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The Aminal
Patrick finds an aminal and takes it home. Along the way, he describes it to his friends until they all think they must save him from the giant aminal monster!
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 7, 2019
Better for educators than for kids on their own, as there's plenty of inspiration for lessons. Pictures are a little different. In some ways it reads as if self-published. Some ppl will justifiably like it very much though, so even if I don't recommend it, you might be interested and should trust the positive reviews.
December 18, 2016
This was one of my favorites as a child; so happy to have found it!
October 24, 2013
I did this with both 1st graders and 6th graders. Students drew the "aminal" based on the descriptions in the text. They then showed their drawings and told what words in the text led them to choose their depiction. At the end I showed them the illustrations and re-read the descriptions so they could compare theirs, the text, and what the Balian's decided to do. Let me just add that I let the 6th graders vote which book to read, this or "Tell Me A Scary Story--But not too Scary."
January 6, 2021
While out on a picnic, Patrick finds a pet. He takes it home, and comes across a friend. Patrick describes the pet and goes on his way. The friend tells another friend (and exaggerates a bit), who tells another friend (and exaggerates a bit)...until many of Patrick's friends are terrified of this imagined creature. Eventually, they find out that Patrick's pet is really a harmless turtle.
A little bit about fear, gossiping, exaggerating...it's very outdated. The Secret Olivia Told Me (by N. Joy) gets to the point a little better.
A little bit about fear, gossiping, exaggerating...it's very outdated. The Secret Olivia Told Me (by N. Joy) gets to the point a little better.
November 20, 2021
What is the aminal that Patrick keeps referring to in this story? As each of his friends; Molly, Calvin, Cookie, Geraldine and Freddie tell another friend, the aminal becomes bigger and bigger until finally the friends realize they need to protect Patrick. Or do they? Find out what Patrick's aminal is in this story that will keep readers guessing until the end. And will remind adults of the game, Telephone.
March 5, 2017
A good book for the letter "A".
A play on the word "animal" has all of Patrick's friends worried about what it could be. A good lesson on how a story changes from person to person, until it is unlike the original story!
A play on the word "animal" has all of Patrick's friends worried about what it could be. A good lesson on how a story changes from person to person, until it is unlike the original story!
October 17, 2017
Weak story, unattractive pictures.
March 13, 2018
This is a fabulous book! I loved all the possibilities for how it can be used in a classroom!
June 2, 2019
One of my favorites when I was a little kid.
September 8, 2021
Adorable children's book with beautiful pictures!.
September 25, 2010
“The Animal” is an adorable story about a child who finds an animal he decides would make good company for him. While he is bringing his new friend home he tells another friend on the way home about his new friend, but he doesn’t tell them what the animal is. The friend’s imagination is working over time and she runs to tell another friend about the animal. The children keep passing the story along and the tail keeps getting longer with the children’s imaginations. Pretty soon the kids are certain that the boy who has the animal must be in great danger and they rush over to save him. “The Animal”, is a turtle, the kids must feel a little sheepish at how they let there fears run away from them. This sweet story gives the teacher the opportunity to have the classroom study turtles; why do they have hard shells, what they eat, how big will they get, and where do they come from.
December 10, 2013
The Animal is a fun story that teaches readers the importance of what others are saying. The characters in the book are frightened when they think a dangerous animal has been found by one of their younger friends. The little boy who finds the animal does not know the name of it and simply describes what it looks like to a friend. Each time it is explained to a new friend the description grows scarier and scarier with each telling. The book can be used to show the importance of listening carefully to others.
October 22, 2014
I like the story in this book, but the illustrations throw me. It's basically a game of telephone. Patrick catches an animal (or "aminal") and tells a friend what he found just by describing it. That friend describes the aminal to another friend and so on and so on until his friends are all frightened for his safety. When they rush to make sure Patrick is okay, they find out that he caught a turtle. They are much relieved that it is not the huge scary monster they think it is.
Okay for preschool storytimes.
Okay for preschool storytimes.
April 23, 2012
I really love this book, it shows how crazy a persons imagination can be and how we may see things differently. I think you could also use it for a science lesson on theories and or hypothesis. You could pair the book with a vague description of something and have he class draw pictures then see what they all came up with and show the differences. This could also serve as a greg lesson on imagery.
Grade: K-5 scientific inquiry and curiosity
Grade: K-5 scientific inquiry and curiosity
February 20, 2010
Awesome book with fantastic illustrations!! Great to teach about exaggerations/gossip and also descriptive writing. Kids could draw what they think the "aminal" looks like as you read the book or make up their own "aminals" afterward.
June 30, 2017
My daughter picked this book up at the library. cute story and interesting pictures. Read this again and enjoyed the creativity in the story. Reminds me of the game telephone and the imagination we have.
August 6, 2008
Wonderful story about a boy's imagination
September 2, 2008
Another adorable book. The illustrations stick with you forever.
October 20, 2008
A tale about how a story can be transformed as it goes from one person to another, to another, to another....
The illustrations are fun to look at, too.
The illustrations are fun to look at, too.
February 25, 2009
One of my all time favorite children's books! A treasure!
April 17, 2009
This is one of my son's favorite bedtime stories.
February 18, 2011
I haven't seen this book since my kindergarten teacher read it our class. Just as cute as I remembered.
December 28, 2011
I was not the biggest of readers growing up. But I always remember this one. I remember checking it out time and time again in elementary school just to reread it.
January 30, 2012
The pictures were not colored in the original edition. Why do they have to go and change a good thing? Still a cute story after all these years when I read it to my own kids.
July 9, 2012
Found at local library. Good for lessons about gossip. Also, good for a lesson about visualization/mind movies.
July 18, 2014
Can't get a better book for predicting.
January 30, 2016
very funny!!! Shows how something can go out of proportion quickly.
February 26, 2020
I love the layered lessons you can find in this book. Listening, communicating, imagining, true friendship and comraderie, and adventure. All in a story that neither reader or listener get tired of.
June 23, 2014
Cute example of the "telephone" game.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews