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I Like to Read

The Big Fib (I Like to Read) by Tim Hamilton

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In Tim Hamiltons humorous and heartwarming debut picture book, a boy learns the value of telling the truthand makes a new friend in the process.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read

About the author

Tim Hamilton

76 books22 followers
Tim Hamilton lives in Brooklyn, NY where he is often walking his dog and saying hi to other dogs in between saying hi to stray cats and then bandaging his hands because not all stray cats want to say hi.
His clients include: The New Yorker, The New York Times, Cicada Magazine, Dark Horse, Marvel, DC Comics, Mad Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, Lifetime, Amazon Studios, Holiday House, Fast Company Magazine and PublicAffairs.

He has written and illustrated books for young readers such as, The Big Fib, But! and Is That A Cat?

He publishes his own comic anthology, Rabbit Who Fights here: https://gumroad.com/timhamiltonrwf?so...

In 2010 
he adapted Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451″ into a graphic novel for Hill & Wang with Mr. Bradbury’s blessing. The resulting book was nominated for an Eisner award in the “Best Adaptation of Another Work” category.

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5 stars
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4 stars
14 (17%)
3 stars
29 (35%)
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25 (30%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Bruce.
1,569 reviews22 followers
December 5, 2023
After Miss Finn gets rid of a lot of cardboard boxes, her young neighbor and his blue dog use their imagination to turn these discards into a train, and then racing cars and then a jet plane. It’s all very fast and exciting! However, when Miss Finn returns all she sees is a great mess on her lawn. She shouts, “Who made this mess?” at the two playmates cowering in one of the large boxes. The boy hops out of the box and proclaims: "'The wind,' I said. But that was a big fib."

Reluctantly, and possibly suspiciously, Miss Finn begins to stack up the boxes again. But she is doing it so slowly, that the boy repents and helps her clean up and then confesses to his big fib and making the mess. For which he and his dog are rewarded with milk and cookies by Miss Finn for being truthful and helpful. Reconciliation has been made.

Simple, short text and emotive illustrations make an easy to read lesson in honesty for young beginning readers.
36 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2020
I liked the message but not how the older teacher was stereotyped with blue hair and lots of wrinkles.
Profile Image for Kristi Betts.
522 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2014
Of all of the titles I am reviewing for this emergent reader series, I have to say this is my least favorite. The vocabulary is good and so is the moral of the story. The text is easy enough for beginning readers to sound out, however picture clues will not be very helpful. I just do not like the illustrations. I am not a fan of The Simpsons and because of the elongated heads of the characters in the book I am reminded of Bart and Homer. The muted colors are also unattractive.

The story revolves around a young boy and his dog who go on imaginary adventures using discarded boxes from their neighbor Miss Finn. The fib in the title is hatched when Miss Finn asks what made the mess in her yard. While helping to clean up the mess the young boy confesses and the two become friends.

This title is recommended for first grade, but can be appropriate for children who are reading at an advanced level. It is leveled at a D based on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Level and focuses on reading standards for Literature and Foundational Skills in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for kindergarten through second grade.
Profile Image for Hilary.
2,303 reviews50 followers
May 9, 2014
“The Big Fib” is a simple “I Like to Read” book with a valuable lesson: Be truthful and you will be rewarded. Author/illustrator Tim Hamilton’s debut picture book begins with elderly Miss Finn, who is discarding some boxes. She stacks the boxes neatly in her yard. A boy and his dog find the boxes and enjoy imaginative play in which the boxes become a train, race cars, and a jet. When Miss Finn returns outside, she asks the boy how the boxes came to be such a mess. The boy blames the wind, but recants and tells the truth when he sees the senior slowly start to clean up the mess. He is rewarded with milk, cookies, and a new friend.

Hamilton’s simple line drawings are brightly colored. They are a good match for the easy lexile text. Beginning readers will easily master this story and will be proud of reading a “real” (versus a textbook primer) book. The text may also provide a springboard for discussions about truthfulness and emotions.
Profile Image for Teresa Bateman.
Author 41 books53 followers
March 1, 2014
When elderly Miss Finn gets rid of a lot of boxes, a boy and his dog see a magical opportunity for imaginative play. The boxes become a train, race cars and a jet. When Miss Finn comes outside and asks where the mess came from the boy comes up with a fib, that just keeps getting bigger. However, the boy reconsiders when his neighbor begins to clean up the mess. All ends well. This is an easy-reader with bright illustrations. It will be a good choice for those just learning to read.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,168 reviews15 followers
April 10, 2014
I like these new Holiday House "I Like to Read" books. They're simple easy readers with fun stories... in a slightly larger format than most easy-to-read books. This makes them more accessible for group sharing!
Profile Image for Robin.
4,340 reviews6 followers
June 7, 2014
Not particularly engaging or interesting. The illustrations are kinds ugly.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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