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Riverside Kids #7
Russell Sprouts
First grader Russell Michaels grows more than an inch taller, becoming big enough to wear his red slicker and big enough to deal with family and school challenges. Reprint.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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68 people want to read
About the author
Johanna Hurwitz
116 books67 followersJohanna Hurwitz is an American author of more than sixty children's books. She has sold millions of books in many different languages.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 16, 2018
I pulled a bunch of these off the shelf over the weekend, and they're quietly hilarious. They're also mostly a collection of separate chapters and not connected narratives; really well done, though. This specific book has a great title, and the chapter where Russell gives his parents a report card is flat-out spectacular, and I really liked the solution to the last-minute Halloween costume.
I'm not sure that I'd call these dated, exactly. But they're not contemporary anymore, either.
I'm not sure that I'd call these dated, exactly. But they're not contemporary anymore, either.
May 22, 2025
My first graders loved this read-aloud novel every year. If a student was absent and missed a chapter, they wanted to read it before I read the next chapter!! So loving and engaging. An Absolute Favorite.
August 17, 2017
Russell is six years old. He lived in NewYork. He have Surprise Halloween costume party . Last years he wears his pajamas and this years he wanted to wear something else.
October 10, 2018
Enjoyed this book from the perspective of a 6 year old. Shows you how difficult it could be even though we as adults think it's not. Loved the parent report card idea. :)
May 24, 2022
Super cute book
June 9, 2022
Super cute. Russell is a cute kid to read about. I love how the book opens and ends with the raincoat so you can visually see full circle how he has grown.
December 19, 2016
Highlights from this book:
From Russell Sprouts:
Russell uses bad words in this book! They're not mentioned by name, but his mother makes it clear that he is not to say them. Though he is somewhat whiny, I think Russell is more interesting than Nora or Teddy because he seems more like a real kid, who is sometimes bratty and sometimes makes mistakes.
Russell tries to sort out the difference between good and bad words and good and bad actions. His dad doesn't help much when he says, "If you spilled the water, you'd be bad, not the water." I'm pretty sure spilling water is usually an accident - and even if it was on purpose, the action is bad, not the kid! But sure enough, when Russell spills a glass of water on his father's pant leg, Dad erupts with anger. I don't know if I've just been sensitized to this stuff because so many contemporary books have parents who are mainly positive and upbeat, or what, but that scene took me out of the story. Dad seems kind of like a tyrant throughout the book.
Elisa has the cutest moment in this book, when she refers to the ruffles on her dress as "russells."
Mrs. Michaels doesn't allow Elisa to go to the movies, saying she will be able to go in another year or two when she is four or five. These days, I know we say no screen time before two, but five seems a little extreme.
I loved the chapter where Russell gives his parents a report card, rating them "needs improvement" in categories such as "Presnts", "Bedtime," and "Yellng."
From Russell Sprouts:
Russell uses bad words in this book! They're not mentioned by name, but his mother makes it clear that he is not to say them. Though he is somewhat whiny, I think Russell is more interesting than Nora or Teddy because he seems more like a real kid, who is sometimes bratty and sometimes makes mistakes.
Russell tries to sort out the difference between good and bad words and good and bad actions. His dad doesn't help much when he says, "If you spilled the water, you'd be bad, not the water." I'm pretty sure spilling water is usually an accident - and even if it was on purpose, the action is bad, not the kid! But sure enough, when Russell spills a glass of water on his father's pant leg, Dad erupts with anger. I don't know if I've just been sensitized to this stuff because so many contemporary books have parents who are mainly positive and upbeat, or what, but that scene took me out of the story. Dad seems kind of like a tyrant throughout the book.
Elisa has the cutest moment in this book, when she refers to the ruffles on her dress as "russells."
Mrs. Michaels doesn't allow Elisa to go to the movies, saying she will be able to go in another year or two when she is four or five. These days, I know we say no screen time before two, but five seems a little extreme.
I loved the chapter where Russell gives his parents a report card, rating them "needs improvement" in categories such as "Presnts", "Bedtime," and "Yellng."
February 13, 2017
Russell was six years old . He lived is New York City with his parents and little sister Elisa . Russell have Halloween party at his school . Last years he wears his pajamas for Halloween . But this year he don't want to wears same costume he can't decide what to wear for Halloween. It's really good book and Russell have a lot of questions..
December 7, 2008
Grades: K-3
This is a wonderful fiction story about a boy named Russell. Russell is a six year old who is learning a lot this year. Of course, in Russell's opinion it isn't off to a good start when he learns about hand-me-ups. His new red slicker is too big for him and due to his mother's insistance, Russell has to hand the coat up to his friend Teddy. Through other wild situations through out the story Russell learns many other new things. He makes up his own bad word, he learns that it is not a good idea to leave a movie theater on his own, he learns that there just might be vitamins in kisses, and he learns that it takes patience to grow things. In the last chapter, Russel's class grows different things as part of their science project. Russell is so upset because the other students' plants are growing and his are not. But, when his sister knocks his plant on the floor, he learns that he in fact had grown three tiny potatoes. He also learns that he had grown too when Teddy returns the red slicker and it fit Russell.
This was a great silly story and the children really love reading it.
This is a wonderful fiction story about a boy named Russell. Russell is a six year old who is learning a lot this year. Of course, in Russell's opinion it isn't off to a good start when he learns about hand-me-ups. His new red slicker is too big for him and due to his mother's insistance, Russell has to hand the coat up to his friend Teddy. Through other wild situations through out the story Russell learns many other new things. He makes up his own bad word, he learns that it is not a good idea to leave a movie theater on his own, he learns that there just might be vitamins in kisses, and he learns that it takes patience to grow things. In the last chapter, Russel's class grows different things as part of their science project. Russell is so upset because the other students' plants are growing and his are not. But, when his sister knocks his plant on the floor, he learns that he in fact had grown three tiny potatoes. He also learns that he had grown too when Teddy returns the red slicker and it fit Russell.
This was a great silly story and the children really love reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2015
There are some funny stories here, and I love the continuity between them. Also I knew the Russell the stories are based on, so the idea of him giving his parents their own report card, and some of his other interactions with them made me wonder how many of these things actually happened. P.S. I got mad this week and said schmatz!
July 5, 2014
If he has to wear hand-me-downs, shoulden't bigger kids wear hand-me-ups?If he can't say bad words, can he make up his own words when he's angry?If he has to get a report card, isn't it about time his parents got one to?
January 1, 2016
Each chapter feels at once like its own story and a part of the larger story of Russell. Very relatable for younger kids as either a read aloud (or for young readers). Pictures every few pages make this a nice transition from picture to chapter books.
September 19, 2008
I loved the "Bad" word section. His parents had great reasons why Russell shouldn't say that word.
June 1, 2015
Not my favorite book but a pretty good read. It is the story version of the pbs kids Caillou television show.
March 7, 2016
Fine early chapter book. Vocabulary is a little tough for the intended (second grade?) audience.
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January 28, 2009JAR4-Hur
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews