Rick Is Sick

by David McPhail

Overview

The stars of Jack and Rick are back in another playful adventure. And this time Rick learns that being sick isn't so bad when you have a helpful friend—especially when that friend is Jack!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152050924
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	04/01/2004
Series:	Green Light Readers Level 1 Series
Edition description:	1-Simul
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	88,059
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.11(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

DAVID McPHAIL is the creator of dozens of wonderful books, including several other Green Light Readers. He lives in New Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Green Light Readers:
"A must-have for any family with a beginning reader."—Boston Sunday Herald
"You can't go wrong with adding several copies of these terrific books to your beginning-to-read collection."—School Library Journal
"A winner for the beginner."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Jack the rabbit wants to play, so he heads over to his friend Rick's house. Alas, Rick is sick and can't play on this day. Jack wants to help his pal, so he brings a steaming mug of soup but Rick gets too hot. Jack is quick to come up with a solution and brings a bag of ice. Now you can guess what happens next Rick is too cold. How can the problem be solved. Parents may not be too happy to see Jack in bed with his sick friend. The issue of contagion is never mentioned, and we really don't know what malady Rick suffers from. The text may not be the best in terms of a good story line, but the rhyme and rhythm are what is engaging and of course Jack's antics will bring a smile or two. The short, uncomplicated story ends, and is followed by a few pages of activities. The first has kids creating a friendship award. The second one raises discussion issues. Then there is a brief description of the author/illustrator along with a photograph. The closing spread provides tips to help children become readers and describes why the series is a good choice and lists other titles at this level. Part of the "Green Light Readers" series, a Level 1 book—getting ready to read with emphasis on simple words, rhyme and rhythm and familiar situations. 2004, Harcourt, Ages 4 to 6.
—Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature

K-Gr 1-Two appealing easy-readers. In the first book, Jack (a rabbit) tries to help his sick friend Rick (a bear) feel better. Then, after all his efforts, Jack finds that he needs a nap and crawls into bed with his friend. Ink-and-watercolor drawings are expressive and full of sight clues. With friendship as its overall theme, this is a winning title for character-development units. In the second book, a boy keeps getting distracted by the things he sees on a walk through the park. Todd's mother is clearly in a hurry and scolds each time he runs off to pick up something else. Once they are on their bus, he hands her a box full of treasure that he has gathered for her and she is delighted. Cartoonlike, bright black ink and pastel paintings accompany the easy text. Both books include enrichment activities that readers can replicate with minimal help.-Christine E. Carr, Lester C. Noecker Elementary School, Roseland, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Rick the bear and his pal, Jack the rabbit, star in their second emergent reader, featuring just one or two short and simple sentences per page. Rick is sick in bed and Jack tries to help by bringing hot tea and an ice pack, by sitting on Rick's tummy, and finally by curling up next to Rick for a nap. McPhail's appealing animal characters are full of expression as always, with the pair of devoted friends featured in circular watercolor-and-ink illustrations alternating with pages of text. The actual story is just 16 pages long, with the remaining pages devoted to a follow-up activity (creating a friendship award), a page of discussion questions, author biography, and two pages of information about the Green Light Readers series, including a list of titles. This format seems intended for classroom use and includes guided reading and Reading Recovery levels for teachers. (Easy reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews