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What Happens on Wednesdays
by
Emily Jenkins,
Lauren Castillo (Goodreads Author)
A preschooler marks the progress of her day, not by the clock but by what happens after lunch, after nap, after swimming, after the library - and after Daddy comes home. She doesn't map her neighborhood by street signs, either. Her morning walk to see dogs in the park takes her past the cat outside the deli, past her friend Errolyn's building and the daycare where she used...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
August 7th 2007
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Community Reviews
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Nov 04, 2009
Kathryn
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
no one!
Shelves:
childrens-picture-books
This book SOUNDED cute. It LOOKS cute. But it is so BORING!!! Ugh. It is so pedestrian, so mundane--there is no "magic" in the Wednesdays, no "voice" in the little girl narrating...just a laundry list of things she does on Wednesday.
Also, I felt relieved (yet sad, at the same time!) when I came on to read reviews and found that some other grown-ups felt the text seemed to foreshadow something ominous--though nothing really came to pass (though the last page with the bed-time exchange between the...more
Also, I felt relieved (yet sad, at the same time!) when I came on to read reviews and found that some other grown-ups felt the text seemed to foreshadow something ominous--though nothing really came to pass (though the last page with the bed-time exchange between the...more
Daily routines are the mark of consistency in young children's lives. In this lovely, contemporary story readers go on the Wednesday adventure of an observant young preschooler. We walk with her to the dog park, school, library and swimming class- which all take place in Brooklyn. Because its Wednesday, she reminds her parents that "today is not a kissing day", an element of the story that will make adults chuckle! As her day winds down, she picks Daddy to tuck her in, and the simple story ends....more
I think this book is just supposed to be a book about what a four-year-old does every Wednesday. I was a little creeped out by the repetition that "today is not a kissing day" but the book didn't seem to include a larger message to address the kissing. The creep factor combined with what seems to be a child's to-do list make this a book I wouldn't recommend to young readers. The pictures, are, however, interesting in a subdued sort of way and I liked that the story addressed normal aspects of ur...more
May 11, 2013
Sandy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
pb-fiction,
communities,
art-artist,
family,
concepts,
realistic-current,
urban,
very-young
This appeals on several levels, most especially the point of view of the narrator. Likely to have greatest appeal to little ones who live in the heart of an urban setting (even better if at happens to be New York). The specifications of detail, relationships of characters, and complexity of events/sequence offers opportunities to use this a mentor text for young writers who can tend to write a beginning, middle, end. Period. The illustrations are as specific and detailed as the text.
"What Happens on Wednesdays" walks through the day of a young girl who is of Kindergarten age. While the illustrations are intimate, warm, and comforting, the story is somewhat bland with a semi-subtle theme of "It's not a kissing day" running throughout. The child has a lovely day, showing her routine: nothing more, nothing less. It was a quaint, one-time read.
I didn't expect a whole lot from this book, so I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe children will find this outline of one day's rhythms helpful. The drawings convey feeling and character, and I especially liked the floral patterns Castillo worked into the bedspreads, clothing and wallpaper, including bamboo and possibly Chinese orchids.
Why is Wednesday a no kissing day????? I was waiting for the answer on the last page, yet it wasn't there. I like the idea of following the routine of an ordinary day, but felt this book could have done a better job. Even the ordinary can be special...and I'll ask again why is Wednesday a no kissing day?
A little girl from New York City narrates her typical Wednesday routine. Jenkins captures a preschooler's voice well. Young children, whether they live in a large city or not, will enjoy recognizing their own routines and the predictable nature of the story (get out of bed, eat breakfast, etc.)
I liked this book. And it made me want to move to the city . . . being able to walk to the bagel shop and the dog park and the school across the street. I'm wistful for city living. The book does not have the magic of Knufflebunny. There's no great running theme. But there is charm sometimes in simplicity, I think.
The illustrations were really pretty and the author did a good job of capturing a little kids voice as she goes about her day. The last page was rather creepy, but aside from that it was pretty good. The only trouble was that not much really happened with it...
What Happens on Wednesdays is an anticlimactic tale of little girl narrating a typical weekday. I really liked the illustrations and appreciated the tone, but I was filled with a sense of dread throughout the book.
I anticipated something ominous would happen based on the title and evidenced by the fact that the girl kept repeating that "today was not a kissing day". I half expected that she was having to put her dog down, or get all her hair cut off, or move to Utah.
I was convinced throughout th...more
I anticipated something ominous would happen based on the title and evidenced by the fact that the girl kept repeating that "today was not a kissing day". I half expected that she was having to put her dog down, or get all her hair cut off, or move to Utah.
I was convinced throughout th...more
1 like · like · see review
a weds in a young girls life - no kissing, swimming, bathtime.
A little girls takes us through one of her typical Wednesdays.
Great book. Great illustrations!
This is "a day in the life" of a little girl and her urban family. Going to the coffeeshop, getting a bagel, walking through the dog park, going to school and the public pool, going home past the merchants, etc.
I was a little worried that kids would think it was too "quiet" (read: boring) - it isn't funny, or noisy, there isn't really conflict, as such, except that the little girl has declared this a "no kissing day". But my five-year-old friend was rapt.
And LOVE LOVE LOVE the illustrations.
I was a little worried that kids would think it was too "quiet" (read: boring) - it isn't funny, or noisy, there isn't really conflict, as such, except that the little girl has declared this a "no kissing day". But my five-year-old friend was rapt.
And LOVE LOVE LOVE the illustrations.
What Happens on Wednesdays is a story about a little girl narrating her Wednesday from the moment she wakes up, until she falls asleep. It is an intersting way to view the day; through the eyes of a child. This story would be perfect for an activity on sequencing. I would have the students sequence 10 events with writing and illustrations. It could also be used to discuss the days of the week. Have the students pick their favorite day of the week and write a short story about it.
Jenkins is quite good at conveying the mind of a young child. She nailed it, at least, I think she did from the vast distance of five years out from having a preschooler. Mostly, she reminded me that I do not miss that stage, although I think I enjoyed it when the girls were there.
Library copy.
Library copy.
cute stream of consciousness tale about a girl's wednesday. strange feeling of foreboding because wednesday is not a kissing day..repeated throughout the book.
This picture book has an unusual honesty, in addition to sweet, charming photos. Not one I'd be interested in owning, but certainly worthwhile library rental.
I loved the illustrations but my nearly 5 year olds were bored by the story by the third page. Pacing was too slow for a 3-5 year old book.
I don't like the "no kissing" part of this (I don't want H to get any ideas), but I like the citified routine, reminds me of NY.
I really liked the illustrations but the daily routine story-line didn't do it for me.
book about family traditions.
Boring.
Mar 15, 2013
BeccaB
added it
Dec 12, 2012
Yinzadi
marked it as to-read
Nov 12, 2012
Sarah
added it
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Nov 04, 2009 11:01am
Nov 18, 2009 02:07pm