Things That Sometimes Happen: Very Short Stories for Little Listeners

by Avi, Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator)

Here are a few things that sometimes
HAPPY THINGS
An unpopular Black Crayon proves to a Little Girl how useful he really is.
SAD THINGS
On a very hot day, an Ice-Cream Cone waits...and waits...to be eaten.
EXCITING THINGS
A Papa catches cold, so his Little Boy gets to go to work instead!
These nine very short stories for very young readers -- culled from Newbery Honor author Avi's first book and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Marjorie Priceman -- ingeniously capture the funny, surprising spirit of a child's imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Short Stories

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and different short stories

This book has some very different and interesting short stories that are sure to book children's interest. Plenty of colorful drawings to go with each story.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book remind me of the joy I used to feel creating art with no stress as a child. The stories reflect this too. Most of them are just simple charm and fun for children, with no concrete moral to them.

Despite how simple and ridiculous this book might seem, it reminded me of something important about art; that art doesn't necessarily need to have any deep meaning for it to be seen and enjoyed.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure silliness that kids often resort to when left to their own devices...a little boy and a cat have a friendly competition over who can tell the most outrageous lie...an ice cream cone who watches bears argue about who will get the first lick...a black crayon who is tired of being so unpopular...

This would be fun to read, and then challenge kids to come up with their own silly story...like the hippo who needs to buy a new car.

I've never heard Avi use this voice...and I really like it!

[Ashley Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book includes multiple short stories and have different meanings behind all of them. There are ones about a black crayon never being used and a little girl who finally wants to use it, a hippopotamus who wants to buy a car and ends up leaving with an old car that makes him happy, a little boy who goes to the store in the rain and doesn’t get wet till he falls in the puddle. I think this book would be good for younger grades because they are all different stories so it keeps the attention span for longer. I think there are also some good meanings behind the stories

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing, whimsical stories, very short, that are accompanied by free-flowing, energetic, full-of-life illustrations. Price man shares the high marks with Avi for this book.

[Maria Korshunova]

The book is a very fun read for both young kids and parents.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny stories about impossible things for kids. This book contains several very short stories, each accompanied my fantastic illustrations.

[Patrice]

BookTree
Sabine liked more than Emerick

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

x read

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of short stories. I found them to be rather far fetched. Nothing super profound but I know children would find them fun. The illustrations are colorful and creative.

[Latoya Sharaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book was intended for children ages 3-7 and has received the Family Fun’s award for Best Books of the Year in 2002. This book explores different things that “sometimes happen”. This includes exciting things, sad things, and happy things. The stories are never more than 3 pages long, including extensive illustrations on every page. One story tells about a black crayon that wants to be used as much as the brighter colors are used. He convinces a little girl of all of the beautiful things she could draw with a black crayon. Another story tells about a little boy and his cat telling exciting stories about all the exciting things that happened to them while the little boy wasn’t home. Although I found the book very interesting and exciting, I think the author used some big words that I think would be intimidating for the age group it is said to be intended for. I don’t think a 3 year old should be pressured to know a word such as “hippopotamus”, instead he could have used the shortened version of the word, hippo. I also think it is an overload for children to read so many varying stories in one book. There are many different lessons being learned, some more serious than others. These stories seemed to me that it would better fit as 9 different books focusing on one thing at a time, than to be squeezed into one book of short stories. I think that the cover may draw children into reading the book, but once they start reading it, they are more liable to put it down and do something else because it is not a fun read, it’s a complicated one. This book would work best used in groups. I might put a group of students in a group and have each one of them read one of the stories aloud. I counted nine stories in total in the book so maybe four to a table and they each read two of the stories, I could read the first one in order to make it even.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is comprised of several short stories; the very format is unique and inviting to small listeners. The illustrations are vivid and capturing and the stories are emotional and creative. My kids love this book, and it just might be true that I enjoy it even more!

The thread of emotions ranges drastically in this work. There is actually a quite sad piece about an ice cream cone; my four year old had a tear in his eye after that one.

This book works well for families with kids of all ages. My two year old can manage one or two of the stories and then drift off to a picture book while my four year old and I complete the entire collection.

[Kerri Harshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of many wonderful short stories that children will be sure to enjoy! These silly stories are accompanied by bright and vivid pictures throughout the book. A great book to read a story at a time with your children.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read-aloud book of very short stories. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS'S CAR was good for discussion. Favorites were THE MELTING ICE-CREAM CONE and TUNNELS. A clever ending, too.

[Darci · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute stories kept kaden's attention because they were out of the ordinary and very dream-like.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, silly, clever stories.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange but cute stories and illustrations.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were better than others but the illustrations are fun and colorful (as you would expect from Marjorie Priceman!)

[Felicity The Magnificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has different stories about things that sometimes happen. I like this book because it's wild. -by Felicity

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

the art is bright and colorful and the stories wonderful!

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had many short stories. L.A

[Ayana Aoki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of nice pictures! I feel happy to read it. The end of the story was funny!

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, very imaginative collection of short stories with just as imaginative art work.

[KarenMLISt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1970 but not dated. A wonderful classic to read and share!

[Dani Scott]

Engaging illustrations. Stories are super weird, but fun.