Field Trip Day

by Lynn Plourde, Thor Wickstrom (Illustrator)

Overview

Today is Field Trip Day at school, and everyone in Mrs. Shepherd's class is excited to visit Fandangle's Farm, especially Juan, who loves to explore. But Juan just might be too good at exploring, and Mrs. Shepherd and the chaperones have trouble keeping track of him!

This sixth story about the silly students in Mrs. Shepherd's class will have readers laughing and learning as Juan's discoveries lead to new teaching opportunities for Farmer Fandangle and Mrs. Shepherd.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101643525
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/04/2010
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	34 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lynn Plourde lives in Winthrop, Maine.

Thor Wickstrom lives in Hancock, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

The pictures of iconic farmyard scenes and racially diverse kids busily exploring have a pleasant, energetic feel, and the classroom-reading appeal is strong.

Booklist

Mrs. Shepherd's class of twenty-three students is going on a field trip to the farm. On the bus, the students recite the rules. ("Be polite. Stay with chaperones.") And, when they reach Fandangle's Organic Environmentally Friendly Farm, the chaperones repeat their responsibilities. ("No losing any students.") As they proceed from barn to dairy and so on, the chaperones and children count each student. In successive groupings of numbers (11 plus 11, seven sets of three plus one extra), they arrive at a total of only 22 students. One, with the unsubtle name Juan Dore-Nomad, repeatedly disappears. In each instance, Mrs. Shepherd cheerfully instructs everyone to "get looking." Each time, a classmate finds Juan, who claims that he wasn't lost but simply curious for more information. For example, when he wonders what happens to the wool after the sheep are shorn, he finds out, then shares the information with the others. Juan's ability to wander comes in handy when Farmer Fandangle loses track of two calves he plans to give to charity, and Juan figures out where they are hiding. The illustrations are colorful and appealing, but the text and structure are so repetitive they become boring. The information conveyed by Juan is trite. The good intentions—promoting organic farming, counting by grouping numbers, giving to charity—become heavyhanded. Reviewer: Cynthia Levinson

Children's Literature - Cynthia Levinson

K-Gr 3—Juan Dore-Nomad, inquirer par excellence, stars in this sixth installment about Mrs. Shepherd's class. Whereas the other episodes occur within school walls, this one showcases the learning implicit in a field trip to an organic farm. Juan's questions lead his class to discover what the farm animals eat, how plants make natural dyes for wool, and how wind turbines power the small farm. Rather than holding up the class, Juan is always just a step ahead, which constantly challenges the adult chaperones. They count heads in sets, by threes, and play with addition as they panic over the missing student, which is always inquisitive Juan, off making more discoveries. This good-natured story, while sometimes veering on the formulaic or saccharine, will appeal to children, especially those who adore farm animals. The watercolor-and-ink cartoons are lively and depict a diverse class that lauds thinking and questioning over strict rule-keeping. This rollicking, dialogue-heavy romp into the workings of a modern organic farm will keep young listeners entertained.—Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

School Library Journal