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One Boy
This die-cut book explores two (!) counting and words-within-words, while also telling a satisfying story about the power of art and imagination in one child's life. ONE boy
all alONE
two SEAls
in the SEA
three APEs
no escAPE
four monKEYs
hold the KEY A boy appears on the scene surrounded by empty chairs and looking awfully lonely. He's got a backpack with a few splattered brushes hanging out. Suddenly, the pages of this book are filled with seals, apes, monkeys, and more. Brilliantly simple, and simply brilliant. T One Boy is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. This title has Common Core connections.
all alONE
two SEAls
in the SEA
three APEs
no escAPE
four monKEYs
hold the KEY A boy appears on the scene surrounded by empty chairs and looking awfully lonely. He's got a backpack with a few splattered brushes hanging out. Suddenly, the pages of this book are filled with seals, apes, monkeys, and more. Brilliantly simple, and simply brilliant. T One Boy is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. This title has Common Core connections.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2008
1 person is currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Laura Vaccaro Seeger
31 books82 followersLaura Vaccaro Seeger is a New York Times best-selling author and illustrator and the recipient of a 2008 Caldecott Honor, Theodor Seuss Geisel Honors for both 2009 and 2008, a 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, and the 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book. Her books include First the Egg, The Hidden Alphabet, and Dog and Bear, among others.
Raised on Long Island, New York, Seeger began drawing at two years old and never stopped. For as long as she remembers, she wanted to write picture books. She received her B.F.A. degree at the School of Fine Art and Design at SUNY Purchase in Westchester, New York, and then moved to Manhattan, where she worked as an animator, artist, and editor in the network television business.
Seeger lives in Rockville Centre, Long Island, with her husband, Chris, their two sons, Drew and Dylan, and their dog, Copper. She loves painting, surfing, tennis, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. She takes long walks at the beach every day and paints in her studio every night.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/laurav...
Raised on Long Island, New York, Seeger began drawing at two years old and never stopped. For as long as she remembers, she wanted to write picture books. She received her B.F.A. degree at the School of Fine Art and Design at SUNY Purchase in Westchester, New York, and then moved to Manhattan, where she worked as an animator, artist, and editor in the network television business.
Seeger lives in Rockville Centre, Long Island, with her husband, Chris, their two sons, Drew and Dylan, and their dog, Copper. She loves painting, surfing, tennis, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. She takes long walks at the beach every day and paints in her studio every night.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/laurav...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
March 30, 2020
A well-done peek-through picture book about counting. This is a great one for toddlers. We see one page with a picture and the opposite page has a few words. When you turn the page the cut-out page turns the word, let’s say Mice into ice or something.
I always try to rate a book at the level the book was written. So, I think a toddler would enjoy this. It’s good for it’s age. I didn’t know this was so young when I got it.
The nephew rolled his eyes at this. It’s short and quick and I don’t think I’m going to be able to read these young books to him anymore or he’ll kick me out. I’ll have to check in the future. He gave this book 1 star.
I always try to rate a book at the level the book was written. So, I think a toddler would enjoy this. It’s good for it’s age. I didn’t know this was so young when I got it.
The nephew rolled his eyes at this. It’s short and quick and I don’t think I’m going to be able to read these young books to him anymore or he’ll kick me out. I’ll have to check in the future. He gave this book 1 star.
June 30, 2017
Great counting book that uses panels to change concepts by blocking out words.
March 2, 2016
It's always a thrill when my 11 year-old boy with autism decides he likes a book I've checked out of the library enough to request it multiple nights in a row as was the case with this one; it feels like winning a jackpot.
I loved the concept of this book (when you turn the pages, die cuts in the page hide some letters and add others to change the original phrase. It's quite visually appealing. The text, what little there is of it, left me underwhelmed: "Four monkeys/Held the key" is just awkward (why not "hold"?). "Six cars/On the carpet" also just somehow falls flat for me -- I feel like the changes should have been more surprising.
But that's all moot because the boy likes it, although the "Ants in your pants" picture makes him uneasy.
I loved the concept of this book (when you turn the pages, die cuts in the page hide some letters and add others to change the original phrase. It's quite visually appealing. The text, what little there is of it, left me underwhelmed: "Four monkeys/Held the key" is just awkward (why not "hold"?). "Six cars/On the carpet" also just somehow falls flat for me -- I feel like the changes should have been more surprising.
But that's all moot because the boy likes it, although the "Ants in your pants" picture makes him uneasy.
June 24, 2012
One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a counting book that also promotes early reading skills through the use of cutouts. A young boy, the "one boy... alone" makes a series of pictures for the numbers two through ten.
Like the one is revealed through the hole to actually be part of the word "alone" the other counting words are parts of larger words.
At the counting up stage, the pictures seem unrelated except for the conceits of the book: the counting and the cutouts. As the book unwinds, though, it ends with "one boy... all done." Turning the page to reveal the "done" shows how the pictures all relate to each other.
For a child just beginning to read, it's a great starter. It takes something familiar — counting books — and uses it to build reading confidence. For children comfortably in the easy reader stage, it's a fun, quick read. It can also be used for story time to teach numbers.
Like the one is revealed through the hole to actually be part of the word "alone" the other counting words are parts of larger words.
At the counting up stage, the pictures seem unrelated except for the conceits of the book: the counting and the cutouts. As the book unwinds, though, it ends with "one boy... all done." Turning the page to reveal the "done" shows how the pictures all relate to each other.
For a child just beginning to read, it's a great starter. It takes something familiar — counting books — and uses it to build reading confidence. For children comfortably in the easy reader stage, it's a fun, quick read. It can also be used for story time to teach numbers.
January 5, 2014
A great educational book for your children of all ages. My 6 yr old loved it as well as my 3 yr old twins. Lots of good information with beautiful pictures that will help keep children engaged. Number learning for the younger kids, and some phonics for the older ones. My 6 yr old reader loved seeing which words were inside other words. (one inside "gone") A great addition to any children's library.
June 27, 2012
We loved this book! And I'm really impressed by the output of this Laura Vaccaro Seeger, after reading One Boy, First the Egg and Lemons Are Not Red all in one go. My son's favorite was First the Egg, but I was completely enamored by One Boy. These die-cut books are so simple, yet so clever. One Boy is a counting book, each number takes up two page spreads with a little surprise twist on the second one. With the cut outs, words from the first page morph into new words on the second page, by hiding parts of the first word and/or adding letters to either end. So, as such, it's a bit more than just a counting book and would hold the attention of a child who's beginning to read or trying to learn. It's enlightening to see how "brooms" change to "room" and "row" into "grow". My son's favorite came at the end: "Ten Ants ... In Your Pants" made him laugh out so loud that he fell over himself. Definitely recommended: the kids will find it funny and the parents will delight in the brilliant design.
September 29, 2011
1.This is a counting concept book.
2.A boy, “One Boy”, paints ten pictures that by finding clever ways of using word chunks he gets the reader to see his “bigger picture”.
3.A. Even though this is a counting book, the most intriguing thing about this title is the clever way the author used pictures and word chunks to describe each of the ten pictures.
B. The black “window” pages allow the reader to only see a limited view of a picture. When the reader turns the pages not only do they see the bigger picture but they are told a story. This allows for the reader to become so engaged and excited to turn the page to finish the sentence but it also gives them insight on how words build upon one another. Seeger connects that you can find words within words in a very innovative way and accomplishes tying them together in the end. Who knew that “One Boy” could be so imaginative?
C. One of the best examples of words within words is from pages 9-16, “Three Apes, Big Escape. Four Monkeys, Held The Key”. You can find the word ‘ape’ in escape and the word ‘key’ in monkeys. From “One Boy, All Alone” (p 1-4) to “One Boy, All Done” (p 39-42) this book is definitely more than meets the eye.
4. Curriculum Connection- I would definitely use this in a word study lesson on how to decode words. During guided reading, you always ask, “Find something you know? What do you see?” This would be a great example in trying to teach that skill. If only I knew about this book while I was teaching! I will definitely be using this to teach my own daughters how to decode!
2.A boy, “One Boy”, paints ten pictures that by finding clever ways of using word chunks he gets the reader to see his “bigger picture”.
3.A. Even though this is a counting book, the most intriguing thing about this title is the clever way the author used pictures and word chunks to describe each of the ten pictures.
B. The black “window” pages allow the reader to only see a limited view of a picture. When the reader turns the pages not only do they see the bigger picture but they are told a story. This allows for the reader to become so engaged and excited to turn the page to finish the sentence but it also gives them insight on how words build upon one another. Seeger connects that you can find words within words in a very innovative way and accomplishes tying them together in the end. Who knew that “One Boy” could be so imaginative?
C. One of the best examples of words within words is from pages 9-16, “Three Apes, Big Escape. Four Monkeys, Held The Key”. You can find the word ‘ape’ in escape and the word ‘key’ in monkeys. From “One Boy, All Alone” (p 1-4) to “One Boy, All Done” (p 39-42) this book is definitely more than meets the eye.
4. Curriculum Connection- I would definitely use this in a word study lesson on how to decode words. During guided reading, you always ask, “Find something you know? What do you see?” This would be a great example in trying to teach that skill. If only I knew about this book while I was teaching! I will definitely be using this to teach my own daughters how to decode!
October 30, 2016
Genre: Award Winning
Format: Picture
Awards: Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor
Summary: This is a color book that focus' on learning your numbers! IT also helps introduce the concept of words within words.
Critique: I loved the 3D aspect of this book. It did an amazing job pulling out words within words while continuing up the number line. It was very colorful and very appealing to the eye.
Teaching Prompts: I would ask my students to look at the words we read and have them guess what other words could be made from that one word. I would write it on the board as we went through it. For example: Class, if you see the word ice, whats another word that could be made using the same letter I C E? The answer is Mice. They would then see on the next page the word mice, as well as an animation and number that accompanies it.
Craft Elements: I would give my students a graphic organizer that had the numbers 1-10 on one side and illustrations that depicted those same numbers on the other. Students would match the correct number to the correct illustration. Students would then be put with a partner and given matching cards. These visualization cards would be emphasized on their base words. Students would need to match the matching base words together. Just like the book pointed out on every page. Each words comes from or can be made into a new word using the same letters in the correct order. We would come back together as a whole group to review/close.
Format: Picture
Awards: Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor
Summary: This is a color book that focus' on learning your numbers! IT also helps introduce the concept of words within words.
Critique: I loved the 3D aspect of this book. It did an amazing job pulling out words within words while continuing up the number line. It was very colorful and very appealing to the eye.
Teaching Prompts: I would ask my students to look at the words we read and have them guess what other words could be made from that one word. I would write it on the board as we went through it. For example: Class, if you see the word ice, whats another word that could be made using the same letter I C E? The answer is Mice. They would then see on the next page the word mice, as well as an animation and number that accompanies it.
Craft Elements: I would give my students a graphic organizer that had the numbers 1-10 on one side and illustrations that depicted those same numbers on the other. Students would match the correct number to the correct illustration. Students would then be put with a partner and given matching cards. These visualization cards would be emphasized on their base words. Students would need to match the matching base words together. Just like the book pointed out on every page. Each words comes from or can be made into a new word using the same letters in the correct order. We would come back together as a whole group to review/close.
October 24, 2012
Genre: Picture Book, Counting
Summary: The story counts from one to ten using many different pictures one boy paints.
A. The author uses minimal words to create a wonderful story about a lonely boy who creates a world of wonder through his artwork.
B. At first the boy is all alone and looking rather bored, then he begins to paint all sorts of things, from animals to candles. The book would be great for prediction, where the student could predict which number will come next. Then at the end all of the numbers are lined up in a row from 1-10 along with the pictures. The author did a great job of preparing this book for the young reader. It would be a great book for preschool age, all the way to a beginning reader to boost their reading confidence.
C. The first page starts out with "one boy" then the next page says "all alone". Next the student could guess the upcoming number and so on and so forth. The book is quite predictable in this way, making it a great beginning reader book.
Curriculum Connection: This is a great book for preschool students to teach them counting in consecutive order. Also, if the teacher wanted he/she could turn to various pages and ask "how many" to see if they know the numbers in nonconsecutive order.
Summary: The story counts from one to ten using many different pictures one boy paints.
A. The author uses minimal words to create a wonderful story about a lonely boy who creates a world of wonder through his artwork.
B. At first the boy is all alone and looking rather bored, then he begins to paint all sorts of things, from animals to candles. The book would be great for prediction, where the student could predict which number will come next. Then at the end all of the numbers are lined up in a row from 1-10 along with the pictures. The author did a great job of preparing this book for the young reader. It would be a great book for preschool age, all the way to a beginning reader to boost their reading confidence.
C. The first page starts out with "one boy" then the next page says "all alone". Next the student could guess the upcoming number and so on and so forth. The book is quite predictable in this way, making it a great beginning reader book.
Curriculum Connection: This is a great book for preschool students to teach them counting in consecutive order. Also, if the teacher wanted he/she could turn to various pages and ask "how many" to see if they know the numbers in nonconsecutive order.
October 13, 2010
Very clever, great book.
This is a book that would be enjoyed by a large range range, from young toddlers through to first or second grade.
It's basically a counting book, with not really a plot. The clever part, though, is the wordplay that happens with the cutouts in the pages.
On one page there is cANDle (but capitalized normally) and he next page the cutout blocks everything except for the word AND, which is used in another sentence. Each page has a new word made from an old word, and the pictures are very easy to identify.
My son laughs when the apes escape, he likes that part. Also, when you get to 10 ants, you see the picture of ants through the peek hole cutout - then you turn the page and see that the ants are in the boy's pANTS! That's when I tickle my son's legs, who laughs and laughs.
He wants to read this book over and over. Also, this book is the one that taught him the meaning of "the end" and now he adds "the end" whenever I finish reading any book, lol.
At age 2, he's not reading yet, but I can imagine due to the wordplay in this book, that it would be great for young readers just understanding how letters make up different words.
This is a book that would be enjoyed by a large range range, from young toddlers through to first or second grade.
It's basically a counting book, with not really a plot. The clever part, though, is the wordplay that happens with the cutouts in the pages.
On one page there is cANDle (but capitalized normally) and he next page the cutout blocks everything except for the word AND, which is used in another sentence. Each page has a new word made from an old word, and the pictures are very easy to identify.
My son laughs when the apes escape, he likes that part. Also, when you get to 10 ants, you see the picture of ants through the peek hole cutout - then you turn the page and see that the ants are in the boy's pANTS! That's when I tickle my son's legs, who laughs and laughs.
He wants to read this book over and over. Also, this book is the one that taught him the meaning of "the end" and now he adds "the end" whenever I finish reading any book, lol.
At age 2, he's not reading yet, but I can imagine due to the wordplay in this book, that it would be great for young readers just understanding how letters make up different words.
March 24, 2010
What a wonderful book for word exploration! Written and illustrated simply, the streamlined text and pictures allow the reader to concentrate on the words being "played with." The book opens with the words "ONE BOY." The word ONE is set apart by it being cut out, so that when the reader turns the page, the word ONE has then been transformed to "ALL ALONE." Young and older readers alike will delight in the progression of the story, trying to guess what the new word will be transformed from the cut out word. At the very end of the book, the reader can see where all the characters came from.
A school-wide emphasis for the next few years will be word study. We have noticed that children need more exposure in the study of words (word derivations, affixes, word play...) One Boy would make an excellent addition to our study of words. Trying to replicate the book's pattern in a class book form would prove to be both challenging and fun, and would ensure a collaborative approach to word play. I can't wait to try this book out with my readers!
A school-wide emphasis for the next few years will be word study. We have noticed that children need more exposure in the study of words (word derivations, affixes, word play...) One Boy would make an excellent addition to our study of words. Trying to replicate the book's pattern in a class book form would prove to be both challenging and fun, and would ensure a collaborative approach to word play. I can't wait to try this book out with my readers!
November 28, 2011
**Easy-To-Read
Having read this book, I believe it has an strong ability to catch young readers' attention because of it's potential to extend one's imagination. This piece of work is a counting book with clever cutout squares on each page, which turn into bigger pictures one each page is turned. For example, one page says 'THREE APES', and then once the page is turned, the square cutout reveals 'Big EscAPE' and it shows the apes escaping from their cage. Each page demonstrates this strategy up until the number ten. This was a very intriguing children's book because it can be fun for children as well as the adults that read to them. I though Laura Seeger used a great technique to teaching phonics and spelling concepts to children. The illustrations in the book are a big help to telling the story as well. The illustrations are able to pull their audience into the story and provide a bold image for the reader. I would definitely introduce this to a primary group of students in my future classroom.
Having read this book, I believe it has an strong ability to catch young readers' attention because of it's potential to extend one's imagination. This piece of work is a counting book with clever cutout squares on each page, which turn into bigger pictures one each page is turned. For example, one page says 'THREE APES', and then once the page is turned, the square cutout reveals 'Big EscAPE' and it shows the apes escaping from their cage. Each page demonstrates this strategy up until the number ten. This was a very intriguing children's book because it can be fun for children as well as the adults that read to them. I though Laura Seeger used a great technique to teaching phonics and spelling concepts to children. The illustrations in the book are a big help to telling the story as well. The illustrations are able to pull their audience into the story and provide a bold image for the reader. I would definitely introduce this to a primary group of students in my future classroom.
October 27, 2013
One Boy is a great book for beginners since there are very few words, making it an easy read while also extending ones imagination. I loved all of the illustrations and that in the end you can see what all of them actually are- the boys drawings! This is a great introduction on how to use your creativity with words, showing that you can use one word, isolate some of the letters and make a completely different word while also counting to 10. The book is so simplistic, yet is made complex by using numbers while also rhyming. The cutouts were very clever and creative, and the colors on each page were bold and beautiful. The illustrations are very basic, therefore children will be inspired being as it’s something they can draw and write. I also loved how there are a variety of things used on each page, anywhere from seals to flowers, making the reader think of what each item could be before turning to the next page. This book could be used in a classroom as a read aloud as well as individual reading.
October 25, 2012
This is an excellent book for kids who just learning how to read. Laura Vaccaro Seeger does an excellent job of making this an easy to read book. There are only a few words on each page and they are in very large print which makes it alot easier for young children to read. Not only would kids be able to read this book, but it can also help them with their counting skills as well. This book goes up to 10 with pictures on each page that help the reader. The illustrations are excellent. They are very big and bright and make the book more enjoyable. There are also cut outs on the pages where it focuses on one thing and then on the next page it is something different. That is definitely something that kids would enjoy. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who is trying to teach their kid to read and/or count.
June 6, 2014
Book Review: One Boy - By: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Genre: Concept - Counting
2009 ALA Children's Notable Books, (2009) Geisel Ward Nominee
What a clever counting book. This book starts out with one boy all alone and seems lonely. He ends up counting from mice, monkeys, to candles on a cake, but what makes this concept book so special is that there is a little window in every other page that uses word-play. A word on each page is played into another word on the next turn of the page. Quite a fun easy read, without really a plot so easy for the younger kids to follow.
Illustrations: crayon like and simple.
Ages: 4 - 6 years of age
Curriculum Connection: read allow for help with the concept of numbers or simple counting each object.
Genre: Concept - Counting
2009 ALA Children's Notable Books, (2009) Geisel Ward Nominee
What a clever counting book. This book starts out with one boy all alone and seems lonely. He ends up counting from mice, monkeys, to candles on a cake, but what makes this concept book so special is that there is a little window in every other page that uses word-play. A word on each page is played into another word on the next turn of the page. Quite a fun easy read, without really a plot so easy for the younger kids to follow.
Illustrations: crayon like and simple.
Ages: 4 - 6 years of age
Curriculum Connection: read allow for help with the concept of numbers or simple counting each object.
July 23, 2014
I picked this up through the RIF program at our local library a couple weeks ago and I'm now asked to read this about 10 times a day to the point that my toddler has memorized the words and can repeat much of it on his own. This is a clever format where each page has a cut-out and opens up to reveal the larger context of the picture and a new phrase out of text from the first page. My only qualms are that I wish there were more diverse animals- it's really hard to explain to a toddler the difference between monkeys and apes and since those pages are right next to each other it is a little confusing. I also wish the pictures related to each other better, but clearly my child is not bothered by these issues.
April 17, 2019
Clever, as revealed by the blurb. Too clever for me, as I didn't realize that there was a plot until I reread the blurb. Blurb makes book unnecessary. Heck, book unnecessary, period. I would not have liked it as a child and do not now. Maybe kids who live to draw would? Maybe some teachers would like to use this as a mentor text? Imo, blegh... it's as if Seeger is getting too self-satisfied instead of really trying to reach kids, as her earlier books were more likely to do.
March 2, 2017
Good primary counting book. Fun cut-outs in book.
April 26, 2022
Rating: 3.4 leaves out of 5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Genre: Children/ Picture book
Type: Book
Worth?: Sure
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Genre: Children/ Picture book
Type: Book
Worth?: Sure
Read
February 22, 2017I like the book specially the illustration of the book. The storyline of the book is about one lonely boy in an empty room who begins to add more animations by drawing them to not feel alone. The boy draws the animations in a numerical order and uses words in to other words. He starts drawing himself as one and then goes to number two by drawing two seals. The next page the seals are in the (SEA)ls she used the same words for other words. As the book goes on the child finished by drawing ten different pictures the last picture has ten ants and it shows exactly where the ants are located. The next page is says in your p(ANTS). I like how it shows that there are words that can make up other words children can notice things like that. I think children would respond to the images and the counting of the objects. I can emphasize with the children while I read aloud that we can count together or relating words to one another.
June 16, 2014
One Boy is a great book for beginning readers. It explores words within words by starting with one word and using part of that word on the next page in a different word. There is a cut-out that shows what part of the first word is used again. There is room for imagination when reading this book. It begins with one boy who is alone and slowly adds seals, apes, and monkeys throughout the pages. This book has the ability to transform everyday words and objects into amazing concepts and ideas. It also uses the numbers 1-10, so it can be used for literacy and numeracy skills.
I would use this book with students just learning how to read. After reading the first few pages of the book, I would have them try to guess what the second word with the same pattern will be on specific pages. This will serve as a literacy game where students can guess what words with the same pattern will be used in a given word. This book can also provide an informal assessment of which students can generate similar words. The book also challenges students to imagine what will happen next in the story as they are making predictions about the word on the next page and how it will be used to continue the story. I would also use the book to determine if students can identify the number pattern being used as well. I would see if anyone could make a prediction about what number will appear on the next page to see if they can identify the sequence going from 1-10.
Overall, this book incorporates sight reading as well as math and counting. While it functions as a basic counting book for the most basic readers, it can challenge others by showing how one word can be a part of another word. Lastly, it allows students to predict what will come next.
I would use this book with students just learning how to read. After reading the first few pages of the book, I would have them try to guess what the second word with the same pattern will be on specific pages. This will serve as a literacy game where students can guess what words with the same pattern will be used in a given word. This book can also provide an informal assessment of which students can generate similar words. The book also challenges students to imagine what will happen next in the story as they are making predictions about the word on the next page and how it will be used to continue the story. I would also use the book to determine if students can identify the number pattern being used as well. I would see if anyone could make a prediction about what number will appear on the next page to see if they can identify the sequence going from 1-10.
Overall, this book incorporates sight reading as well as math and counting. While it functions as a basic counting book for the most basic readers, it can challenge others by showing how one word can be a part of another word. Lastly, it allows students to predict what will come next.
February 19, 2020
Cutouts in the pages reveal the words within the words. This is one of the most clever counting books I've ever read. Tons of fun with the littles.
October 26, 2011
EASY-TO-READ
I thought this book was clever, and I think it has potential to capture the attention of a younger audience due to the format of the book. Laura Seeger's book, One Boy, is a counting book of sorts with cut out squares on each page that lead to a bigger picture that explains the page before it. For example, the #5 page says 'FIVE MICE', and the right spread page is black except for a square that is cut out that reveals five mice on the next page. When you turn the page, it says, 'SKATE ON ICE', and it shows 5 mice skating on ice. The square from the previous page that is cut out reveals the letters 'ICE' from the word 'MICE' on the previous page to make the word 'ICE'. Each page uses that strategy of reusing sequential letters from the previous page.
I thought that Seeger's use of the previous word to make a new one was a great technique, especially when teaching phonics and spelling concepts to children. The illustrations play a significant part in the book, because they tell the story. There are very bright colors, and the pictures really pull the reader in. I would definitely read this book to a primary group of students.
I thought this book was clever, and I think it has potential to capture the attention of a younger audience due to the format of the book. Laura Seeger's book, One Boy, is a counting book of sorts with cut out squares on each page that lead to a bigger picture that explains the page before it. For example, the #5 page says 'FIVE MICE', and the right spread page is black except for a square that is cut out that reveals five mice on the next page. When you turn the page, it says, 'SKATE ON ICE', and it shows 5 mice skating on ice. The square from the previous page that is cut out reveals the letters 'ICE' from the word 'MICE' on the previous page to make the word 'ICE'. Each page uses that strategy of reusing sequential letters from the previous page.
I thought that Seeger's use of the previous word to make a new one was a great technique, especially when teaching phonics and spelling concepts to children. The illustrations play a significant part in the book, because they tell the story. There are very bright colors, and the pictures really pull the reader in. I would definitely read this book to a primary group of students.
December 12, 2013
Summery- One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is an easy to read book that goes through the numbers 1-10 by using cut outs in the page to show how there are words within words. This book really does not have a plot, it just has different objects for each number.
Text- The text is very easy in this book, younger students who are just starting out to read would do really well with the text in this book. This book teachers young readers how there are words within words. For example The word Key is in the word monkey.
Illustrations-The illustrations go with the text perfectly! Like the text, the cutouts also show a fraction of the picture and then you turn the page and you see the whole picture, and sometimes it is not what you expected at all, so it was very interesting and intriguing to go through the book and look at the illustrations and how they interact with the text.
How would I use this in my classroom?-I would use this as a read a loud in my classroom. Its a great way to teach how sometimes there is another word within the word. The visuals and the text support this concept, so I feel like it would be a great learning tool for the students in my classroom.
Text- The text is very easy in this book, younger students who are just starting out to read would do really well with the text in this book. This book teachers young readers how there are words within words. For example The word Key is in the word monkey.
Illustrations-The illustrations go with the text perfectly! Like the text, the cutouts also show a fraction of the picture and then you turn the page and you see the whole picture, and sometimes it is not what you expected at all, so it was very interesting and intriguing to go through the book and look at the illustrations and how they interact with the text.
How would I use this in my classroom?-I would use this as a read a loud in my classroom. Its a great way to teach how sometimes there is another word within the word. The visuals and the text support this concept, so I feel like it would be a great learning tool for the students in my classroom.
October 28, 2017
I have become a HUGE FAN of Laura Vaccaro Seeger's 8x8(ish) books. I heard her speak at a Books For Young Readers conference and immediately dashed out to buy every one of these books. I couldn't wait to test drive them on my three-year-old granddaughter. When I read them to her I began with the title and then the author's name. Together we turned to the title page and I showed her the author's signature. After a few readings my granddaughter insisted on reading them to me and she always included the author's name and showed me her signature. Now her little brother (nearly two) loves them just as much.
Recently I used this story to launch a "BROOMS" theme library story time. Why? Because I knew the children would respond well to the concepts (counting and words within words) and the die-cut peek-a-boo surprise design element. The bright illustrations and brief text hold their attention. Finally, there is a page spread featuring BROOMS! Perfect!
Recently I used this story to launch a "BROOMS" theme library story time. Why? Because I knew the children would respond well to the concepts (counting and words within words) and the die-cut peek-a-boo surprise design element. The bright illustrations and brief text hold their attention. Finally, there is a page spread featuring BROOMS! Perfect!
December 8, 2017
A very different kind of counting book.
Each number is 2 consecutive 2 page spreads.
There is a window cut in the page between the two page spreads and this window highlights the thing we're counting on the first page spread and then some letters from the text when the page is turned.
Numbers are presented in both numerals and words.
Example:
First page spread:
3 THREE APES (3 apes show through cutout)
Second page spread:
BIG ESCAPE (APE shows through cutout)
Picture of 3 apes outside an open cage.
Each number is 2 consecutive 2 page spreads.
There is a window cut in the page between the two page spreads and this window highlights the thing we're counting on the first page spread and then some letters from the text when the page is turned.
Numbers are presented in both numerals and words.
Example:
First page spread:
3 THREE APES (3 apes show through cutout)
Second page spread:
BIG ESCAPE (APE shows through cutout)
Picture of 3 apes outside an open cage.
September 10, 2017
One boy is a number book about a boy who paints pictures of different things, one through ten. You don't actually find out until the last page that the "one boy" creates the pictures for each page. The really neat thing I like about this book, is that each page has a window that shows a preview to the next page. So it could be very interactive with the kids to have them guess what the next page could be. I love the surprise ending that he painted the pictures, also!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2009
v. clever counting book
December 3, 2017
K-1; contemporary realistic; The book is really interactive for younger children. There is a shape cut into each page that goes along with what’s to come on the pages that are up ahead!
October 22, 2018
The easy-to-read book, One Boy, Starts off with one boy sitting in an empty room all alone, with paintbrushes in his backpack. Then each page counts up number by number, with cut outs in each page, showing a sneak peak on that the next page is going to include in the images. In this book, the words and the images tell the story. It teaches kids not only about counting, but learning about words within words. For example, this book used the lines "Two Seals" and the next page had the cut out on the words SEA and wrote "At the SEA". Another example is when the line "Six Cars" was used and the next page had the cut out on the CAR part and it wrote, "On the CARpet". This book could be confusing for little ones to understand if it is read too fast, so it is important that a teacher reading this to a young group of kids, takes their time so the students can actually understand the main lesson of this book by identifying which words are being used out of one word that was previously read. Reading this book as an open discussion is a smart way to do this so that you can ask the class questions and see if they can identify any more words within a word they can think of. At the end of the story, it shows all of the pages in the book as its own separate piece of artwork on the wall, so the students can use this information to infer that the boy with the paintbrushes in his back pack drew all of these and hung it on the wall. The illustrations were so vibrant and made sense with the book and I liked that each page before the whole picture revealed a little sneak peak as to what the next page was going to be.
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