Sid and Sam start to sing. But Sid doesn't stop. What can Sam do when Sid's song is too long?
Children's Literature - Catherine Campbell Wright
Beginning readers will delight in this story of Sid and Sam, two friends strolling through the park singing and just being silly! This book is one of "My First/I Can Read" books, and contains simple yet diverse and entertaining text. The illustrations are charming and whimsical, and fit perfectly with the text.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2Wandering around the park, Sid and Sam enjoy a silly singing game until Sam has finally had enough of the girl's unending song. " `So long, Sid!,' he says, `See you soon!' " The simple text has lots of repetition and clever wordplay. Karas's pencil, watercolor, and crayon illustrations convey the whimsy and delight of the children's friendship. The actions, facial expressions, and outfits are hilarious. This book is perfect for neophyte readers and is a wonderful companion to Chris Raschka's Yo! Yes? (Orchard, 1993). So long, Sid and Sam; see you in the library.Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID
Kirkus Reviews
Sid and Sam sing a song. They sing a long song. It is funny. Yes, this is a My First I Can Read Book, in which Buck (Christmas in the Manger, 1994, not reviewed, etc.) either mirrors or mocks basic primers. Readers can decide.Sid, an African-American girl, and Sam, a red-headed boy, see each other and he begins to sing. Sid sings, too, and louder. Sam asks her to sing lower, so she gets low to the ground. Sam comments that her song is "so long" and she responds "So long?" "See you soon!" Sam says as he exits. The humor is pretty simple, and the puns will be clear to all but the youngest beginning readers, although the illustrations help with the jokes. Karas broadens the humor in his watercolors, giving the story a full park setting with statue, pond, benches, and animals dancing in the background. The whole endeavor runs to blatant exaggeration, but the effect is distinctly childlike.
