Red Sled

by Patricia Thomas, Chris L. Demarest (Illustrator)

A boy and his father share a winter night of sledding. Outside, the crescent moon is shining brightly and the world is covered with snow. Inside, a boy and his father feel sad. So they put on their hats and coats and climb a hill, pulling a red sled. Father and son climb aboard and zoom down the hill under a starlit sky. With their spirits lifted high, they return home for a mug of hot chocolate. Then it's time for bed. Patricia Thomas's loving story, affectionately illustrated by Chris L. Demarest, is told with the utmost simplicity.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Patricia Thomas was the author of several picture books, including Firefly Mountain; “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!”; “There are Rocks in My Socks,” Said the Ox to the Fox; and The One-and-Only, Super-Duper, Golly-Whopper, Jim-Dandy, Really Handy Clock Tock Stopper. She taught writing for children at Marywood University and at the Institute for Children’s Literature. Thomas passed away in 2021.

Reviews

[Carol Bakker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom include picture books in my reading, only logging the best titles for quick reference.

Red Sled is delightful! Its chiastic structure makes me smile. The two- and three- word rhyming sentences remind me of Nancy Shaw's Sheep in a Jeep.

My friend Katie recommended this one. I found it on archive.org. But I believe print books are the best medium for reading to kids. So I'm ordering one for my kids' bookshelf.

The best children's books are ones grownups love to read, too. I've probably read this book seven times in one morning. It's just too delicious!

[Jen H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. bright and colorful illustrations. Rhyming text about sledding. "Still hill. Far star. Snow aglow. Nighttime climb. Steep leap. Slide ride." Great read aloud to share with toddlers and elementary kids.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text almost as simple as a 'Bob Book" but it's actually, according to the interesting author's note, a chiasmus poem. (So this could be used as a mentor text, too.) Illustrations straightforward but fun. Font large enough to use in circle time.

The only thing I had a problem with is the first couplet: "Sad lad. Sad dad." I'm wondering what they're sad about, and I'm sure that the child readers, who are at this developmental age actively exploring the concepts of different emotions, are also wondering that. (Best that I can figure things out, they're just melancholy because it's winter and they're bored... but since there are no images of a mother, maybe she's away or even dead and they are actually very sad.)

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick read and a fairly simple story about a father and a little boy who go out for a ride on a red sled. Because there are very few words this would be a great book for babies and young toddlers who can't sit through longer stories.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with lovely illustrations and short prose.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for Toddler Storytime! Bold illustrations, simple text, fun story. Looking forward to sharing it with my group.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated by my daughter and she was able to read almost the whole thing

[Sharon Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more words from the explanation of what the book is about. This book was a easy read. You could make predictions from the pictures.

[Olivia Zerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storytime

[Brystal Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story that includes many rhyming words.

[Taylor Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little words on each page and rhymes.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Booklist (September 1, 2008 (Vol. 105, No. 1))

Preschool-Grade 2. A dad, a lad, and a red sled are the just-right combination for a story-poem about a father-son nighttime sledding adventure. The minimal text is mostly comprised of two rhyming words per page that set the stage and describe the action: “Sad lad. Sad dad. Fat hat. Knit mitt. Still hill. Far star. Snow aglow.” The bright, loosely rendered watercolor illustrations embellish the spare text adding a few details here and there, for example, a rabbit witnessing the action and kittens sharing the cozy scene after the sledding adventure. In a short author’s note, the reader is informed that this was inspired by an ancient form of writing called chiasmus that creates a mirror image with words flowing toward a center point and then reversing. The entire 70-word text of the story is then repeated on the page in a sort of concrete poem format to illustrate the connection. This romp can be enjoyed by the youngest listeners, beginning readers, and older children learning various forms of writing.



Horn Book (September/October, 2008)

This picture-book poem begins with two words in large type: "Red sled." Then a "sad lad" and "sad dad" (perhaps suffering from cabin fever?) suit up and head out into the snowy night for some joyous sledding down a steep, snow-covered hill. The ride ends with a "flip-flop stop" and a return to their cozy home for the now "glad lad" and "glad dad." As Thomas explains in a closing note, the poem's structure makes an arc that echoes the shape of a hill in a very gratifying way. Demarest's watercolors fill each page to the edges with straightforward images, reinforcing the few words rather than focusing attention on busy details. He creates a nice contrast between the icy blue world outside and the lamp-lit warmth of the house. With its evocative mood and tender simplicity, this will be a good choice both for storytime groups and for new readers.



Horn Book starred (January, 2009)

"Sad lad" and "sad dad" head into the night for some joyous sledding down a steep, snow-covered hill. The ride ends with a "flip-flop stop" and a return home. Watercolors fill each page with straightforward images, reinforcing the few words. With its evocative mood and tender simplicity, this is a good choice for storytimes and new readers.



Kirkus Reviews starred (July 1, 2008)

A father and son go sledding in this deceptively simple tale. They are sad, so the father takes the boy out for some fun, as conveyed through a brief but descriptive poem. The lettering that makes up the clipped rhymes is as large as the subjects of the watercolor illustrations. Demarest uses rough black outlines and lots of color in his close-up paintings, father's and son's faces clearly reflecting the thrill of the ride. In a concluding note, Thomas explains that the poem is based on an ancient form called chiasmus in which the text leads up to a center point and then reverses its pattern. She illustrates the form on the last page of the book, where the poem is printed in full to show the pattern of rhyming pairs. A rabbit that appears throughout stands as visual counterpoint to the verse. Just why father and son start out so sad is never revealed, leaving the listener to ponder. The rhyme works wonderfully with the simple yet very effective paintings. A quietly exhilarating ride. (Picture book. 3-6)



School Library Journal (August 1, 2008)

PreS-Gr 1-A father and son go sledding down a hill one snowy night in this charming picture book. The brief text consists of easy-to-read words in rhyming pairs ("Still hill./Far star./Snow aglow"). According to an author's note, the structure of the story-poem was inspired by an ancient writing pattern called chiasmus, "a format that creates a kind of mirror image." Bright watercolor pictures capture perfectly the downcast faces of the characters when they are stuck inside during a snowstorm ("Sad lad./Sad dad"), their expressions of happiness and excitement during their nocturnal adventure on the red sled ("Go! Go!/Whoa! Whoa!"), and their cozy contented smiles as they enjoy hot chocolate back home afterward ("Snug hug"). This is a great book for storytime and one-on-one sharing, and beginning readers will be able to follow the simple language presented in large black script.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Sled by Patricia Thomas, illustrated by Chris L. Demarest tells of a boy and his father who share a winter night of sledding.

The text features a very large font and rhyming. The structure of the story poem in inspired by an ancient form of chiasmus that creates a kind of mirror image. An author's note explains the structure and the adaption used for this book.

Demarest's watercolor illustrations feature large pictures that are bright and feature cartoon-like drawings. My favorite images include the title page, whoa whoa, flip-flop stop, eye high, snowflake shake, warm-up cup, and kittens' mittens.

This is a simple but satisfying look at a father-son nightime sled ride. This would be a good easy reader choice, since it uses about forty-five words. This should be a good toddler and preschooler choice for sharing one on one or with a group since it has large pictures.

For ages 2 - 5, rhyming, winter, father-son, sledding, snow, poetry, and fans of Patricia Thomas and Chris L. Demarest.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Review:School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1

A father and son go sledding down a hill one snowy night in this charming picture book. The brief text consists of easy-to-read words in rhyming pairs ("Still hill./Far star./Snow aglow"). According to an author's note, the structure of the story-poem was inspired by an ancient writing pattern called chiasmus, "a format that creates a kind of mirror image." Bright watercolor pictures capture perfectly the downcast faces of the characters when they are stuck inside during a snowstorm ("Sad lad./Sad dad"), their expressions of happiness and excitement during their nocturnal adventure on the red sled ("Go! Go!/Whoa! Whoa!"), and their cozy contented smiles as they enjoy hot chocolate back home afterward ("Snug hug"). This is a great book for storytime and one-on-one sharing, and beginning readers will be able to follow the simple language presented in large black script.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Recommendation: 4-7 Years

Notes: Rhyming, phonemic awareness

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy and his father share a winter night of sledding. Outside, the crescent moon is shining brightly and the world is covered with snow. Inside, a boy and his father feel sad. So they put on their hats and coats and climb a hill, pulling a red sled. Father and son climb aboard and zoom down the hill under a starlit sky. With their spirits lifted high, they return home for a mug of hot chocolate. Then it's time for bed. Patricia Thomas's loving story, affectionately illustrated by Chris L. Demarest, is told with the utmost simplicity.

Subjects

Stories in rhyme

Sledding -- Juvenile fiction.

Fathers and sons -- Juvenile fiction

Mood (Psychology) -- Juvenile fiction

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My almost-five-year-old son picked this book out from the library today.

Meh. The text in this book underwhelmed me. Early on, we have "Sad dad" and "Sad lad", and that's about as good as the text gets. There is something of a story, but how it is told -- meh.

The artwork, however, is quite dazzling, from the vibrant red sled on the front cover, to the adorable bunny backside on the back cover.

Had I read this book to my son two, even three, years ago, I might have liked it more, because my son might have liked it more. As it was, he wanted to tell me another story based on the illustrations.

[Anne Hennessey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Sled is a wonderful book about the relationship between a dad and his son. The little boy is sad and his father takes him outside to go sledding. The boy and his father put on their hats and coats and climb a hill, pulling a red sled. Both of them jump aboard the red sled zoom down the hill under a starlit sky. They return home for a mug of hot chocolate.

This a great book for many reasons. The rhyming words reinforce early literacy skills in young readers along with a easy to read script which after a couple of readings the children can read the book themselves.
I would use this book along with a winter theme and reinforce the rhyming words.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A son and his dad enjoy a snowy day sledding. The words, rhythm, and feel of the story are straight-forward and perfect for preschool listeners.

The author includes a note to describe the structure of the story-poem, called a chiasmus. This would be a great poetry form to use with elementary school students. With varying amounts of support, recommended as a model for writing in grades 2 - 5.

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This winter story has nice big pictures for babies and toddlers and would be good to use for phonological awareness because of its rhyming. Here's a little taste, "Red sled. Sad lad. Sad dad. Fat hat. Knit mitt." The illustrations really add to the simple rhyming words.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minimal rhyming text that evokes the mood of a night time sled ride by father and son, including the hot chocolate and the father reading after the ride. No young child should miss this warm secure story.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great one for winter storytimes. It's got a nice rhyme to it, but it also has a fun bit of action to it -- when the sled tips over, it's fun to have the kids yell whoa with you. Perfect length for toddler storytime, too.

[Kim Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glace this just appears to be a whimsical preschool book. But when the reader gets to the author's note you become aware of the purposeful structure of the book. This would be a great lead in to differentiation in a poetry unit.

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little book that tells the story of a boy and his dad who go sledding. In terms of plot, that's pretty much it!

Very bright, cartoony illustrations fit the cheerful story.

Would be an excellent read-aloud for toddlers because of the sparse, rhyming text and large, bright pictures.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm ordering at least one and perhaps two more copies of this one. That should tell you something.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to use for toddlers and it's a wintertime book too! This could also be used for a daddy and me program.

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I don't care for the rhythm, but I'm sure it will suit others nicely. I am taken by the warm illustrations, the cats are especially cute.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty pictures and two-word rhymes tell the story of a day in the snow. A simple, quiet read.

[MissInformation · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story told entirely with rhyming pairs ex. Roam home. Snug hug. Sleepyhead abed.

Interesting for Story Time? EL skill of rhyming, and very simple.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda cute. I had never heard of the chiasmus form of writing before, so I found the author's note about the book's structure very interesting.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"sledding, winter, told in two word rhymes"