Cleo has with her dolls. She nurtures them and they also look out for her (in her imagination). Great modeling for later in life. 5) There are two more Cleo books to enjoy after this one.
June 16, 2008
This might have worked as one chapter in a longer collection of stories, or as a picture book. But in this form, it just doesn't succeed.
March 22, 2008
Uh-oh, a $14.99 book of almost nothing... can't quite figure out for whom this book was made... It IS sweet and with quite a lovely flowing text. However, not everything experienced by an author as a child is worthy of being made into a book. Maybe someone can change my mind on this?
April 24, 2021
The first offering of a new series has eight-year-old Cleo Small recalling “Stitches Saturday”, a memorable day among the normal days that the “not-so-Small” family of eight experiences. The events are told from Cleo’s point of view, interjected with lots of observations and explanations and a small dash of humor. Plenty of pen-and-ink drawings, lots of white space, and large text will appeal to early chapter book readers.
September 4, 2021
A good book to teach kids the dangers of climbing on random things and that stitches don’t have to be scary but I feel like there should have been more discussion of the dangerous behavior (esp. since Cleo was an innocent bystander).
November 25, 2008
This is a perfect little beginning reader for youngsters just starting chapter books. Cleo Small is one of six siblings sharing a normal Saturday morning. The day takes a turn when her twin Jack climbs the toy self for a game and the whole thing topples over and Cleo must make a trip to the emergency room for stitches.
The book is very short which makes it appropriate both for early readers and for parents reading aloud (perhaps to a child who has experienced their own Stitches Saturday!) The tone is conversational, the setting is very realistic and relatable, and the stitches event is reassuring instead of scary. A delightful introduction to what I hope will be a series featuring this wonderful family.
The book is very short which makes it appropriate both for early readers and for parents reading aloud (perhaps to a child who has experienced their own Stitches Saturday!) The tone is conversational, the setting is very realistic and relatable, and the stitches event is reassuring instead of scary. A delightful introduction to what I hope will be a series featuring this wonderful family.
July 9, 2008
I love Cleo! This is great for a 1st-3rd grade reader, these are great stories that are about everyday events that can happen in any family. Jessica Harper's warm and funny writing style will appeal to future writers by showing them that story ideas can come from anywhere, anytime.
Parents will love reading and re-reading these stories out loud. Not only will they be sharing giggles with their children but it may also want to share some of their own family stories with them as well. And, let's be honest, a good book isn't just something we can lose ourselves in,; it's something that we can rediscover our families and friends with.
Parents will love reading and re-reading these stories out loud. Not only will they be sharing giggles with their children but it may also want to share some of their own family stories with them as well. And, let's be honest, a good book isn't just something we can lose ourselves in,; it's something that we can rediscover our families and friends with.
February 28, 2014
I disagree with previous reviewers who said this book lacked substance. What these reviewers seem to forget is that books like these are meant to appeal to kids who are very young and just learning to read and transitioning from picture books (that were read to them) to early chapter books. I like this book because there were only 6 chapters and the chapters were short (ideal for younger children with shorter attention spans). Also the story was very relatable, which bolsters comprehension. The group I read this to loved it and we had some great conversations about what happened in the story.
June 19, 2015
This is a sweet, gentle story for early chapter book readers that's short and frequently illustrated - no spread is without at least one illustration. The writing is clever and sticks to accessible vocabulary, and Cleo's emotions and internal life is spot-on for an 8-year-old. Recommended for kids who have outgrown Fancy Nancy but aren't quite ready to tackle Junie B. or Clementine on their own yet.
July 7, 2016
Very cute option when trying to find a simple chapter book for growing readers. This would truly make a struggling reader feel successful because it is a chapter book, but it's simple enough (and has enough pictures) that lots of young (or reluctant) readers could handle it. There's not much to the story, but I adore her large family and charming quirks. Fun to see that the author is from a nearby town and she comes from a big family (and has a history of stitches, too!)
February 9, 2009
Simple little story, easy read. Kids who are want to read a chapter book but don't want anything too long should enjoy this one. It's short, but the vocabulary and structure are more challenging than most beginning chapter books.
Personally, I liked the solid parents.
Personally, I liked the solid parents.
March 4, 2009
With these skinny Js it's hard for me to tell whether they're okay or not because there's not much story there! I will skim through it again with a more critical eye. Anybody have any skinny-book evaluative criteria to share?
December 16, 2009
Cleo lives with her 5 brothers and sisters (including a twin brother) With all those people in one house something is always going on - and a lot of the time it's not good. Great new easy chapter book series for girls.
December 11, 2010
As one of six kids, things are usually a little crazy around Cleo's house. But when Cleo has an accident and has to get stitches, this day goes down in the books as "Stitches Saturday". A cute little book, but a bit thin on the storyline, even for a first reader.
October 11, 2011
A decent beginning reader book. I like that it is one cohesive story throughout. Cleo tells the story of "Stiches Saturday" in this three chapter book. Kids will feel that they've accomplished something as they read through chapters.
December 22, 2013
Short book about a common experience (getting stitches) that kids will relate to. RL 710
May 7, 2008
One Sentence Review: It is cute and a nice story but as others have said about it, there's really not enough here to justify an entire book.
May 25, 2008
Very cute book, easy to read. Perfect for those that loved Clementine.
June 27, 2008
It all started with a box of crayons and ended with Stitches Saturday. To find out what happened, read this beginning chapter book (good for first and second grade).
October 19, 2008
Very cute short chapter book about a girl named Cleo and her trip to the emergency room for stitches. Cleo Smalls is one of 6 children in her family which always makes for interesting days.
March 23, 2009
A sweet, short story of a small girl in a large family.
March 31, 2009
A cute little story (but nothing outstanding) about getting stitches for the first time. I like how the mom sings little rhyming songs, thought it was sweet!
May 29, 2009
When an ordinary Saturday turns into a broken arm... likable, fast, and fun for the kid ready for something just a little big longer and involved.
March 10, 2011
No review.
July 1, 2011
A tumble with the "Toy House" leads to "Stitches Saturday" for Ms. Cleo of the 8-strong Small Family!
July 7, 2016
I was excited that this story felt like it had a good enough plot without being too high of a reading level. I will absolutely recommend this to early readers who are looking for a fun, quick story.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews