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Down the Road
Hetty is very careful with the eggs she has bought on her very first trip to the store, but she runs into trouble when she stops to pick apples.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Alice Schertle
76 books186 followersAlice Schertle has written more than 40 books, mostly for children. A mother and former elementary school teacher, Ms. Schertle is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Many of her most famous works are poetic in nature, though she writes about a wide variety of topics.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 24, 2012
ON MY TOP TEN LIST OF FAVORITE KIDS BOOKS:
The above title says it all. One of my favorite lines is Hetty jingling the money in her pocket and saying ...this must be what it feels like to be grown up-- to have money in your pocket and be walking down the road...
I'm a librarian and when I read this to kindergarten through third grade they are all hushed when Hetty drops the eggs. I mean, this is her first big trip to the store alone, and she has begged to go. And Papa has gone out on a limb for her and told Mama that she was big enough to go by herself, absolutely. (Later in the book there is a wonderful illustration of Papa and Hetty out on a limb...)
The watercolors by E.B. Lewis are magnificent. The best one of all is Papa standing at the bottom of the tree looking up at Hetty as if he were angry. The reader really doesn't know what will happen. Forgiveness happens. It's wonderful. Please read it to all the young children you know.
The above title says it all. One of my favorite lines is Hetty jingling the money in her pocket and saying ...this must be what it feels like to be grown up-- to have money in your pocket and be walking down the road...
I'm a librarian and when I read this to kindergarten through third grade they are all hushed when Hetty drops the eggs. I mean, this is her first big trip to the store alone, and she has begged to go. And Papa has gone out on a limb for her and told Mama that she was big enough to go by herself, absolutely. (Later in the book there is a wonderful illustration of Papa and Hetty out on a limb...)
The watercolors by E.B. Lewis are magnificent. The best one of all is Papa standing at the bottom of the tree looking up at Hetty as if he were angry. The reader really doesn't know what will happen. Forgiveness happens. It's wonderful. Please read it to all the young children you know.
November 30, 2014
This is a wonderful tale about responsibility, independence and growing up. It tells the story of a young girl, Hetty, who is given the big task of going to the store on her own to buy eggs.
The narrative is short and easy to read and the watercolor illustrations are terrific. I love how the parents reacted to Hetty's situation and the family comes together in a kind, nurturing way. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
The narrative is short and easy to read and the watercolor illustrations are terrific. I love how the parents reacted to Hetty's situation and the family comes together in a kind, nurturing way. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
August 11, 2011
Powerful for it's portrayal of a family that leads with love, this was a truly beautiful book, wonderfully illustrated and compellingly told. The characters were easily identifiable and beautifully described. An excellent book through and through.
June 17, 2021
This book radiates comforting energy, I would kill to carry a basket of eggs down a dusty road in some cute lil overalls
July 15, 2011
Hetty's parents want fresh eggs for breakfast in the morning, but they don't have time to run to get them. They decide to let Hetty go for her first solo walk with her basket and money to get them for the family. Hetty makes it to the store just fine to get the eggs, but on her way home, she decides to stop by the apple tree to get apples for her mom and dad and that's when the eggs tumble out of the basket and bust on the ground. I felt for sure that Hetty's parents would reprimand her for spilling the eggs, but they didn't, so I'm not sure how credible this story really is. While I think it's sweet that her parents climbed into the apple tree with her, I'm not sure how many parents would really do that.
July 13, 2010
This is a sweet story of a girl on her first solo errand. Taking everything VERY SERIOUSLY she makes it to the store and ALMOST back when... well... she doesn't. She gets a bit... distracted. And with eggs, that's never a good thing. Luckily she has kind and sympathetic parents who understand that she is just young, after all, and everything turns out all right.
October 2, 2015
Such a satisfying read - beautiful illustrations and wonderful portrayal of a loving family. My 7year old loved the image of the mom standing with her hands on her hips looking up into the apple tree at her daughter and husband. The image of mom, dad, and little girl sitting in the tree is cozy and comforting.
August 14, 2015
A beautifully written book about making mistakes, being understood and improvising. The illustrations were very lovely as well.
November 9, 2022
Possibly my favorite picture book of all time. I love the artwork. It’s so amazing to read aloud. I love the message.
A little girl wants so badly to prove that she’s a big girl capable of running errands, but she cracks all the eggs and is then afraid to face her parents. Parents are mad, but soon realize that this is a time to show their child love, not chastisement.
It’s a great book to show your kids that even though they make mistakes, they are more important than having things done right.
PS. After writing reviews for 2 of my favorite books that I snagged from a school library’s pile of random old books they didn’t want anymore, I was amazed to learn they have the same author. I was even more astonished to learn that the author is also the author of “Little Blue Truck”!!! I am glad that this author’s genius is paying off with such a beloved and well-known series.
A little girl wants so badly to prove that she’s a big girl capable of running errands, but she cracks all the eggs and is then afraid to face her parents. Parents are mad, but soon realize that this is a time to show their child love, not chastisement.
It’s a great book to show your kids that even though they make mistakes, they are more important than having things done right.
PS. After writing reviews for 2 of my favorite books that I snagged from a school library’s pile of random old books they didn’t want anymore, I was amazed to learn they have the same author. I was even more astonished to learn that the author is also the author of “Little Blue Truck”!!! I am glad that this author’s genius is paying off with such a beloved and well-known series.
September 25, 2018
Schertle's Down the Road is culturally appropriate for children in Head Start programs as well as other children outside of Head Start programs. Readers need focal characters in stories that they can identify with.
The problem in this story is that the young girl was supposed to bring eggs home for breakfast, but she dropped them as she was reaching to climb up an apple tree. The solution was that her father and mother found her at the tree along the road, and helped pick apples to eat apple pie for breakfast. Yum!
Ideas for activities include: making apple pie with the children, serving apple pie after the story, making an apple graph, or discussion questions.
The problem in this story is that the young girl was supposed to bring eggs home for breakfast, but she dropped them as she was reaching to climb up an apple tree. The solution was that her father and mother found her at the tree along the road, and helped pick apples to eat apple pie for breakfast. Yum!
Ideas for activities include: making apple pie with the children, serving apple pie after the story, making an apple graph, or discussion questions.
September 18, 2019
Hetty was sent to buy a dozen eggs all by herself, because she was big enough now. She was being very careful not to break any, but then she had a mishap. Her father found her hiding in an apple tree, crying.
This is a sweet story so beautifully illustrated.
This is a sweet story so beautifully illustrated.
April 16, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Realistic
Age Range: Primary
This book is a great life lesson book for kids. To teach them that it is okay to make mistakes sometimes and that they do not need to hide. This book also had great illustrations and fun little songs to keep kids engaged.
Age Range: Primary
This book is a great life lesson book for kids. To teach them that it is okay to make mistakes sometimes and that they do not need to hide. This book also had great illustrations and fun little songs to keep kids engaged.
December 1, 2017
Sweet story of a young girl who walks down the road to the store on her own to fetch eggs for breakfast. Lovely illustrations.
December 9, 2019
Great book about family and connections.
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October 13, 2024I really love this.
November 2, 2016
Hetty is getting her first adult responsibility. She is walking to town to buy a dozen eggs. But the road back is filled with obstacles ... including the desire to pick a few apples to take home as well. When she drops the basket of eggs, she really doesn't want to go home so she climbs the apple tree to think. Soon both Mama and Papa join her. "I'd almost forgotten how lovely the world looks from a tree," Mama said. And the family returns with enough apples to have apple pie for breakfast.
Lush, descriptive language and imagery. Wonderful family story.
Lush, descriptive language and imagery. Wonderful family story.
September 10, 2009
a simple story about a young child going on an important errand to buy eggs for her family - so grown up! But when she stops to pick just a few apples, all the eggs tumble out of the basket and break on the ground. I loved the illustrations. I loved the feeling of forgiveness. But it did stretch my credibility - would her parents really just climb up the tree with her? and not get upset? But really, it is a very sweet story.
April 27, 2011
I thought this was a endearing story, but I don't know how credible it is. The little girl goes on a journey to buy eggs, but on her way home, she drops all of the eggs. Her parents don't get mad, so that is why I question the story. I don't think it is very realistic. I think it is great her parents forgave her, but it would have been a little better if the little girl had to deal with the consequences.
September 25, 2014
This book was beautifully illustrated but I personally don't think the story was that great. However, the story did convey the theme of growing up and taking responsibility for things and how it's okay to make mistakes in life. I enjoyed the way that Hetty's parents handled her mistake of dropping the eggs and made the best out of her mistake by showing patience and love. I might recommend this book just for the theme of the book.
April 23, 2012
This book is about a young girl who goes on a journey carrying eggs, but unfortunately she ends up dropping them! This book would be great to use when teaching phonological awareness. It has great words that the students can repeat while the teacher reads the story, such as squish, thump and splat! Appropriate for prek-kindergarten.
May 15, 2014
Other reviews have summed up the story nicely. What I'd add here is that the element that is so very appealing is the loving reaction of Hettie's parents when she messes up. I don't know a lot of children's books that demonstrate that kind of patience, tenderness and love towards a child that makes a mistake. I think this book is a very big deal for that reason.
January 29, 2015
My top favorite kids books.
My 9 yr old daughter loves this book. We borrow this book from the library all the time and I just ended up buying the book, because it's a must have.
I love the pictures in the book, and it teaches the kids a lesson in the book.i just love it.
My 9 yr old daughter loves this book. We borrow this book from the library all the time and I just ended up buying the book, because it's a must have.
I love the pictures in the book, and it teaches the kids a lesson in the book.i just love it.
December 5, 2015
Absolutely beautiful book about growing up, making mistakes, and facing consequences. A master class on being a good parent, to boot. Lewis's illustrations are magnificent, as is Schertle's storytelling. Highly, highly recommend for young children, not-so-young children, and their adults.
July 14, 2009
A very Zen story...
Teachers: great in the primary grades for introducing the concept of foreshadowing and/or making predictions.
Teachers: great in the primary grades for introducing the concept of foreshadowing and/or making predictions.
July 20, 2011
Hetty is very careful with the eggs she has bought on her very first trip to the store, but she runs into trouble when she stops to pick apples.
There might be to much text for a story time book
There might be to much text for a story time book
December 17, 2011
This was a great book. It was a great lesson on parent's forgiveness. It was a good lesson that I'm sure many of us have been through.
January 31, 2012
Very cute lil book!
August 6, 2012
nice story
Making Meaning grade 1 resource kit
Making Meaning grade 1 resource kit
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews