  | Sam the Man & the chicken plan. #1 (Sam the man) Author: Dowell, Frances O'Roark | |
| Price: $21.18 | ||
Summary:
First book in series--When seven-year-old Sam Graham, eager for some spending money, volunteers to look after a neighbor's chickens, the experience inspires him to get his own chicken--a special bird named Helga.
| Illustrator: | Bates, Amy June |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.70 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 184413 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/16)
Booklist (07/01/16)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (09/16)
The Hornbook (00/09/16)
Full Text Reviews:
Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 Sam may be only seven, but he’d really like to make some money, so he takes on the job of caretaker for Mrs. Kerner’s hens while she’s away. Finding he likes chickens, he decides he’ll be a chicken expert, and with his parents’ permission he acquires his own hen, Helga, who joins Mrs. Kerner’s flock. Helga is reputed to lay blue eggs, so Sam waits impatiently for her to deliver the goods, which he’ll show off and maybe sell to his classmates. The story has accessibility, charm, and gentle wit, and the subtle strokes of human dynamics are masterful: Sam’s older sister cheerfully takes him for his hard-earned twenty dollars without Sam’s ever realizing, and Sam develops a quiet friendship with the seemingly grumpy Mrs. Kerner and with his neighbor, Mr. Stockfish. Indeed, there’s much going on below the story of chicken acquisition, as Sam revels in finding an area of expertise and benefits from the contact points Helga provides him with kids and adults alike. Brief chapters allow readers a similar sense of mastery, and those intrigued by chicken possibilities can move on to Heppermann’s City Chickens (BCCB 7/12), while others will be content just to hang with a promising new easy-reader hero. Vigorous pencil sketches catch Sam’s energy and give a look at his beloved chicken. DS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
Booklist - 07/01/2016 Sam wants to have a job, like his mother, father, and big sister. Soon he has two, both involving neighbors. First, he looks after Mrs. Kerner’s chickens. Next, he takes elderly Mr. Stockfish for walks. Sam’s interest in chickens flourishes after his father helps him buy his own hen, Helga, who lays blue eggs. Soon Sam is taking Mr. Stockfish on walks to visit her, an idea that pays off all around. His neighbor grows stronger, while taking a supportive interest in Sam and Helga. This very accessible chapter book offers a simply told, well-knit story with a multicultural cast of likable characters. The author of Dovey Coe (2000), Chicken Boy (2005), and the Phineas MacGuire series, Dowell portrays seven-year-old Sam with a quiet perception. Many readers will relate to his pride in figuring out for himself how to earn money as well as how he’d like to spend it. Well-structured, shaded pencil drawings illustrate characters and scenes with energy, perception, and gentle humor. This satisfying story sets the stage for the Sam the Man series. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.
