Tales of Amanda Pig: Level 3

Oliver and Amanda Pig #4

by Jean Van Leeuwen, Ann Schweninger (Illustrator)

Amanda Pig, the youngest member of the Pig family, isn't little anymore. But is she big enough to do all the things her brother Oliver does? Can she eat her breakfast? Can she make up games? Can she go to sleep by herself? Amanda knows she can!

Genres: Childrens, 1st Grade, Picture Books, Family, Fiction

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of sibling rivalry, but some nice bits too.

[Charsia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a really fun book. Kids will like this book - each chapter is a new story! I will never forget the Eat Your Egg, Amanda! chapter.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda's Egg: I was laughing out loud! What a funny story, I really dislike eggs so I was with Amanda the whole time. Her mother was very clever, never forcing just encouraging.

The Very Long Trip: Such a fun childhood thing to do, create an airplane and take "trips" on a rainy day. Loved that the mother played with them in it.

The Monster: I LOVED how the father handled his daughter's fears. He didn't belittle her or tell her not to feel them. He looked, came up with a solution, and helped her. Loved it so much!

The fight: sounds super typical of siblings, loved the compromise.

Sleeping Time: So funny, loved this one. The mother gets into her daughter's bed to be tucked in when she doesn't want to go to sleep. Then she decides she does want a turn.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of Amanda, her older brother OLiver and her mom and dad.

Amanda’s Egg: - Amanda doesn’t want to eat her egg.
The Very Long Trip: - On a rainy day, Oliver and Amanda build a plane.
The Monster: - The big clock looks like a monster after dark
The Fight: - Oliver and Amanda fight over what to play
Sleeping Time: - Mom and Amanda witch places at bed time.

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gift from Harper's grandmother

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda hates eating eggs for breakfast. They seem to be alive with their yellow eye that stares. She hates how they're all wiggly and slippery. But when Father and Oliver go out to rake leaves and end up jumping in the piles, Amanda eats that egg fast so she join them. One rainy day, Amanda and Oliver ask their mother if they can travel to Grandmother's house. Mother says it's too far. So they pretend to travel to see her in a make-believe airplane. After their "visit" they fly home to find sunny skies and Grandmother walking up their front walk. Amanda's father helps her conquer her fear of the Grandfather clock on the upstairs' landing. Armed with Halloween masks, an umbrella, a flashlight, and a pan, they stamp past the "monster" and scare it into submission. Amanda tucks her mother into bed one night. She tells her a story and gives her a kiss. Mother really falls asleep. Amanda has to wake Mother up, so that she can now put Amanda to bed.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Donna Crane]

I know this title qualifies for and is labeled as an easy reader (reading level 1.8 to be specific), but really, isn't it just as entertaining for parents to read this aloud for the flashes of self-recognition?Amanda and her family may be pigs, but the parents know all the best tricks for de-escalating conflict between the kids, how to solve the monster at night problem, and how to make reticient kids finish their breakfast. Then in the final story of the five 'chapters', called Sleeping Time, Amanda's mommy plays along by letting Amanda tuck her under the covers and promptly falls into the deep sleep known only to exhausted parents. I also especially love when the children build an airplane out of a wagon, chairs, and a cardboard box to fly to their grandma's house and Amanda climbs out "in midair" to have her lunch, only to be reminded by her older brother of the error of her ways. We've all made THAT mistake!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading the Amanda and Oliver books as a kid! They're not always predictable and I enjoyed the imagination used; especially when Amanda and Oliver go to "visit" their grandma in an airplane made out of a cardboard box and a wagon.

Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades

Cleanliness: Amanda does not obey the first time she's told to eat her eggs. Amanda thinks there is a monster upstairs and her brother says, "that's dumb." There are two Halloween masks used. A brother and sister get into an argument and call each other "mean dumb Oliver" and "fat baby Amanda." They make up and learn how to play together.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Shelby Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the simple story that starts from the hot day and leads into the hot night. The story line is simple and easy to follow. I think this is a good beginners book and would read this to Pre-K to 1st and have it in my class for second graders as chapter books.

Learning Activity: I would do a science activity based on the book to see if drinking lemonade, having a popsicle, water, or even talking about a very cold day would cool them faster.

[Miekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book my son read all the way through by himself. He was so proud. He could also relate most of Amanda's adventures in some way so he enjoyed reading it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet stories of Amanda Pig, little sister of Oliver Pig. Feels like the "Little Bear" stories.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a collection of sweet stories about family life that beginning readers can, and even want to, read. And the illustrations are perfectly adorable.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son liked this to the point that he is now acting it out.

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

I like the way the author writes, she is very creative. J.B.