Three children decide to "help" their parents by painting the house while mom and dad are out for the day.
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Aug 14, 2010
Shanna
rated it: 
This story brings us another episode in the Noonan family, who also appear in Spier's later books Christmas and Rain. Before their parents leave the children at home to run errands for the day, Mrs. Noonan remarks to her husband that the house needs painting. When the babysitter never arrives, the three children decide to surprise their parents by painting the house themselves. Opportunistically gathering up a large collection of half-filled paint cans from the garage, they set to work painti
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Jan 19, 2010
Kathryn
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This book has been around for awhile and I can see why! It's the sort of story that parents and children will read and enjoy together--yet both will get something different out of it. When the parents in this story leave to run errands all day, the baby sitter fails to show up and the kids decide to "help" Mom and Dad by painting the house for them (a task Mom and Dad both planned to do). And, oh my, are they creative and exuberant in their color schemes and quite thorough in their
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5 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Jan 25, 2010
Lisa
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Pure fun! Three very good, obedient, resourceful, and helpful children decide to do a needed chore when their parents leave for the day and the babysitter doesn’t show up. The children, their dog, their cat, their tools, the bathroom (the children are so good they do clean up after themselves) and oh yes, the house they’re painting all get very colorful, the house and the property in particular. The illustrations are very, very, very colorful. I know children who will feel gleeful as the story p
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4 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Apr 22, 2011
Abigail
rated it:
When their parents must go out for a day to run errands, and the baby-sitter never turns up, the three Noonan children - inspired by their mother's observation that the house needs painting - decide to be extra helpful, and get the job done themselves! Grabbing all the half-full paint cans in the garage and basement, they transform their house (as well as garage and fence), working hard all day under the supervision of the family dog and cat. Won't their parents be surprised and happy, when they
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7 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Dec 05, 2008
Joseph
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I found this on my parents book shelf as I was reading books to the kids. This is a book that fascinated me when I was a kid. The pictures are great and the story is mischievous...the only problem is that I am afraid I will give Cy too many ideas.
Sep 13, 2009
Teresa
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This is another of this amazing author-illustrator's DELIGHTFUL stories that you simply MUST read with your young children!!!!! (If you don't have any young ones, borrow a niece, nephew, or a neighbor.)
Oct 01, 2010
Jen
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Exactly what every child dreams of doing, but would never even dare! And every parent's nightmare. Funny, funny, funny.
Feb 04, 2010
Keidra
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I learned that children can be more creative than adults. This book teaches you to be proud of your work.
Dec 15, 2009
Evelyn
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The children were just trying to help out and please their parents the day they painted the house.
Apr 17, 2011
Betty
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The children paint the house to help their parents when they are out to run their errands. The children paint the house with different colors. It shows creativity for the use of the color.
Jul 04, 2008
Kara
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I re-read this the other day and it's still good. A highly quotable story, and very relevant to anyone who as a child decided to "help" and/or those who are now parents and suffer through the same thing on the other end now.
Aug 31, 2008
Cana
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Mommy says: Great illustrations, which is what you would expect from Peter Spier. And a great tale about some very, very helpful children whose babysitter does not show up! (Note to self: LOCK UP THE PAINT!)
Jun 25, 2008
Sally
rated it: 
As opposed to Spier's other books I love that are a visual feast, this one made me squirm. The babysitter never shows up!? The kids paint the house like a Pollack?!
Feb 10, 2012
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