Elements of Art Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

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Jul 01, 2019 Calista rated information technology really liked it

Hare'southward are very smart. This fable is saying, don't slumber through harvest; yous take to work to reap anything. Here'southward the part that isn't really fair. Hare made a bad investment with rabbit and he had to sell off his land to bear so he could pay off the debt to rabbit. So that is all his fault. Does that mean information technology'south at present ok to trick bear who simply bought the state? Anyhow, that's non the story.

Conduct's male parent worked hard, but at present bear but sleeps. He sleeps through the growing season. One day Hare come up

Hare's are very smart. This fable is saying, don't sleep through harvest; you have to work to reap anything. Here'due south the part that isn't really fair. Hare made a bad investment with rabbit and he had to sell off his land to deport then he could pay off the debt to rabbit. So that is all his fault. Does that hateful it'southward now ok to trick deport who only bought the country? Anyhow, that's not the story.

Bear's father worked hard, just at present bear just sleeps. He sleeps through the growing season. Ane day Hare comes over and makes a bargain. He'll exercise the planting and split the crop 'tops and bottoms'. Bears calls tops, so Hare plants carrots and beets and tubers. So bear only gets the tops of those things and rabbit gets the most vegetables. Bear is upset and he adjacent wants the bottoms. Hare agrees and he plants lettuce and all kinds of proficient vegetables. Carry is left with the roots and Hare, again, gets nearly of the good vegetables. Side by side Acquit wants a new ingather and he gets the tops and bottoms. Hare agrees and plants corn. Hare keeps the centre and bears again loses out.

I gauge it'south all-time not to let someone else practice your work for you, huh.

The volume is printed sideways then you open information technology similar a agenda and nosotros can encounter the bottoms of the veggies and the tops split in the middle. The artwork is lovely and the Hare and his family are amusing. They work hard and smart. I'k told that is what we want to practise is work smart.

I accept to admit this title cracks me upwardly. It could be a whole different story seen through an developed lens, but I like the story told.

The kids loved this story. Every time they would crack up at rabbit getting the best of bear. I felt only a fiddling pitiful for bear. I know he's lazy merely that's no reason to take advantage of him. Anyhow, the kids laughed at this story. The niece loved how smart the Hare was. She gave this iv stars. The nephew too gave this 4 stars. He thought this was a funny story.

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While I most definitely enjoyed Janet Stevens' Tops & Bottoms (and do sympathize why and how information technology won a Caldecott Honour designation), on a purely personal level, I actually discover the illustrations a bit too brash, assuming and in-your-face for my own tastes (and having to plow the book on its side, really rather majorly annoyed me at showtime). That being said, I tin appreciate that this cumulative and often slyly humorous folktale adaptation will likely be a hitting with most youngsters, and that the illust While I most definitely enjoyed Janet Stevens' Tops & Bottoms (and practice empathise why and how it won a Caldecott Honour designation), on a purely personal level, I really find the illustrations a chip likewise brash, assuming and in-your-face up for my ain tastes (and having to plough the book on its side, really rather majorly bellyaching me at first). That being said, I can capeesh that this cumulative and oft slyly humorous folktale accommodation volition probable be a hit with most youngsters, and that the illustrations truly both compliment and complement the narrative (text and paradigm certainly work exceedingly well together).Tops & Bottoms rather strongly reminds me of the numerous European folktales where a usually male person peasant or farmer trickster like personage makes a deal with the Devil (or another kind of an evil demonic entity) to share his crops (and of grade, wins confronting the same, e'er picking the choicest parts of the harvest, leaving the Devil with the chaff then to speak). With that fact in mind, I think that for me, the biggest and most troublesome consequence with this otherwise excellent offering is the absence of a detailed author'southward note showing the story'southward origins and which specific tale or combination of tales the author used for her adaptation. I would certainly be interested knowing whether Janet Stevens had adjusted her narrative from 1 of the "outsmarting the Devil folktales" with which I am familiar, and whether the original tale or tales she used every bit a source, feature beast trickster characters (like Tops & Bottoms itself does). I estimate the absence of an author's note is not all that essential for the enjoyment of the story itself, but I think it would accept been a helpful add-on, as I always tend to think that if y'all are going to be adapting a folk or fairy tale, yous really ought to be providing information as to its origin, genesis, history and the similar. And because I have now discovered that Tope & Bottoms is actually considered to be an adaptation of an African American folktale, this makes the lack of an author'south note fifty-fifty more of a potential issue for me, every bit information technology would have most definitely increased the folkloric value to have been able to compare and contrast unlike types of tops and bottoms similar tales (the European outsmarting the Devil ones with those that deal mostly with animal tricksters and are perceived as existence primarily African in origin). ...more

Aug xvi, 2018 Matt rated it really liked it

With Neo's garden beginning to flower, I thought this would exist a wonderful story to share with him. Bear is a lazy and very sleepy brute, rich from his family unit inheritance. Hare is poor with a large brood and cypher to feed them. Hare and his wife devise a programme to work with their neighbor and his plentiful fields. Hare approaches Bear to offer up a deal and ensure they both turn a profit from planing vegetables. After Hare and his family exercise the planting, watering, and weeding he volition cultivate the cro With Neo's garden beginning to bloom, I thought this would be a wonderful story to share with him. Carry is a lazy and very sleepy animal, rich from his family inheritance. Hare is poor with a large breed and nothing to feed them. Hare and his wife devise a plan to work with their neighbor and his plentiful fields. Hare approaches Acquit to offering up a deal and ensure they both profit from planing vegetables. After Hare and his family unit do the planting, watering, and weeding he volition cultivate the crops and offer some to Bear and others to himself. Bear agrees to take the tops, leaving Hare the bottoms. The beginning flavour proves fruitful, simply Hare ends upward benefitting greatly. Non wanting to be tricked again, Deport takes the bottoms the 2nd fourth dimension around, but to be led into another trap. Volition Bear fall for a trick when the third planting season comes to laissez passer? Have a read and find out. Neo has been happy to run into some of his vegetables growing then well over the past few weeks and looks forward to more than bounty in the coming weeks. He got a kick out of how Hare was able to plow the tables on Conduct, but hopes that our gardening understanding does not yield the same trickery. ...more

Mar ten, 2010 Ronyell rated it it was astonishing

I have been reading many stories that were inspired past Uncle Remus' "Brer Rabbit" stories for many years, but I have never come across a story quite like this one! "Tops and Bottoms" is a Caldecott Accolade Book that is written and illustrated beautifully past Janet Stevens and it is a trickster tale that is inspired by many European folktales and African-American folktales of the South that deal with the discipline of a trickster character teaching their rivals a lesson in hard work and determination

I have been reading many stories that were inspired by Uncle Remus' "Brer Rabbit" stories for many years, but I accept never come up across a story quite like this 1! "Tops and Bottoms" is a Caldecott Award Book that is written and illustrated beautifully past Janet Stevens and it is a trickster tale that is inspired by many European folktales and African-American folktales of the South that deal with the subject of a trickster character teaching their rivals a lesson in hard work and determination!

In this tale, Comport was rich as he has lots of land due to inheriting it from his father. Unfortunately, Bear was extremely lazy and he would spend his days sleeping away on the porch of his business firm. His neighbor Hare however, was poor equally he was forced to give up his state due to losing a bet to Tortoise and he and his family unit were in an extremely poor state. It was then that Hare and his wife, Mrs. Hare decided to come up with a plan to take some of Behave's wealth to make their lives easier. And then, Hare decided to propose to Behave to get business partners and Hare will plant the harvest for each season, while Bear can take a nap during the harvesting. All that Hare asks for in return is for Acquit to choose which side he wants from the vegetables he grows in the garden: the tops or the bottoms?

Volition Hare and his family outwit Bear?

Read this book to observe out!

Once again, Janet Stevens had created another book that really got my folktale senses tingling! I loved the style that Janet Stevens based this story on the classic "Brer Rabbit" stories every bit Hare is shown getting what he wants by tricking Bear out of his crop by using his wits, which is extremely prevalent in the "Brer Rabbit" stories. I actually enjoyed the tone of this book equally it is lighthearted and clever and I idea information technology was hilarious when Hare and his family unit tricked Bear out of his crop as it as well teaches readers that being lazy all the fourth dimension will not assistance you succeed in life. Janet Stevens' illustrations as usual are beautifully done every bit the characters look gorgeous, especially the images of Bear and Hare as they wait shaggy yet realistic. I as well loved the fact that this book is fix as being read from literally "top to lesser" as it really fits the title of this story!

Overall, "Tops and Bottoms" is a truly brilliant book for anyone who is a huge fan of folktales that deal with characters who are tricksters and information technology would be a nifty treat for children and adults everywhere! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since the book is pretty piece of cake for younger children to read (unless they become confused almost reading the book from top to bottom).

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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Hare and his family are hungry. You see, Hare lost all his country in a bad bet with tortoise (haha, get information technology?) Bear sleeps all twenty-four hour period on the front porch of his firm, presiding over his large front yard. Hare decides to strike up a concern bargain with Bear. Hare volition subcontract the country and give Bear one-half the veggies. "Which half practise you desire, tops or bottoms?" asks Hare. "Tops!" Bear declares, before promptly falling back asleep. And he sleeps all through the work of planting and harvesting the crops. When thursday Hare and his family are hungry. You lot run into, Hare lost all his land in a bad bet with tortoise (haha, become information technology?) Bear sleeps all solar day on the front end porch of his house, presiding over his large front yard. Hare decides to strike up a business concern deal with Bear. Hare will farm the land and give Bear half the veggies. "Which one-half do you want, tops or bottoms?" asks Hare. "Tops!" Bear declares, before promptly falling back asleep. And he sleeps all through the work of planting and harvesting the crops. When the time comes to receive the rewards, Hare gives him the peak half of the veggies--the tops of carrots, potatoes, etc. -- that is, the crummy half. And then it goes with other veggies as Carry changes his mind to want the bottoms, so the middles, always getting burned past clever Hare.

Now, I think the lesson hither is supposed to be that being lazy and not working your fair share is a bad thing, and that hard work and cleverness should be rewarded. And I don't have a problem with that! I have enjoyed such tales every bit "The Little Ruby-red Hen" or "The Grasshopper and the Ant" for just such a reason. I think they teach an important lesson.

My trouble with this item story is that Comport DID contribute something to the bargain. He gave his land. Granted, he was non using it for anything else. But, it was HIS state. Hare had no land because he was stupid and wagered it in a bet with Tortoise (not very responsible, if you enquire me!) So, Bear gave something to the deal and deserved to receive some compensation for it, in my opinion.

The story is creative, the illustrations and format engaging, and I do meet I am in the minority in finding something troublesome in the story. I don't mean to imply that other readers are wrong in finding merit in the book (indeed, as I said, I retrieve the surface message is a good ane), and I know Hare is supposed to be a trickster effigy so perhaps one could emphasize that fact with children and show how maybe it wasn't really fair of him to trick Acquit like he did.

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Tops & Bottoms is a humorous trickster tale based in European folktales and slave stories from the American South. The hare uses his wit to outsmart the lazy comport and maximize his profits during the cropping season. The play a trick on is in whether the hare or the conduct will collect either the "tops" or "bottoms" of crops. Of form, the sleeping bear is unaware of the crops being planted and ever manages to get the useless parts of the produce. Janet Stevens' text and illustrations are balanced well in Tops & Bottoms is a humorous trickster tale based in European folktales and slave stories from the American South. The hare uses his wit to outsmart the lazy acquit and maximize his profits during the cropping season. The trick is in whether the hare or the bear will collect either the "tops" or "bottoms" of crops. Of course, the sleeping comport is unaware of the crops being planted and always manages to go the useless parts of the produce. Janet Stevens' text and illustrations are balanced well in quality, talent, and detail.

This book could be used to discuss partnerships, pointing out all the ways in which comport and hare's partnership is flawed. Information technology could too be used to introduce vegetables, farming, or to highlight the characteristics of trickster tales.

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Oct 29, 2011 Kathryn rated it it was amazing

The way the book opens, the artwork is incredible and the story such a good one. I loved everything about this volume.

June 2014: I have loved this book since I first read it, while I was in higher, probably a year or two after information technology was published. At the time, the orientation of the book seemed quite unique and I loved (and still love) that the illustrations for the book were created on paper made from vegetables. While I think the story is skillful, a fun trickster type tale, the illustrations are the best. Despite loving this volume (and having read it to my students), I had manifestly never read information technology to my own childre June 2014: I have loved this book since I first read information technology, while I was in higher, probably a year or ii afterwards information technology was published. At the time, the orientation of the volume seemed quite unique and I loved (and still dear) that the illustrations for the book were created on paper fabricated from vegetables. While I call up the story is good, a fun trickster blazon tale, the illustrations are the best. Despite loving this book (and having read information technology to my students), I had plainly never read information technology to my ain children until this past week. They actually loved how clever Hare was...although nosotros all kind of felt like the tertiary fourth dimension, when he promised the Behave the tops and bottoms, that he could have and should accept planted some vegetables that grew on the top or bottom...so comport could have at least SOME vegetables. That would have been more than kind and off-white, they said.

Reread November 2016: A few more thoughts I had equally I read this once more today. First, I was actually struck by the get-go which said that Bear's father had been a hard worker and a smart business comport and had given all his wealth to his son. But bear but wanted to slumber. I've spent most of my instruction career working with children in poverty (17 years) but the by two years I take been at a school where many of the students come from privileged, even wealthy backgrounds and some (certainly non all, non even most...but some) are very entitled. Much similar carry. These children need to acquire to work and exist responsible..and it can be challenging to help them develop a piece of work ethic and have responsibility.

Because bear was lazy and entitled and Hare's family unit was destitute (due to Hare's poor decision making/gambling), information technology reminded me a bit of a Robin Hood tale. Not entirely just at least some chemical element of the poor deserving the riches...specially since Hare and his family worked the land...and carry was a poor caretaker of his land...He never once woke upward to supervise or fabricated any understanding nigh what would be grown or annihilation. Perhaps Hare even sort of learned his lesson now that he is working so hard (although he conspicuously still makes agreements that border on bets.)

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May 20, 2015 Marta Buryan rated information technology it was astonishing

A hilarious book about a conduct and a rabbit tangled in a farm concern. From the very first page, the story surprises the readers with the professional, business organisation-related words and phrases, for instance "a smart business organisation carry," which audio incredibly funny when used in relation to the typical fairy-tale characters, such as a bear, a rabbit, or even a tortoise.

The layout of the book is really well-washed. Offset of all, I liked the correspondence between the the vertical design of the book and its ti

A hilarious book about a comport and a rabbit tangled in a subcontract business. From the very first folio, the story surprises the readers with the professional, concern-related words and phrases, for case "a smart business organisation bear," which sound incredibly funny when used in relation to the typical fairy-tale characters, such every bit a behave, a rabbit, or even a tortoise.

The layout of the book is actually well-washed. Start of all, I liked the correspondence betwixt the the vertical blueprint of the book and its championship. I besides enjoyed the fact that the text is placed in bright frames which makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to read. The only cases in which the text is not framed are the scenes of waking the carry upwardly. These are also the but scenes when the pictures are framed, which highlights the recurrent nature of these situations and in a way distinguishes them from the rest of the plot.

As far as the illustrations are concerned, there is no negative space in the volume and the pictures frequently reach beyond the boundaries of detail pages. Chocolate-brown, sandy, yellowish and beige are the dominating colours, that plant a monolithic canva on which other colours, such as green, orangish, scarlet and white pop out. All these colours tin can be associated with soil, farm, and crops-growing, which again constitutes a well-designed correspondence betwixt the colour palette and the plot.
Although the illustrations occured quite simple to me at the offset sign, they surprised me with details afer a thorough examination. For instance, I actually loved the carrot-print on the rabbit's T-shirt and the bee-print on the bear's scarf. I as well liked the distribution of particular characters on the pages that was a reflection of the plot: after the bear has chosen to go the top parts of the vegetables, he appeared on the top page, afterward he has chosen the bottom ones, he appeared on the bottom folio.

What also seemed particularly highly-seasoned to me in Tops & Bottoms is the fact that this story has a moral: retrieve everyone, do non sleep during the working fourth dimension, or a shrewd entrepreneur rabbit might play tricks you lot!

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This tale is derived from European folktales and slave stories of the American South. In information technology, the industrious merely unscrupulous Hare is pitted against the profoundly lazy Bear. Hare proposes that he and his family work Deport's land (some of which which had originally been his) in exchange for half of the crops produced, and Comport may accept start selection of whether he gets the tops or bottoms of the crops. Comport agrees, chooses tops, and goes to sleep on the porch of his falling-apart house while Hare p This tale is derived from European folktales and slave stories of the American South. In it, the industrious but unscrupulous Hare is pitted against the profoundly lazy Bear. Hare proposes that he and his family work Bear's land (some of which which had originally been his) in exchange for half of the crops produced, and Bear may accept beginning choice of whether he gets the tops or bottoms of the crops. Bear agrees, chooses tops, and goes to sleep on the porch of his falling-apart house while Hare plants root vegetables. At harvest fourth dimension, when he receives only inedible leaves, Bear chooses bottoms for the post-obit year, then sleeps through Hare'south planting of broccoli, tomatoes, and other surface-growing vegetables. Roaring in fury at being tricked over again, he demands a twelvemonth of tops and bottoms -- and Hare obliges with a corn crop, leaving Bear the tassels and stalks simply keeping the corn cobs in the middle.

Trickster stories are moral tales, but not the kind in which a hero sets a good example. There is no hero in this story -- rather, the lazy bear provides an instance of how not to human action, since his laziness makes him vulnerable to being cheated. He provides an excellent analogy for Proverbs 25:28, which states that a person without cocky-control is "similar a city whose [defensive:] walls are broken downward." The uncomplicated, repetitive sense of humour is all at the foolish Bear'southward expense, but after the 3rd transaction he learns his lesson. From then on he farms his ain state exterior his well-maintained firm), and never enters into another business deal with Hare.

At that place aren't many funny books for children about the dangers of laziness, and this one is a keeper. The story is brilliantly illustrated with lively, detailed paintings that carry the story, and and rather than reading from left to right information technology opens vertically to be read from height to lesser. This characteristic complements the story theme, but does take a footling getting used to for reading aloud.

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Jun 05, 2015 Dominik rated it it was amazing

There aren't many picture books which are funny, educative, and visually attractive at the same time. "Tops & Bottoms" past Janet Stevens is 1 of such books.

The story is potent criticism of feudal system, which is presented in the book. At that place is Behave, who owns land, and Hare, who doesn't have land, but who is willing to piece of work. In render for the piece of work, he has a right to take one-half of the ingather. However, as nosotros could see, Hare is a built-in business person and he is the one who makes profits from the land.

There aren't many flick books which are funny, educative, and visually attractive at the same time. "Tops & Bottoms" by Janet Stevens is one of such books.

The story is strong criticism of feudal system, which is presented in the book. There is Bear, who owns land, and Hare, who doesn't have country, simply who is willing to piece of work. In return for the work, he has a right to accept half of the crop. Nonetheless, as nosotros could see, Hare is a born business organisation person and he is the one who makes profits from the country. The volume teaches a kid that he or she should trust nobody and that he or she should rely on hard piece of work rather than hollow promises of other people. And that laziness is bad.

The vertical layout of the books is a very interesting thought. A kid may run across that books don't have to be prepared in a traditional way. I admire all the illustrations which are very complex and detailed - for instance, there are bees on Bear's scarf, his business firm is a shack which is to fall autonomously in a minute, and nosotros see that he's too lazy to tie his laces upward. As for the story, the book is not overloaded with text. At that place are many dialogues, thanks to which the plot is easy to follow for kids.

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Apr 03, 2009 Dolly rated it actually liked it

Recommends it for: parents reading with their children

This is a fantastic 'trickster' fable type of story with an interesting "top and bottom" book format. It made the book a fleck cumbersome to read, just we still had a lot fun reading information technology. The illustrations are very fun and expressive; our girls actually enjoyed reading this volume.

This book was selected as one of the books for the May 2014 - Gardening word at the Flick-Book Society in the Children's Books Grouping hither at Goodreads.

This volume was also selected as one of the books for the November 2016

This is a fantastic 'trickster' fable type of story with an interesting "top and bottom" volume format. It made the book a bit cumbersome to read, but we still had a lot fun reading it. The illustrations are very fun and expressive; our girls really enjoyed reading this book.

This volume was selected as ane of the books for the May 2014 - Gardening give-and-take at the Picture-Volume Club in the Children'south Books Grouping hither at Goodreads.

This book was also selected as i of the books for the Nov 2016- Caldecott Laurels discussion at the Picture-Book Order in the Children's Books Grouping here at Goodreads.

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Bear inherited a lot of money and property from his hard-working parents. He is lazy and lives in a house where the porch is sagging the the shutters are kleptomaniacal from weather conditions. Ane of the members of the rabbit family gambled his state away to the turtle who then sold it to the bear or a profit.

Destitute, the rabbits originally had no mode to cultivate their food. Rabbits made deal with lazy bear that they would cultivate the front function of the the house and relieve the produce to the bear; T

Bear inherited a lot of coin and belongings from his difficult-working parents. He is lazy and lives in a house where the porch is sagging the the shutters are crooked from conditions conditions. Ane of the members of the rabbit family gambled his land away to the turtle who then sold it to the bear or a profit.

Destitute, the rabbits originally had no way to cultivate their nutrient. Rabbits made deal with lazy conduct that they would cultivate the front part of the the house and save the produce to the bear; They cultivated the back plot and the total crop would be theirs.

Purposely taking intendance of their plot, the bear complained that the top part did not yeild as much.

The next twelvemonth, the country distribution was inverse to a switch of superlative and lesser portions.

The rabbits carefully cultivated the heart portion to best.

Thereater, the bear was no longer lazy. He planted out in the hot sun, and pulled weeds all summer time.

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Mar 31, 2011 Lauren rated information technology liked it

This works as a read aloud. My students e'er enjoy it only I find it cumbersome to endeavour to concur the book. Information technology works better with older students considering the language is more mature and plot it takes awhile to unfold.

Mar 05, 2013 Brindi Michele rated it really liked it

1996 Caldecott Honor

This book was too cute and fun considering information technology has a vertical layout...and of course, at that place'due south a moral to the story. Great for this twelvemonth'south Dig into reading theme.

read for The Butler
read for garden gang #one

1996 Caldecott Laurels

This book was too cute and fun considering information technology has a vertical layout...and of course, there's a moral to the story. Bang-up for this year'due south Dig into reading theme.

read for The Butler
read for garden gang #1

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Jan 22, 2017 Anna rated information technology really liked it

Our students actually similar this 1. They've grasped the lesson that it isn't nice to trick people. They're still working on the lesson that it'due south also not nice to brand others do all the work then wait to nevertheless reap the benefits. Our students really like this i. They've grasped the lesson that it isn't prissy to trick people. They're even so working on the lesson that it'due south also not nice to make others practise all the piece of work and then expect to yet reap the benefits. ...more than

April 05, 2017 Melanie rated information technology really liked it

This is one of those books that stands the examination of time. I read it to my class when I first started out teaching at historic period 23 and at present that I'm a library teacher I need to use it to teach students about the Caldecott medal. This is one of those books that stands the test of time. I read it to my class when I outset started out teaching at age 23 and now that I'g a library teacher I need to use it to teach students most the Caldecott medal. ...more

Feb 07, 2012 Shannon rated it really liked it

Fantastic page formatting -- our students say they remember this book was the showtime case of #teambear vs. #teamrabbit, and I accept to agree with them!

information technology was funny and i do recommend it

Aug 02, 2020 Katy rated information technology it was amazing

Delightful childrens flick book -- for Junior Master Gardeners.

November 12, 2018 Natascha rated it really liked it

Book level: 3.2
Lextile: 580
Fountas and Pinnell: 50

Book summary: This is a tale of a partnership between a lazy acquit and an enterprising hare. Hare will do whatever he can to make sure his family is taken care of while bear's laziness may hateful that he gets the brusk end of the bargain.

Genre: Traditional literature. These tales are typically created to teach the reader a lesson through the events and characters included in the story. The interactions betwixt comport and hare and what results from both of

Book level: 3.2
Lextile: 580
Fountas and Pinnell: L

Book summary: This is a tale of a partnership between a lazy bear and an enterprising hare. Hare will do any he can to brand certain his family unit is taken care of while bear's laziness may mean that he gets the curt end of the deal.

Genre: Traditional literature. These tales are typically created to teach the reader a lesson through the events and characters included in the story. The interactions between bear and hare and what results from both of their work ideals is the core of this book's lesson.

Mentor writing traits:
Ideas - there is a clear message in this text of if yous work hard and are clever, y'all volition reap the benefits of all your difficult piece of work. If yous are lazy, you won't become much. Hare clearly benefits from all the hard work that he puts into the garden. He is also very clever and does take advantage of bear'south laziness. Deport's laziness leads to him getting the worse cease of their partnership but he eventually learns that difficult work=keen benefits.

Presentation - the way the pages are set (vertically versus horizontally) is done on purpose and matches the title of the book 'Tops and bottoms' and assembly nice with a major setting in the story a garden. The pages that feature illustrations of both the deport and the hare, the bear always appears on the summit page and the hare is on the lesser page. Again, I call up this is washed on purpose and reflects the initial agreement in this partnership that bear gets the tops of the harvest and hare gets the bottoms.

Classroom integration/mini lessons/content connections:
This could work equally a mentor text where students can analyze the two main characters in the book and discuss how the characters habits and accomplishments aspect to the story'south message. As a class, they tin take notes on the characteristics, habits, and accomplishments of both main characters. Then students can explain how each characters' habits and attitude about piece of work affect the issue of this partnership.

This book could likewise be used a mentor text to demonstrate an author's deliberate utilize of form or layout of the book itself and illustrations. Equally a class, they can concentrate on the look and feel of the volume earlier reading the book aloud. Students volition be asked to review the illustrations and the volume itself and note what is interesting. Hopefully students notice that the book is vertically aligned and the teacher can guide students to notice this and some key points in the illustrations. As pairs, students volition be given a short story and will be challenged over a couple of days to create the layout and illustrations for that story.

This book could be used for found growth science unit of measurement and assay of different vegetable types.

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May 16, 2010 David rated it really liked it

Tops & Bottoms past Janet Stevens is a keen adaption of European folktales & slave stories of the American South, including the Brer Rabbit tales. Hare uses his wits, in the trickster tradition, to overcome hardhip & profit from the lazy means of his neighbor, Comport, who owns lots of state.

Rabbit proposes a partnership, with Acquit where Hare's family volition plant and harvest a crop while Bear sleeps. Their first agreement is to give Carry all the tops while the Hares proceed the bottoms. So Hare grow carr

Tops & Bottoms past Janet Stevens is a great adaption of European folktales & slave stories of the American South, including the Brer Rabbit tales. Hare uses his wits, in the trickster tradition, to overcome hardhip & profit from the lazy ways of his neighbor, Acquit, who owns lots of land.

Rabbit proposes a partnership, with Acquit where Hare's family unit volition plant and harvest a crop while Bear sleeps. Their first agreement is to give Bear all the tops while the Hares proceed the bottoms. So Hare grow carrots, beets, & radishes, and keeps these root crops while the Bear gets the keafy tops. Deport is not happy & side by side twelvemonth demands the tops. So Hare plants lettuce, broccoli, & celery, and Acquit gets the useless bottoms. Deport is very mad and demands both tops & bottoms next year. Then Hare grows corn, and Bear gets tassels & roots & stalks, while Hare keeps the ears of corn in the centre.

Lazy Bear and then decides to stay upwards and work during planting and harvest season and proceed all the profits, learning a lesson. Hare uses the coin from the auction of the crops to buy back the country he'd sold to pay his bet with the Tortoise later on their famous race.

Steven'due south illustrations are gorgeous, using bright colors for the detailed paintings, which carry the humourous tale. Themes include gardens, vegetables, laziness, the value of difficult work, and cleverness. The book opens vertically so the 2 page speads are tall. Information technology's a niggling diffferent to go used to property the book for read alouds, simply the funny, clever story is well worth information technology.

For ages 6 to 10, garden, vegetable, piece of work, humour, and trickster themes, and fans of the Hare and of Janet Stevens.

...more than

Apr 14, 2020 Micaela rated it it was amazing

In this book, Hare tricks a deport so he can solve his trouble of feeding his family. Tops and Bottoms is a trickster tale that has a potent and important bulletin. The message I got later on reading this book is that we should work for what we want because it won't come to us that easily. I actually liked the illustrations considering they were uncomplicated yet they included a lot of information that helped reinforce the text. My favorite thing about this volume is the design and layout! I love that this book is r In this book, Hare tricks a bear so he tin can solve his problem of feeding his family. Tops and Bottoms is a trickster tale that has a strong and important message. The message I got after reading this volume is that we should work for what nosotros want because information technology won't come to u.s.a. that easily. I really liked the illustrations because they were uncomplicated withal they included a lot of information that helped reinforce the text. My favorite thing almost this book is the pattern and layout! I love that this book is read from the top to the bottom, I retrieve it provides a unique mode to read the book. Not but is information technology unique but this layout, for me personally, kept me engaged and I just wanted to keep reading. I also similar how the design and layout of this volume relates to the title, this book is read from the top to the lesser, hence the title "Tops and Bottoms."
...more

Jan 30, 2019 Jen rated it it was amazing

LOVED this clever children's picture book about a hare who is trying to feed his hungry family unit. The bear is lazy and the hare is willing to work and is able to to reap the benefits. LOVED this clever children's motion picture book almost a hare who is trying to feed his hungry family. The bear is lazy and the hare is willing to piece of work and is able to to reap the benefits. ...more

Jan 02, 2021 Relyn rated it it was astonishing

I've read this aloud so many times. Every single fourth dimension the children beloved information technology. I've read this aloud and so many times. Every unmarried time the children dear information technology. ...more

Folklore-inspired, detailed illustraions, funny (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma

Janet Stevens began drawing as a child. Pictures decorated her walls, mirrors, furniture and school piece of work -- including math assignments. While this didn't always sit well with her teachers, it was what she loved to exercise.

Janet's begetter was in the Navy therefore she moved a great bargain and attended many schools while growing up.

After graduating from high school in Hawaii in 1971 she landed a chore creati

Janet Stevens began drawing as a child. Pictures decorated her walls, mirrors, article of furniture and schoolhouse piece of work -- including math assignments. While this didn't ever sit well with her teachers, it was what she loved to do.

Janet's father was in the Navy therefore she moved a great deal and attended many schools while growing up.

Later graduating from loftier school in Hawaii in 1971 she landed a task creating Hawaiian designs for fabric. The printed fabric was then made into aloha shirts and muumuus. After she graduated from the University of Colorado in 1975 with a degree in Fine Arts Janet began compiling a portfolio of "characters", bears in tutus, rhinos in sneakers, and walruses in Hawaiian shirts. In 1977, she attended "The Illustrator'southward Workshop" in New York City, where it was suggested that her characters might find a habitation in a children's volume. Luckily for libraries (and children's book readers in general), publishers agreed and her first book was published in 1979.

Janet is the writer and illustrator of many original stories and oft collaborates with her sister, Susan Stevens Crummel. Her trademark humorous animals too accompany the texts past such authors every bit Eric Kimmel and Coleen Salley,

Janet has received numerous book awards, including a Caldecott Honor Award, Time Mag's X All-time Children's Books , the Wanda Gág All-time Read-Aloud Book. Child Mag's Best Books of the Year.. Janet's books have been named ALA Notables and accept repeatedly appeared on the New York Times Best Seller Listing.

She is particularly proud of her state book awards, voted on by children -- which include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Nebraska and Washington. Janet has received the prestigious Texas Bluebonnet Honour twice.

...more

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