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Arlo Rolled

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From the author of How to Teach a Slug to Read comes a delightful story about a pea named Arlo who wants to be free. So off he rolls...and rolls...and rolls. He meets a slug, he meets a bug—and still he rolls until...you'll see! Filled with charming illustrations and told in verse, this endearing tale explores the ideas of independence and striking out on one's own.

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

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Susan Pearson

58 books14 followers

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5 stars
65 (31%)
4 stars
86 (42%)
3 stars
46 (22%)
2 stars
5 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Erika.
82 reviews
February 10, 2021
This book made me smile! the book follows Arlo, who knows that he is meant for bigger things. The book follows his journey to find the thing he is meant to be. He meets many bugs and animals along his adventures. As he rolls, he tells the bugs and animals, he is not meant to be their food until he finds the thing he is meant to be. Arlo's story is one of independence. The illustrations are very well done.
Profile Image for Christy.
Author 18 books67 followers
June 16, 2021
From the author of How to Teach a Slug to Read comes a delightful story about a pea named Arlo who wants to be free. So off he rolls...and rolls...and rolls. He meets a slug, he meets a bug—and still he rolls until...you'll see! Filled with charming illustrations and told in verse, this endearing tale explores the ideas of independence and striking out on one's own.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,552 reviews9 followers
March 23, 2020
this book really made me smile ...at a difficult time in our world ... i thank book goodness that they are amazing reads like this one that will pull u in and make you smile ... amazing illustrations. so fun!! u will love it. please check it out.
Profile Image for Erin.
2,739 reviews
February 1, 2021
I loved this one...the art is adorable, the character is one you cheer for, the structure is well paced and the story itself is logical and clear. I was surprised by the ending even though it made perfect sense. This is a good one!
Profile Image for Kaiden.
7 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2018
I loved this book! The story is really good and the illustrations are amazing! Loved reading this with Kaiden!
Profile Image for Denise.
42 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2021
Very cute, humorous and interesting book about the life cycle of a pea. It a successful rhyming book as well!
Profile Image for Rebekah.
161 reviews
August 18, 2014
"At the end of the garden,
next to the berries,
lived Mary and Gary and Terry and Sherry…and Arlo."

Arlo, with his bespectacled eyes, sees that there is more to a pea’s life than being someone’s lunch. Rolling through the garden he is able to avoid being consumed in the wild world around him. He continues looking for his purpose in life. At last after a long rest he grows up and discovers what he was meant to be.

Arlo Rolled has a timeless, inspiring message, that children can take to heart: keep your eyes open, look to the future, and be the best that you can be.

The text placement, choice of font, and the green dashed line all cleverly illustrate the movement of Arlo rolling through the garden

The illustrations are full of whimsical details such as a weather vane depicting a delivery man being chased by a dog and a large frog eyeing a delicious dragonfly. Friendly faces on flora and fauna alike leave the reader wondering where the danger lies. Various perspectives show us the world as a pea would see it while hanging from a vine, jumping from a peapod, and rolling high and low through a garden full of activity.

If you like Arlo Rolled then try Clara Caterpillar by Pamela Duncan Edwards, another story about finding your worth in a world where everyone is different and has their own gifts.
Profile Image for Dolores.
178 reviews5 followers
August 28, 2016

Arlo is a well-traveled little pea, determined to become more than just "part of someone's salad".

I read this to my class several weeks ago and have been unable to review it because it was immediately scooped up, reread, passed around, and reread some more. They only let me bring it home after I "pinky swore" that I would be returning it to the classroom.

The story is interesting; the artwork is stunning. The children love to read rhyming books and I love that when they go back through it, carefully looking at the illustrations, another whole level of story opens up to them.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads and was not required to provide this review.
Profile Image for Venus.
Author 1 book5 followers
June 23, 2014
Arlo who is a pea who wants to be free, so off he rolls. He meets a slug who wants to eat him for brunch, a bunch of ants who want him for lunch, and still he rolls. Finally Arlo comes to rest by a wall and he sleeps beneath the earth until one day he grows to become a plant of his own, with his very own peas in a pod.

It's a story about independence that isn't heavy handed with the additional value of being about photosynthesis. It is a perfect springtime book with an anthropomorphized pea and fun illustrations that I think kids will want to read over and over again.

Review originally posted here at Children's Atheneum.
58 reviews17 followers
April 19, 2014
Great book in time for Spring! I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My boys and I enjoyed reading this rhyming story about a pea who wants more out of life than to simply be someone's dinner. Arlo travels along a fast-paced adventure through the garden, avoiding the obstacles he encounters on his path to find out what he will grow up to be. This was a great lesson for my kids in biology, as Arlo grows to have pea pods of his own in the circle of life, as well as lessons in determination and individualism, as Arlo sets out to forge his own way, one which differs from the other peas in his pod.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
784 reviews7 followers
April 8, 2014
*****Copy won through Goodreads first-reads*****

This is a story about Arlo the pea who leaves his pod mates behind so he can go see what he will be when he grows up. (I have to admit I didn't see the end coming and loved that a children's book surprised me) I asked my six year old how many stars between 1 and 5 she thought it deserved and she said she loved it and would give it 100 stars. I liked that in the end she had lots of questions about gardens and learned a lot from one little story.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,770 reviews22 followers
June 11, 2014
A cute picture book showing how one little pea decides to head out on adventure and ends up being his own big pea plant with pea pods of his own. I think this is a fun way to show young kids how seeds can travel and spread from their original source. The illustrations are colorful and Arlo is adorable.
Profile Image for Linda.
10 reviews
April 8, 2014
I won this adorable book as a Goodreads First Read. It's a simple straightforward story of Arlo who wants to see who he will be and is brave enough to follow through. Wonderful illustrations. Thanks, Goodreads!
Profile Image for Jen.
2,396 reviews40 followers
May 6, 2014
nice cheery acrylic illustrations. fun fun fun font. a little disturbed that vegetables that are getting carried off by ants are anthropomorphic- why don't they fight back? lovely rhymes. interesting layout/design/perspectives. nice introduction to the circle of life, plant style.
Profile Image for Josh Jackson.
31 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2014
A fun little book about plant life. Arlo's adventure takes him through the garden where he meets a variety of characters, and eventually starts a family of his own. Good connections to science for young students.
40 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2014
Text Copyright: 2014
Genre: Fantasy
Thoughts: This book had a fun rhyme scheme and repeated phrase. I like that Arlo wanted to change the expectation of him and grow up and see his full potential. Excellent artwork!
Author 1 book92 followers
October 2, 2014
This is a fun book simultaneously about gardens and individuality. One little pea knows he's destined for more than just being in a stir fry so he goes on a fabulous and rhyming adventure to find out all he can be in his life. Great fun for ECE readers!
Profile Image for The Brothers.
4,118 reviews24 followers
January 20, 2016
One little pea is not content with the life that is laid out before him, so he takes off! Rolling about the garden, he sees danger and adventure. Eventually he grows up into his own plant and has a little pea who shares love for the unknown.

Really cute illustrations.
Profile Image for Amy Kneece.
93 reviews23 followers
February 21, 2016
Arlo is an adorable green pea. Good rhyming throughout the story.
Profile Image for Dong Lan Chen.
1 review1 follower
April 19, 2014
It is a fantastic and adorable book about a pea whose dream is to grow up. It went on an interesting and fun journey to reach its dream.
Profile Image for Anick Thomas.
2 reviews
May 5, 2014
This book can change a person's life! What a wonderfully written story! I couldn't put it down. Young's insight on God is just delightful.
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,116 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2014
Very cute and appropriate for preschoolers in the summer. Melanie loved the way the big plant page went sideways.
Profile Image for Elisabeth.
2,073 reviews25 followers
July 7, 2014
I am always looking for a good veggie/garden book for storytime and this fits the bill.
Profile Image for Vicki.
4,992 reviews33 followers
July 31, 2014
Pair this book with Little Pea by Amy Rosenthal and your group will have a fun and a bit of information re: how peas grow. The illustrations are colorful and add much to the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews