One Smart Cookie: Bite-Size Lessons for the School Years and Beyond – A Picture Book of Definitions and Wisdom for Children

Cookies

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Jane Dyer (Illustrator), Brooke Dyer (Illustrator)

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of I Wish You More , Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a touching batch of cookie-centric words and definitions to share. Encourage the development of empathy, kindness, and perseverance while cuddling with your young reader around One Smart Cookie . Amy Krouse Rosenthal's morsels of wisdom are paired with the delicious illustrations of mother-daughter duo Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer. Definitions range from wanting to know everything about cookies ( curious ) to thinking carefully about what kind of cookies to make for your friend ( ponder ). This is a tasty vocabulary list that will resonate well beyond the school years.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

SHORT 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.

Reviews

[Shaundell · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this picture book, Amy has taken something we all love - cookies - and applied them to life lessons that we all need to learn. Her vocabulary words include Prompt, Organized, Unorganized, Prepared, Unprepared, Compromise, Empathy, Kindness, Listening, Contribute, Procrastinate, Diligent, Persevere, Arrogant, Humble, Ponder, Daydream, Creative, Dishonesty, Integrity, Curious, and Inspire. I like the fact that two words that seem to be opposites - like organized and unorganized - for example, are on the same page spread. This way younger people can see the difference between the two vocabulary life-lesson meanings. I thought her approach was very creative, and I understand that she has also written several other books along this same theme. The message is important.

The art work is adorable - reminding me of Mary Englebriet. Some pictures were big, some framed, some small. Some spreads had two words, some just one. Variety is good.

[Sarah S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Words such as "compromise" and "empathy" are defined for school-aged children. Each page has a word, definition, and cookie-related example. Lovely illustrations reminiscent of 1940s children's books show kids with realistic animals dressed in classic clothes (dresses with knee socks, a sailor suit, etc.). Visually, the animals keep the tone from getting too serious. Rosenthall manages not to be too preachy or precious and these scenarios can be a good starting points for discussions of behavior with children. Gr. 1-2.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character-ed and a vocabulary lesson all wrapped in a cookie theme. Brilliant way to teach children difficult concepts like integrity and inspiration. Love it. My students will love it, too. I guess I should bring cookies when we read it:)

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Smart Cookie is Amy Krouse Rosenthal's companion book to Cookies: Bite-Sized Life Lessons. I really loved Cookies - I thought it had a clever premise, and that all the definitions fit together as a cohesive whole. This second book, though, felt like too much of a good thing. While Cookies covered new ground and established a fun, cookie-centric view of the world, One Smart Cookie achieves nothing new. Rather than expanding upon the cookie metaphor, it drags it out, making me grow weary of the entire concept.

Based on the cover, and the subtitle, Bite-Size Lessons for the School Years and Beyond, I imagined this book was going to provide advice related to school and education, but that was not really the case. Some of the definitions seemed loosely tied to classroom events and relationships, but most of them seemed to have no unifying theme at all. I didn't feel grounded in a particular setting, which made the book seem confused and disorganized.

The one thing that really shines about this book, though, is the illustrations. They depict a group of wonderfully diverse children, with interesting, realistic faces. The use of light and shadow makes them really come to life, and invite the reader into the book. There is also just enough fantasy in them. Some of the animals in the illustrations - dogs, in particular - have human qualities, and their faces create this wonderful otherworldly mood. I also think this book has a delightful cover - I only wish the text had lived up to my expectations.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book much more this go round than when I first read it several years ago. Why? Because I have school-aged children now, and I realized while reading it to them that Rosenthal nailed it. She seems to know just how to explain things in a way that they "get." Using events and activities related to making/eating/sharing cookies, she describes various character traits that are often discussed as part of character training, especially in those first elementary school years when amazing K-2nd teachers are civilizing our little urchins. Illustrations are bright, show a nicely diverse group of children (and animals!), and draw reader in to the definitions and explanations being given.

[Anders Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this book EVERY time we make cookies. We go through the book page by page and talk about the words and come up with examples of the words as we pour, mix and bake. This book gives our family lots of rich language to use and emotions to explore to help us solve our problems down the road. When trouble arises, we go back to this book. "Anders, remember what the book talks about ...compromise." The best part is that as I'm teaching these social/emotional lessons to my kids, we are making cookies!!! They don't even know I'm teaching them ;)
The library has another edition of this book with additional words and it is worth checking out.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preachy ethical and vocabulary lessons to learn while making cookies. (Sharing, helping, putting away things in the kitchen, not stealing.) The illustrators are a mother-daughter team and their styles are almost indistinguishable; still, I found that some of the pictures I really disliked and others were quite nice. It was charming to see apron-wearing animals helping out with the baking, for example, but some of the children (like the girl on the cover) seem very outdated and Shirley Templeish.

[Boni]

While I adored the first Cookies book (and the Christmas one too) and found them to be charming and adept at explaining simple but abstract concepts, this one felt more preachy and lacked focus. I also don't remember any contrasting spreads (like prepared/unprepared or arogant/humble here) being in the first book (maybe it had them too and I just don't remember?), but these especially feel forced and belabor the points which were more subtly made in the first Cookies book. I think this concept was an idea better left at one or two books than developed into a series.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Smart Cookie is a vocabulary building book disguised as a simple story. Every definition revolves around something about a cookie, baking it, sharing it, or even sneaking one when no one is looking. Words such as compromise and empathy, when used in the context of baking cookies, will be easily understood even by young readers. This book could be used in the classroom as an aid in expanding students' vocabularies. It could also be used to promote positive behavior as it addresses issues such as being prompt, being prepared and organized, and listening attentively.

[J. S. Seebauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Krouse Rosenthal does it again. She has created a book that touches everyone -- no matter their age. Her "Cookie" books are a wonderful way to teach vocabulary & life lessons in relation to something we all love: cookies.

I plan to share her "Cookie" books with my MH students as a way to help define words & explore different types of literature. I also plan to use with my LA students (or maybe the LIFE group) to talk about ways to teach life lessons.

Recommended age: EVERYONE!!!

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have now read all the “Bite-Size Life Lessons” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Each one is a sweet tale that encourages using a larger vocabulary and being your best self. Some of the vocabulary demonstrated in this edition is: Cooperate, Patient, Modest, Respect, Trustworthy, Compassionate, Generous, Pessimistic and Optimistic. This series would be perfect for any kindergarten classroom, school library, or a gift for someone you love.

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, I liked the pictures and the recipe at the end. But it did not really appeal to my four year old as its not really a story. She does like the pictures but she expects a story and it just isn't there. Still a book that has a nice idea though and it wouldn't hurt to give it a look.

[Melanie Swider Wenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in series to read aloud and discuss at the beginning of school year and throughout the year. Also a great way to discuss the word "smart" - trying not to use that word after reading Opening Minds by Peter Johnston. Leads to the discussion of working hard and having a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset of being smart.

[Vrena · Rating 4 out of 5]

One smart cookie offers a fresh batch of words that encompasses everything you might say to a child, whether it's the first day of preschool or the last day of high school. Cookie-centric definitions range from wanting to know everything about cookies (curious) to thinking carefully about what kind of cookies to make for your friend (ponder).

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love picture books that encourage vocabulary expansion and variety. One Smart Cookie does that while also giving morsels of life lesson tidbits such as: organizing, sharing, compromising, listening, kindness and honesty. This would be a wonderful book to share with early elementary age students or younger.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Share the vocabulary of success with your child. Life lessons wrapped up in the tale of making cookies together, but it’s really an introduction to the vocabulary of success: organization, compromise, empathy, listening, contribute, diligent, persevere, humility, ponder, creative, integrity, curious, etc.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this one almost as well as the original Cookies book. Fantastic words that apply to school, yes, but all of life: procrastinate, diligent, compromised, prepared/unprepared, ponder, integrity, curious. Again, having all the words relate to the cookie theme makes these big words/concepts more accessible and understandable.

[Bonnie Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this picture book as a read aloud to help my sixth graders generate memories to be used in writing class. It helped me teach vocabulary such as: arrogant, humble, integrity, procrastinate, compromise, prompt. This author was recommended by Kristina Smekens for just such an activity. My goal was accomplished.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great picture book for any age! Defines and illustrates vocabulary words that help guide learners to have proper etiquette. I usually read this at the beginning of the year to begin discussion on how we want to act and treat others.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as sweet as the original, but I could see that being harder with the bigger words being defined. Some useful words for the ages the book is aimed at. Best as a lap-read or read-alone.

I'm beginning to crave cookies...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet illustrations and text relate character-building vocabulary words to cookie baking. Useful for explaining these words in terms children can understand. Might be too didactic and saccharine for some tastes.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the definitions for organized, unorganized, procrastinate, and diligent.

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a beautiful book with an equally beautiful message. Make a bulletin board of this. It's probably more an adult book than a children's book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the cookie books are done in the same format with different themes. They are just awesome books for use in the classroom in so many ways.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, beautifully illustrated book sharing some important concepts for kids and adults! Love this collection of books...check them all out.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much of a story, but a nice little book to teach some bigger words & character traits. It wasn't very interesting to my 3 year old son. I might try again in a couple of years.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another dose of values taught with cookies. I love this series!

[Amy]

Teaches character values

[Kelly]

The illustrations are heartwarming. I like that it contains a recipe for an original cookie. The big words could be used by older children for vocab lists on the theme of school.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

the reason I liked this book....it didn't get preachy in any kind of religious context. i thought it put some difficult concepts in easy, kid-friendly context.