Poppleton Has Fun

Poppleton #7

by Cynthia Rylant, Mark Teague (Illustrator)

Poppleton goes to a movie alone, makes a quilt with his friends, and ends up eating a banana split instead of taking a bath.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals, Fiction, Chapter Books, Kids

52 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppleton discovers going to the movies alone is no fun. He has fun making a quilt with his friends. And one day instead of a soak he has some dessert with a friend. Poppleton learns that doing stuff with your friends is more fun than doing it by yourself.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book because I like making quilts. Poppleton made a quilt with pictures of Poppleton and his friends' lives. Each person slept with it on a specific season and the last person who got the quilt was Poppleton. I want to make my quilt of my family and each family member will sleep with it each week.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pig has daily adventures with his friends. Cute illustrations for early readers.

[Sarah Old Inactive Account · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Rylant!

[Fionna · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooooo coool

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd Grade AR - L

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I love Cynthia Rylant. The Poppleton series is so comforting to me. It has good humor and wonderful friendships. I love how Cynthia can use only a few words that are easy for kids to understand to portray a relatively rich understanding of her characters. I enjoy reading these books as much as my kids do.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR Quiz No. 45226 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.7 - AR Pts: 0.5

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was growing up I was always a big fan of the Poppleton books by Cynthia Rylant. I don’t remember reading this particular book in the series before though, but I found it to be just as charming as all the rest. In this installment, Poppleton realizes everything is more fun with friends when he goes to the movies, makes a quilt, and tries to take a bubble bath but ends up going out for ice cream with Cherry Sue instead. I think this popular series is absolutely perfect for beginner readers. The characters and their stories are entertaining, humorous, enjoyable, and fun to read about even for me! This is the perfect book for a child to read if they want to begin reading books with “chapters.” Although the chapters are very short and simple, young readers will appreciate and be proud of having read a chapter book and they will enjoy reading several different short stories about the same loveable characters in one book. One of my favorite features of these books is the overhead views of Poppleton’s neighborhood included inside both the front and back covers. I love looking at the names of all the buildings and trying to find Poppleton and Cherry Sue’s houses. I’m sure these pictures would be extremely helpful for a beginner reader too as they try to keep the setting and characters straight. In addition to the inside cover art, I am a huge fan of Mark Teague’s illustrations throughout the book. I love the colors he uses and the humorous ways in which he designs each character and creates their personality through their clothing and body language. I think beginner readers will love examining the illustrations throughout these books and getting to know the characters just as much. In my opinion, the qualities of the Poppleton series that make it so popular are the endearing characters and the humor they bring to the table. Even though they are presented as animals, readers will be able to relate to them wholeheartedly and want to keep reading more about them and their lives. I think this series is one of the best available for beginning readers and I would recommend it for any early elementary classroom to have on the shelf.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppleton tries going to the movies alone. He discovers that all the emotions in the movie are meant to be shared.

Poppleton and his friends make a memory quilt together. They share it through the seasons of the year.

Poppleton tries to borrow some bath scents from his friend, Cherry Sue. They end up getting distracted with something just as pleasant.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppleton goes to a movie alone and discovers it's better to go with a friend. Poppleton and his friends make a quilt, and they each have a story to add to it. They share it throughout the year. And Poppleton loves a soak in his tub, but one day when he runs out of bath stuff, he asks Cherry Sue what she has. The resolution to these stories is always so funny and entertaining.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I love Poppleton and his friends. In this book, I especially love the segment where they make a quilt and share it. It's such a perfect chapter about how friends should be--sharing, listening, coming together to create something bigger and more meaningful in one another's lives.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but charming book about the ways Poppleton the pig enjoys himself. Some things are better to share with others (The Movie) while others are nice all by yourself (The Soak.)

Cartoony, but sweet illustrations.

[Mauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read with my little girl. Poppleton goes out for a day of fun but realizes it isn't as fun as it could have been with his best friend. Cute friendships to behold. I loved the story about the quilt that he and his friends made.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

i did NOT like it

[Gbear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned from this book that you should never go to a show alone. It might be scary and you might need someone.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Poppleton books are always fun. This one begs the question: which is better, a banana split or a nice, soak in the tub? Decisions, decisions.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

an easy reading story

[Annabella]

Re read May 2014

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppleton spending time with his friends having fun. This is really cute.

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

MCL. It was funny when he said he needed a soak.

[Elanor]

All by herself!