What do you think?
Rate this book
Utensils
Straw
Meet Straw!
He's always rushed straight to the finish. But when his speedy streak gets the best of him, it takes a friend to show Straw how to drink in the amazing world around him.
A companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, this delightful story celebrates the joys of taking it slow.
He's always rushed straight to the finish. But when his speedy streak gets the best of him, it takes a friend to show Straw how to drink in the amazing world around him.
A companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, this delightful story celebrates the joys of taking it slow.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published February 4, 2020
4 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Amy Krouse Rosenthal
92 books1,101 followersSHORT BIO:
Amy Krouse Rosenthal was.
She divided her time.
NOT SO SHORT BIO:
Amy Krouse Rosenthal was a person who liked to make things.
Some things she liked to make include:
Children's books. (Little Pea, Spoon, DuckRabbit)
Grown-up books. (Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life)
Short films. (The Beckoning of Lovely, The Money Tree)
Guided journals. (The Belly Book)
Something out of nothing. (see above)
A longtime contributor to WBEZ and to the TED conference,
Amy lived with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
February 18, 2020
”It’s strawesome!”
Straw always races through his drinks. He loves to be first! But brain freeze from an icy cold drink has him re-thinking his fast ways. Will he learn to savor treats like whipped cream and bubbles and super smooth shakes?
“There’s no need to drink it all in” in one big gulp. Slow down and enjoy the ride. A piece of advice we all need to hear every so often in this fast, fast moving world.
A sweet, straw-ific tale full of puns and joy and “glassmates." :)
Recommended read.
May 15, 2022
This is book is STRAWESOME!
[REVIEW]
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Utensils trilogy always has great morals at the end of the story. The first book, Spoon, teaches readers to not compare themselves to others, and notice the unique talents they THEMSELVES possess. Chopsticks centers around becoming independent and the power of friendship.
In the last book of the trilogy, the titular character Straw constantly strives to be the fastest, first, and best, which is something people of all ages can connect to. The story follows him learning how this way of life causes him to miss out and not be present. What I loved the most about this book is how Straw isn’t not simply told this. Instead, Straw is able to understand by experiencing a day without rushing and worrying about being first. I loved how he still sometimes tries to be first, but he’s gotten better at being in the moment.
With beautiful illustrations, cameos of characters from the two previous books, and a great moral at the end, I recommend Straw and the Utensils trilogy to children and adults to read!
[REVIEW]
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Utensils trilogy always has great morals at the end of the story. The first book, Spoon, teaches readers to not compare themselves to others, and notice the unique talents they THEMSELVES possess. Chopsticks centers around becoming independent and the power of friendship.
In the last book of the trilogy, the titular character Straw constantly strives to be the fastest, first, and best, which is something people of all ages can connect to. The story follows him learning how this way of life causes him to miss out and not be present. What I loved the most about this book is how Straw isn’t not simply told this. Instead, Straw is able to understand by experiencing a day without rushing and worrying about being first. I loved how he still sometimes tries to be first, but he’s gotten better at being in the moment.
With beautiful illustrations, cameos of characters from the two previous books, and a great moral at the end, I recommend Straw and the Utensils trilogy to children and adults to read!
January 30, 2020
Straw is so cute and reminds me of so many kids -- and maybe myself. He wants to rush through things, but he learns to savor the moment and make the good things last. Sweet message.
Read
March 9, 2020A cute utensil-themed look at wanting to be first all the time, this is the concluding book in the utensil themed trilogy (Spoon and Chopsticks precede it) by the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal. In this book, a plastic straw prides himself on being first always until some friends take him aside and teach him that sometimes it's not about the destination but the journey.
April 20, 2020
Note: I received an F&G of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.
September 28, 2019
A book by the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal is the only reason I need to love this book. The lesson as learned through the eyes of a straw: Slow down and savor life. A message all of us need to remember.
March 17, 2020
Straw learns that finishing first isn’t always best.
"Straw has a great thirst for being first ... It was just Straw's way."
The classic advice to stop and smell the roses and to savor the moment is repackaged as 'don’t drink your beverage as fast as possible.'
"Sometimes he still wants to be first. But most of the time, Straw wants to make the good things last."
The text contains a lot of great puns. Both the humor and the story will appeal to fans of Everyone Loves Bacon and Everyone Loves Cupcake.
I appreciated that Straw is a paper straw rather than a planet destroying plastic straw.
"Straw has a great thirst for being first ... It was just Straw's way."
The classic advice to stop and smell the roses and to savor the moment is repackaged as 'don’t drink your beverage as fast as possible.'
"Sometimes he still wants to be first. But most of the time, Straw wants to make the good things last."
The text contains a lot of great puns. Both the humor and the story will appeal to fans of Everyone Loves Bacon and Everyone Loves Cupcake.
I appreciated that Straw is a paper straw rather than a planet destroying plastic straw.
February 6, 2020
Funny, punny, imaginative story. Moral: Don't rush—savor.
January 1, 2022
Really liked the illustrations but the story wasn't all that engaging.
November 7, 2019
Straw learns about the joys of taking it slow in this fun companion to Chopsticks and Spoon.
February 25, 2020
This was weird and made no sense. What does being a straw have to do with wanting to be first? It wasn't explained and it was confusing. Did not care for this at all.
February 11, 2020
Some books don't need to be written. Kudos to Scott Magoon for making it cute.
February 17, 2020
Straw by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon. PICTURE BOOK. Disney, 2019. $17. 9781484749555
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Straw is determined to always be the first to finish. It isn’t until after a bad case of brain freeze that a twisty straw talks to him about the satisfaction of enjoying the moment and Straw also learns to slow down.
I’m not sure how many picture books Rosenthal left for us to discover, but I have enjoyed her legacy immensely. I think she could have written a kitchen-full stories! The messaging is gentle and just a nice addition to the fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Straw is determined to always be the first to finish. It isn’t until after a bad case of brain freeze that a twisty straw talks to him about the satisfaction of enjoying the moment and Straw also learns to slow down.
I’m not sure how many picture books Rosenthal left for us to discover, but I have enjoyed her legacy immensely. I think she could have written a kitchen-full stories! The messaging is gentle and just a nice addition to the fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
April 10, 2020
"Meanwhile, over in the corner, one of his glasasmates could see that Straw was feeling love."
STRAW is yet another AMAZING book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Straw rushes through life as though it's a competition until he learns how to enjoy each moment.
STRAW is yet another AMAZING book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Straw rushes through life as though it's a competition until he learns how to enjoy each moment.
February 26, 2020
Straw learns to relax and enjoy life rather than racing through everything to win. Charming illustrations show readers all sorts of straws and other objects.
April 29, 2021
"Straw" was the final collaborative effort between Rosenthal and Magoon. Consistent with the series, the use of personified, everyday objects combined with clever wordplay is intended to highlight a valuable life lesson. In today's "instant-driven" world, the importance of "slowing down" to **savor experiences** is certainly relevant and laudable; however, Straw's story takes a turn in the middle, and the overall effectiveness of the metaphor is somewhat diminished. Given AKR's passing in 2017, I can't help but think Rosenthal and Magoon simply didn't have the opportunity to collaborate as closely as they had in the past, making "Straw" a challenging story to bring to fruition*.
Publication Date: 2020; Book 3 of 3 in a series
Elements: Personification, wordplay
Connection/Topics: Silverware (literal interpretation); value of the "process"/savoring experiences more than "speeding" through them; value of "slowing down"
*Links:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
https://www.readingstyle.net/blog/str...
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
--
Today (April 29, 2021), I read three books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who was born on April 29, 1965. Amy was a daughter, wife, and mother. AKR made her 51 years count; she left a legacy of engaging children's books, as well as two ground-breaking memoirs (one presented as an A-Z encyclopedia; the other leveraging technology with interactive texting prompts). Her stories continue to delight and inspire, and whenever I see a yellow umbrella, I think of her.
Resources:
https://www.whoisamy.com/
https://youtu.be/hxWgIccldh4
Publication Date: 2020; Book 3 of 3 in a series
Elements: Personification, wordplay
Connection/Topics: Silverware (literal interpretation); value of the "process"/savoring experiences more than "speeding" through them; value of "slowing down"
*Links:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
https://www.readingstyle.net/blog/str...
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
--
Today (April 29, 2021), I read three books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who was born on April 29, 1965. Amy was a daughter, wife, and mother. AKR made her 51 years count; she left a legacy of engaging children's books, as well as two ground-breaking memoirs (one presented as an A-Z encyclopedia; the other leveraging technology with interactive texting prompts). Her stories continue to delight and inspire, and whenever I see a yellow umbrella, I think of her.
Resources:
https://www.whoisamy.com/
https://youtu.be/hxWgIccldh4
May 1, 2020
A new picture book in the wordplay series by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Scott Magoon about kitchen items. The topic of this book is actually about a life issue very familiar to young children; being first in everything. Using many puns and inanimate objects, the story becomes more appealing. Straw is the one who wants to be done first of all his drinking buddies, kitchen utensils, and timing instruments. The ice cube is also slower than straw. That is until straw has his own massive ice cube experience and develops a brain freeze. This helps him slow down, that and the help of a bendy loop straw who knows it takes the long way.
This picture book was published after Rosenthal's death. It has colorful illustrations with the translucent quality of liquids in glass which make the story more realistic. A great read for kids who should slow down and grownups who will understand all the wordplays.
AD+
Written
Pre Kindergarten through 1st grade
This picture book was published after Rosenthal's death. It has colorful illustrations with the translucent quality of liquids in glass which make the story more realistic. A great read for kids who should slow down and grownups who will understand all the wordplays.
AD+
Written
Pre Kindergarten through 1st grade
April 3, 2020
Sadly, the author passed away in 2017, so every book that comes out is special. This cute picture book tells the story of straw, who likes to do everything fast and always be the first to finish. His attitude alienates the rest of his friends, until one day he's a little too fast. He learns that it's often best to slow down and savor life's experiences. As we have all had to slow down a bit during this coronavirus isolation period, this is good advice for all of us. It's important to enjoy the experiences we can have with friends and loved ones, even if it's from a distance. This might be a good way to inspire young writers to imagine the stories other inanimate objects might tell.
April 26, 2020
Everyone who knows me knows I love, love love Amy Krouse Rosenthal books. When I discovered I missed one before her untimely death, I requested it immediately!
Straw rushes through life trying to get to the good part just ahead. Sound familiar? His cutlery buddies remind him - in the sweetest and gentlest way possible- to savor things and slow down.
This book is great for bibliotherapy or lesson starter! I am pretty sure, as a Type-A person myself, that I will be reaching for it again before too long.
Straw rushes through life trying to get to the good part just ahead. Sound familiar? His cutlery buddies remind him - in the sweetest and gentlest way possible- to savor things and slow down.
This book is great for bibliotherapy or lesson starter! I am pretty sure, as a Type-A person myself, that I will be reaching for it again before too long.
February 12, 2020
Another great addition to this series. If you're looking for a book to teach figurative language, this book is the one for you!
Straw moves entirely too fast and misses all the little details around him. One day something happens that makes Straw slow down.
If you enjoyed Spoon and Chopsticks, you'll love Spoon!
Sadly the author Amy recently passed away and this is a posthumous release.
Straw moves entirely too fast and misses all the little details around him. One day something happens that makes Straw slow down.
If you enjoyed Spoon and Chopsticks, you'll love Spoon!
Sadly the author Amy recently passed away and this is a posthumous release.
July 19, 2020
“Not everything’s a race, Straw. Some things are meant to be savored.”
Straw always wants to be first. And because of this, he misses out on some of the fun and beauty in his life. Who knew that straws could blow bubbles? “Beautiful glistening bubbles that floated up up up.”
Would work well as a read aloud for mindfulness.
Straw always wants to be first. And because of this, he misses out on some of the fun and beauty in his life. Who knew that straws could blow bubbles? “Beautiful glistening bubbles that floated up up up.”
Would work well as a read aloud for mindfulness.
September 16, 2020
I love AKR’s work and I am so glad they are publishing some of her pieces posthumously.
This is one of those books that, in my opinion, is best intended for older kids, fifth grade and up, or adults. The message of “slow down, and enjoy life” is lost on little kids. Although they will enjoy the page where Straw is plunged into a slushy and gets brain freeze!
This is one of those books that, in my opinion, is best intended for older kids, fifth grade and up, or adults. The message of “slow down, and enjoy life” is lost on little kids. Although they will enjoy the page where Straw is plunged into a slushy and gets brain freeze!
December 5, 2020
A cute addition to Amy Rosenthal's whole series on kitchen utensils (and makes me sad since this is a posthumous publication). A cute message about taking time to live in the moment (though I was a bit perplexed on how Straw is always racing to "finish" these beverages when there isn't a person in sight to actually suck up the beverage...? Ah the joys of humanoid objects!).
October 21, 2021
Straw likes to be first in everything and it annoys many of his friends. One day while drinking a cold drink as fast as he can Straw gets a brain freeze. That's enough to knock the impatience out of him. A friend teaching him the value of slowing down and savoring life's experiences.
A good book for a kid who always has to be first.
A good book for a kid who always has to be first.
December 27, 2021
12/27/2021 ~ I have an elementary student who recently discovered Spoon and Chopsticks on my library shelves. They've asked for the books repeatedly, so I looked for similar titles and found this. Compelling theme about enjoying the moment you're in partnered with appealingly personified kitchen implements. I'll be adding this to our collection.
January 28, 2023
Impulse Pima.
A simple, transparent theme that has been done before. But the pictures are fun, and this is part of a popular series, so maybe this time readers will actually get the message. Slow down, savor the experience... don't rush through a whole stack of picture-books as fast as you can. So I rounded up the rating to four stars.
A simple, transparent theme that has been done before. But the pictures are fun, and this is part of a popular series, so maybe this time readers will actually get the message. Slow down, savor the experience... don't rush through a whole stack of picture-books as fast as you can. So I rounded up the rating to four stars.
February 7, 2020
Any Krouse Rosenthal’s words “make the most of your time here” stick with me on a daily basis, so how absolutely perfect that this story wraps up the beloved Spoon/Chopsticks/Straw trio with a reminder not to rush.
Perfection. 💛
Perfection. 💛
June 20, 2020
Full of word play and puns, and encouragement to slow down enough to savor the good things around us. The third picture book in a trilogy of talking kitchen utensils. (See also Spoon, and Chopsticks.)
July 1, 2020
Like Spoon and Chopsticks, STRAW is perfection! A story about the joy of taking your time and smelling the roses, if you will. Some clever wordplay that never feels forced and is always on point. I loved this little Straw!
September 3, 2020
I cannot believe this was published.... I really don’t get it. It’s about a paper straw, that hangs out with other straws in a slushee then a milkshake then goes back in the straw container? I get the message but there are sooo many possible items to write this story about, why a straw?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews