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My Side of the Car

by Kate Feiffer, Jules Feiffer (Illustrator)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 218 ratings · 57 reviews

Wishful thinking and a wonderful daughter-and-dad rapport drive this charming collaboration between Kate Feiffer and her father, Jules Feiffer.

Sadie has wanted to go the zoo forever, but something always gets in the way. Not today! Today they are finally on their way, and nothing can stop them - not a broken arm or a lost dog or a surprise visit. Not even her dad’s observa...more

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published April 26th 2011 by Candlewick Press

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Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Auntie's Great Picture Books

28th out of 51 books — 14 voters

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Oct 27, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

1. Rating: 4
2. A book review by Children's Literature says, "Kate tells a story about a trip she and her father actually took. She really wanted to visit the animals at the zoo, but it was raining...at least on her father's side of the car. Kate looked out the window and saw people watering their lawns, walking dogs, playing with balloons, while the windshield wipers worked hard. Her father suggests they postpone this trip as the weather is so inclement, but Kate insists it is NOT raining on her...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-book

Was there ever someplace you really wanted to go as a kid, but things kept getting in the way of it happening. For me, Disneyland was that place, but for the little girl in this story, it's the zoo. Obstacles large or small have prevented her from going there with her father. At last, today is her chance, and...
It's not often that you get your famous cartoonist dad to illustrate a picture book based on a real incident involving the two of you. Kate Feiffer, and father Jules, have turned in a ver...more

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May 13, 2011 Tasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

Sadie and her dad are finally heading to the zoo. Their trip has been cancelled for several reasons that Sadie can clearly remember, but today nothing can stop the trip. They are on their way to the zoo when Sadie’s father points out that it’s raining. Sadie looks out her window and says that it isn’t raining on her side of the car. Her father keeps driving, because all Sadie sees out her window is sunshine and lots of people heading to zoos. People on her side of the car are watering their lawn...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Gail Cooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a delightful road trip this is! We knew even before opening that a book by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by her award-winning dad, Jules Feiffer, would be something special and MY SIDE OF THE CAR is - something extra special.

Based on a real-life event that took place some years ago when Jules Feiffer was taking his young daughter to visit a nature preserve the book is an endearing story of a child’s optimism and a father’s patience.

In our story Katie has been very excited about going to t...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Betsy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reality is subjective. You learn this when you have children of your own. What may be glaringly obvious to a parent will pass right over a six-year-old’s head (and vice-versa). To a certain extent, children and parents live in entirely different worlds. I’ve been trying to come up with a list of children’s books that acknowledge this fact, and it’s tough. So many picture books are of the didactic let’s-teach-kids-not-to-lie variety that the ones where kids come up with their own imaginative stor...more Reality is subjective. You learn this when you have children of your own. What may be glaringly obvious to a parent will pass right over a six-year-old’s head (and vice-versa). To a certain extent, children and parents live in entirely different worlds. I’ve been trying to come up with a list of children’s books that acknowledge this fact, and it’s tough. So many picture books are of the didactic let’s-teach-kids-not-to-lie variety that the ones where kids come up with their own imaginative stories and live to tell the tale are few and far between. I mean, can you think of any books where a child stretches the truth because they truly believe what they’re saying, straight in the face of parental obliviousness? Aside from Calvin and Hobbes it’s a toughie, but that’s just one of the many reasons why I am so very fond of the father/daughter creation that is My Side of the Car. A brilliant example of willful ignorance (or is it?) Kate and Jules Feiffer tap into those times in a kid’s life when the line between what’s true and what they hope is true blur.

You don’t understand. Sadie isn’t just excited that she’s going to the zoo today. She’s excited because she’s FINALLY going to the zoo today. If you ask her, she can come up with three previous times when she was supposed to go to the zoo and ended up having to do something else instead. But today’s different. She and her dad are in the car and nothing could possibly stop them . . . until it starts to rain. Sadie’s dad is understandably worried and has to inform his daughter that rain means they can’t go to the zoo. However, Sadie (ever the optimist) informs him in no uncertain terms that while it may be pouring on his side of the car, there’s nothing but sunshine, and zoo-going folks, and people watering their lawns, and ice cream eaters on her side of the car. That is until they actually get to the zoo. Then it’s up to Sadie to determine what it is they do next.

I’ve always liked Kate Feiffer’s books but until now I hadn’t found one that killed with the cadences like this one does. Repetition works in books when it’s used well and in the service of the story. That’s part of what I love about what Kate has done here. Right from the start Sadie starts in on the different days when she was supposed to go to the zoo. Listen to how beautifully Ms. Feiffer recounts these. “One day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my mom tripped over a toy fire engine. So we went to the hospital instead of the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my dog, Pasha, got lost. So we spent the day looking for him instead of going to the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my grandparents showed up for a surprise visit. And they don’t like the zoo. So we went to the museum instead of the zoo.” First off, she gets 100 points for not beginning the third example with the word “and” (example: “And another day when were supposed to go to the zoo…”). Now look at how many times she uses the phrase “go to the zoo” or “going to the zoo”. It just fits like it was tailor made for the ear canal. The whole book is like that too!

Then there’s the use of little girl hyperbole. Kids exaggerate. It’s what they do. But part of what I love about Sadie’s exaggerations here is that some of the time she’s just exaggerating to herself alone. She's willing herself to believe what she says. For example, when her father asks her to look out her window to see if it’s raining yet the text reads, “I look out my window, and the sun is shining on my side of the car. People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car.” She doesn't tell this to her father, which leads me to believe that it's something she needs to see and believe for herself first. Then Ms. Feiffer starts to test how far she can push her audience. Are kids reading this book going to believe Sadie when she says it’s not raining on her side? They know that rain doesn’t tend to fall on 50% of a car. Interestingly, they may side with the idea that Sadie is making this stuff up . . . until the moment when she concedes that one drop has fallen down her window. That’s such an odd little detail that it may throw young readers right there. If she’s lying then why does she admit to seeing even one drop?

Mr. Feiffer’s job is to keep up with his daughter. She’s laying down the beats of the book and he’s picking ‘em right up again. Some of this is fairly self-explanatory, like when he has to show the previous interrupted zoo trips. But Kate has left him sufficient room to get creative as well. When Sadie says that, “The monkeys and giraffes and elephants and polar bears have waited a long time to see us,” Mr. Feiffer conjures up the most morose looking polar bear you’ve seen this side of a melting ice cap. He also has to find a way to show great zoo-going masses of people and, perhaps trickiest of all, he has to illustrate a car where only half of it is being rained on. Or rather . . . he has to be ambiguous. Since the child reader is never quite certain if Sadie is telling the truth or not about her side of the car, Mr. Feiffer has to show the car from her perspective, while also making other images a little less crystal clear. There are certain drawings where you can definitely see the rain hitting the roof and hood of the car, but it’s up for interpretation as to whether or not only half the vehicle is getting wet or if it’s the whole kerschmozzle.

Mr. Feiffer, I’d like to note, is the author of the greatest picture book readaloud in the history of the world: Bark George. I seriously believe that if you were to come up with a single picture book to enthrall readers 0-100, it would be the winner. Part of the charm of that book, aside from the beautifully unnerving storyline, is Feiffer’s art. Those of you familiar with his Village Voice days will be pleased that after all this time his style remains recognizably his own. Best of all, he doesn’t suffer the problems of a Charles Schulz, who began his cartooning life with perfectly straight lines only to get shakier and shakier as the years wore on. Feiffer’s style has always been loose, and in My Side of the Car that looseness is key to the storytelling. Sadie, for her part, is infinitely adorable. Your initial glimpse of her is on the first page where she can be seen performing a mid-air leap, the prospect of a zoo visit gleaming in her eyes. Later that look is repeated when it is clear that the rain has stopped and she can go to the zoo after all. The watercolors employed in this book perfectly capture the look of daytime in the rain, all green foliage and gray overcast light. As for the details, parents will appreciate that Sadie is strapped into the backseat and not the front passenger seat (not a safe place for a kid to be, particularly on a rainy day). They’ll also like that Sadie’s father thought to have a change of clothes for his daughter in the backseat. For my own part, I loved what Feiffer did with her post-wet hair. Prior to walking to her father’s side of the car in the rain her hair was a rather nicely coiffed Ramona-esque do. After getting back in the car that same hair frizzes out every which way. Nice touch.

There are certain concepts that work really well in a picture book because all kids understand them. Injustice is probably one of the best. Kids really glom on to stories about injustice and disappointment. My Side of the Car, therefore, does a bloody brilliant job of tapping into that feeling. Kids don’t just identify with Sadie here. They become her. There’s not a child alive that’s going to blame her for wanting to go to the zoo so badly that her observations fly in the face of reality itself. And with Mr. Feiffer’s excessively accessible illustrations to help the story along, this just comes across as one of the best little picture books to hit the market all year. A fun, beautifully illustrated, original concept with a great idea and some top-notch writing. Nuff said.

For ages 4-8.(less)

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Nov 23, 2011 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Side of the Car is the story of a girl finally going to the zoo with her father. On the way, it starts to rain, but the girl refuses to admit that the rain is falling on her side of the car. Funny little story, made all the more so by the author’s conversation with her father, the book illustrator, at the back of the book, revealing that the incident actually happened when the author was a little girl.

“After we pass two stop signs and drive up a big hill, my dad says, ‘Sadie, what about now?...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Jordan Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a fun tale about a girl whose optimism shows on a trip to the zoo. Her father sees right away that it is pouring down rain, and that a trip to the zoo may not be a good idea for that day. The little girl knows that they have tried to go to the zoo before and something always happens that hinders their trip. She is totally set on getting to see the zoo today. Even though it is raining the whole time the girl is in the car, she doesn't realize it because her heart is so set on seeing...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Candice rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sophie

Shelves: picture-books

A two-points-of-view kind of story, or perhaps two versions of reality. Sadie and her dad are going to the zoo. They have planned this trip for a long time, and Sadie explains how and why it was cancelled several times. But today is the big exciting day! And then her dad notices it's raining. But, miracle of miracles, it's not raining on Sadie's side of the car! As they get closer to the zoo, Sadie's dad asks her if it's raining yet on her side of the car, and the answer is always no. Sadie desc...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Julia Jasztal rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mommy's review from 11/20/11 -

2.5 - What I liked most was that this is based on real events that happened when the author was a child. I wish though that the discussion between father and daughter at the end of the story would not only have been slightly longer but more in depth. Not very in depth, just a little. Just a little more than what was given which wasn't much at all.
The story was a nice one, all about a child seeing things differently than her father and for specific reasons. Julia wa...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Beth marked it as children-and-young-adult-literature

My Side of the Car reminds me of more than one failed trip to visit amusement parks, zoos, or whatever special trip was planned with my children. Sadie is very excited to be finally going to the zoo, but then the rain starts to fall. She insist that it isn't raining on her side of the car. Her optimistic thinking is contrasted by the deluge he father is driving through. Fun book to read alound and let students share their stories of family trips gone awry. This picture book would not be complete...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Nathan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 16, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picturebooks, read-aloud

My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer, illustrated by Jules Feiffer is a story based on an actual incident about a child and their insistence that a promised trip to the zoo be completed even when faced with a raging downpour.

Sadie is sure her trip to the zoo is finally here. Despite rain on her Dad's side of the car, on her side the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. This tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience should strike a chord with m...more My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer, illustrated by Jules Feiffer is a story based on an actual incident about a child and their insistence that a promised trip to the zoo be completed even when faced with a raging downpour.

Sadie is sure her trip to the zoo is finally here. Despite rain on her Dad's side of the car, on her side the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. This tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience should strike a chord with many readers.

The text has great dialog and a very child centered point of view. The repetition of the phrases "go to the zoo", "going to the zoo", and "It's not raining on my side of the car" help give this a strong cadence making it an effective read-aloud. The recounting of previous attempts to visit the zoo gains the sympathy of the reader. The loving father-daughter dynamic is wonderfully portrayed. The discussion, at the back of the book, of the actual event recounted in the story is a wonderful look at child versus adult point of view.

The illustrations done in watercolor and pencil have the trademark look of Jules Feiffer including his great ability to show expression using his chosen illustration technique. His ability to show the humor in a situation remains strong. Mr. Feiffer nails great details starting with the cover illustration showing the father's reflection of his face in his side mirror and the relection of the sun in the daughter's side mirror. I particularly enjoyed the delighted expressions of Sadie in the first picture of the story, and in the car when she realizes that they are going back to visit the zoo. The pictures of the imagined excaped tiger, and of throngs of people wearing sunglasses heading to the zoo are favorites too. The photo of father and daughter at the time of the story on the inside back jacket flap is a great touch.

This has the potential to become a favorite read for many and a classic example of father-daughter love. I recommend this for school and public library collections.

For ages 4 to 8, fathers-daughters, traveling, cars, perspective, rain, weather, zoos, patience themes, and fans of Kate Feiffer and Jules Feiffer. (less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Jonathon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

This is my final picture book review.
I'm so glad I chose this book for my last one. I was afraid my last picture book review would be a lousy read, but it was making me laugh out loud. It is a very clever book. At the end of the book the author spoke of her inspiration for the book, and it was based on true events... somewhat. If you are reading this, I won't ruin the story by telling you what happens, but I recommend you check it out.

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Jan 14, 2012 Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books, making-connections, visualizing, theme-vs-plot

I really enjoyed the message of this story. I could relate to the main character - it was raining on her dad's side of the car - but she wasn't seeing that rain no matter what because she really really really wanted to go to the zoo. I could see using this book when teaching various comprehension strategies such as making connections, visualizing, synthesizing, etc.

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May 22, 2011 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Woodbury new books

Shelves: writing-mentor-texts, likes-and-loves-2012-ccira

I don't know if kids will like this enough to nominate it for CCBA, but I'll bet teachers and parents will. This might make a personal narrative writing model, especially if you read the "Father and daughter discuss the real-life event that inspired My Side of the Car.". I'd love to be able to meet Kate and Jules Feiffer, and love the picture from the book jacket flap!

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May 16, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books, read-alouds

When daughter Sadie and her father FINALLY get to go to the zoo, Sadie won't let a little rain stop them. In fact, it's not even raining on her side of the car.

Bonus: This book was done by a father (Jules Feiffer) and daughter (Kate Feiffer) who really had this conversation when she was young. Also, Jules Feiffer's still rocking the wonderfully expressive illustrations!

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Jan 26, 2012 Lori rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture

Kate Feiffer wrote it, and her dad (Jules Feiffer) illustrated it. It's about a girl named Sadie who has wanted to go to the zoo forever, but something always gets in the way. When they finally get to go, it starts raining. Sadie protests, saying that it isn't raining on her side of the car. Fun.

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Sep 28, 2011 jacky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lib-lew, storytime, picture-books

This is a cute story about persistence. A father (I think it was a father) and daughter are going to the zoo, but it begins to rain. The little girl keeps persisting that it isn't raining on her side of the car while the father describes the downpour on his. Its funny, until they finally arrive at the zoo and the girl has to except that it is raining to hard to go in the zoo. This is a little sad, but there is a happy ending.

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Apr 29, 2013 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-list, picture-books

As I searched the collection for books with the "rainy day" theme, my co-worker Catherine mentioned this title to me. I was intrigued by it although it's more text-heavy than I usually prefer in storytime, I used it for both sessions that week and it was a big hit!

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Jun 13, 2011 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

Anyone who's spent much time riding in a car will appreciate the imagination here. Realistic book, interesting art. Little girl wants to go to the zoo. She refuses to admit that it's raining on her side of the car and perhaps they won't be able to go.

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Jun 07, 2011 Tricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

A little girl is determined to go to the zoo with her dad, but something comes up every time! Finally they are on the journey when it starts raining...or does it!? Children will delight in this title and cheer the girl on as she quests to visit the zoo.

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Jun 28, 2011 Mrs. R Rhilinger rated it 5 of 5 stars

I giggled my through this book, and so did my 7 year old. What a great story, and finding out that it really did happen made it even better! Funny how a child and an adult can have such opposite perspectives and things can end happily!

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May 26, 2011 Stefani rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-picture

Love! Daughter wants to go to the zoo, so the family tries several times and gets interrupted. But this time, they WILL go. But the rain has other plans; good thing it's not raining on HER side of the car.

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Aug 19, 2012 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cute and fun read about how a child sees things when reality ruins plans. Cute rapport between father and daughter and fun illustrations that lead to fun discussions between patents and children.

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May 11, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: watercolor, pencil, travel, weather, imagination, families, fave-2011

My favorite line: "People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car." Love the illustrations, which do NOT answer the question: Are we seeing what is ACTUALLY HAPPENING or are we seeing what Katie BELIEVES to be happening?

Also, three cheers for daddies who give their children the benefit of the doubt.

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Dec 23, 2011 katsok rated it 4 of 5 stars

I know just how Sadie feels - when you've looked forward to something for what seems like forever and something is in your way. Kids will completely relate to her story.

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Feb 13, 2012 Kyra Harwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books

A wonderful story about a converstation between a father and daughter. They have tried to go to the zoo numerous times but somethting always happens.

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Jul 12, 2012 Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2-012-in-2012, picture-book

Very cute, realistic story of a young child who never gets to her destination of the zoo because of everyday life events. Happy ending. P.K.

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Aug 24, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-book, children-s

That's real life all right! The fourth time Sadie and her dad try to go to the zoo, it is raining on Dad's side of the car. But not on Sadie's side!

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Jun 04, 2011 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-literature, picture-book, fathers-daughters, traveling, cars, rain, weather, zoos, parent-child

A cute father-daughter story based on actual events as related at the end of the story by author Kate Feiffer and illustrator dad Jules Feiffer.

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About Kate Feiffer

Kate Feiffer is the author of several children’s books, including Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman; President Pennybaker and My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, both illustrated by Diane Goode; The Problem with Puddles, illustrated by Tricia Tusa; and Henry the Dog with No tail, illustrated by her dad, Jules Feiffer. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

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