Nate Likes to Skate (I Like to Read) by Bruce Degen

I Like to Read

by Bruce Degen

Nate loves skateboarding, but Kate prefers making hats. I hate to skate, she tells Nate. Do you like my hat? Unimpressed, Nate retorts I hate that hat. Kates feelings are hurtso she ignores Nate as he falls. Now that Nate is hurt and sad, too, his outlook has changed. Wait, Kate, he says. I was a brat. Kate waits, and admits she wasnt nice either, and new possibilities open. Now Nate and Kate both like to skateand wear hats! Straightforward and heartfelt, Nate and Kates story is the perfect reminder that we may not always share each others interests, but we must be respectful of, and open-minded to them all the same!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Sports, Humor, Friendship

Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Bruce Degen was an American illustrator and writer with over forty children's books to his credit. He may be known best for illustrating The Magic School Bus, a picture book series written by Joanna Cole. He collaborated with writers Nancy White Carlstrom, on the Jesse Bear books, and Jane Yolen, on the Commander Toad series. He wrote self-illustrated Jamberry, Daddy Is a Doodlebug, and Shirley's Wonderful Baby.

Reviews

[Robin Rockman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book to help with the long A words; lots of problems with the story otherwise, especially the message and the use of harsh language (i.e., it's OK to not like something or not want to try something, but be nicer about it).

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Bruce Degen book here deals with Nate and Kate with some rhyming going on, as it deals with a broken and then restored relationship as the two make up.
Fairly obvious, but some good lessons fro the younger reader.

[Diana Pettis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning reader.

[XZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

NGL, both Nate and Kate are a bit of a brat. But them hats are indeed fabulous (one entire star dedicated to the hat with the cactus mounted on it).

[D Fichera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very negative

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story uses words like "hate" and "brat." Both characters are also very rude to each other. I don't think the story does a very good job teaching kids that we should respect each other.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty negative with all the "hate"

[Amy Calkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to make a friend for youngest readers.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A year later, and my opinion of this book hasn't changed.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphite pencil and colored pencil illustrations highlight a simple story about friendship and learning to acknowledge the interests of others. While Nate loves skateboarding, his friend Kate prefers making her own hats. As it turns out, though, neither one has tried the other one's interest, and they find that they can combine skating and wearing funky hats. Part of the "I Like to Read" series for beginning readers, this one has a positive message about how each of us may have different tastes and interests, but we don't need to put down others whose interests don't match our own. Nate might behave rudely toward Kate at the start of the book, but he eventually apologizes to her for insulting her hat. There is a lot of rhyming text in the story that could make it awkward to read aloud.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate and Nate are friends. Nate likes to skate. Kate likes hats. This creates a bit of a conflict. When Nate hits a grate and falls, they both decide to widen their horizons and Kate tries skateboarding while Nate tries hats. This "I Like to Read" easy reader contains very simple text with a strong emphasis on the short and long sounds for the letter "a". Soft colored pencil illustrations go with a tale clearly designed for those just learning to read.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see the lesson here about acknowledging the interests and hobbies of others, but I feel the brattiness went a little too far - when Nate fell, Kate didn't bother to see if he was okay - and it wasn't even commented on in the story. It's one thing to be mad at a friend, it's another thing to just walk away from someone who might be hurt.
I did like the repetition of the long A sound (and the short A, to a lesser extent).

[Jtimko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate likes to skate and Kate likes hats. Can they become friends in spite of their differences? Read and discover!
Bright colorful pictures and sparse text in large print pair up to make a lovely story about friendship. The expressions of the characters are adorable. The variety of hats displayed is amusing. This would be a perfect book for a read-aloud about acceptance of differences and conflict resolution. Recommended for pre-school through grade 2.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is horrible for kids! I mean, maybe they learn something, but basically the plot of this book is that Nate is mean to Kate and then Kate is mean to Nate and then Nate gets hurt but Kate just walks away but then finally Nate is like, I was a brat. But really you just shouldn't say that mean stuff in the first place! Wow.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS:
A nice story, told simply by using easy words to teach children the concept of being kind and trying new things. The pictures are interesting and will surly keep a new reader interested. 4 stars

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, appealing story about Nate being a brat to friend Kate and apologizing.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An 'I Like to Read' book for grades PK-1. I did not really spark to this book. I did like that it deals with kindness and friendship. Only for those just starting to learn to read.