What do you think?
Rate this book
Tooter Pepperday
A charming rural romp chapter book from Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli. And don't miss the author's highly anticipated new middle grade novel, Dead Wednesday !
The Pepperday family is moving to Aunt Sally’s farm. Mr. Pepperday, Mrs. Pepperday, and Chuckie Pepperday are happy as hogs in slop. But Tooter Pepperday is not. There’s no cable TV, no playground, and she’s gone three days without pizza! What does a girl have to do to show her family she’ll never get used to life on the farm?
The Pepperday family is moving to Aunt Sally’s farm. Mr. Pepperday, Mrs. Pepperday, and Chuckie Pepperday are happy as hogs in slop. But Tooter Pepperday is not. There’s no cable TV, no playground, and she’s gone three days without pizza! What does a girl have to do to show her family she’ll never get used to life on the farm?
- GenresChildrens
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
14 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Spinelli
113 books4,015 followersWhen Jerry Spinelli was a kid, he wanted to grow up to be either a cowboy or a baseball player. Lucky for us he became a writer instead.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 25, 2019
So that Dad can pursue his dream of being an author, Tooter's family moves to Aunt Sally's farm. In protest, Tooter spends most of the book behaving like a brat. This might be an interesting lesson in the farm-to-table process for urban kids, but there are plenty of better books to read out there.
Why did I read it?
Because this is the only book cover I've ever seen that features a child stepping in goat poo.
Yep, I am easily amused . . .
Why did I read it?
Because this is the only book cover I've ever seen that features a child stepping in goat poo.
Yep, I am easily amused . . .
Read
November 28, 2016RL: 2.9
Lexile: 525
Fountas & Pinnell: N
The story starts with Tooter Pepperday handcuffed to the bathroom sink. Her family is moving to her Aunt Sally's farm and she refuses to go. She loves her life in the city and can't imagine how she can live without McDonalds, her friends, and other city-life amenities. As the family gets to the car to leave Tooter threatens the silent treatment which lasts until they get to the farm and are having supper at Aunt Sally's. Tooter's adventures on the farm are enlarged due to her reaction to them. This is a cute book about a young girl discovering who she really is.
Classroom Use:
Point of View: I live in a farming community and reading the book to students would help them see how outsiders see farming.
Attitudes and Learning: Tooter made sure that everyone knew she was not going to be a farm girl. Her younger brother loved the adventure. Embracing new things is a part of life and how you approach new things makes a huge difference.
Mentor Writing Traits:
Voice: The first chapter title sets the tone for Tooter; Never! Tooter's attitude comes through loud and clear and when she starts to change her attitude the writing changes.
Word Choice: Aunt Sally has a unique set of words that she uses. Tooter asks her about why she uses words like critter, reckon, yonder, and the phrase hog in slop.
Conventions: Tooter lists all of the things she will miss about Morgantown in a series of sentence fragments. You can just hear the pouting voice come through because of the structure.
Lexile: 525
Fountas & Pinnell: N
The story starts with Tooter Pepperday handcuffed to the bathroom sink. Her family is moving to her Aunt Sally's farm and she refuses to go. She loves her life in the city and can't imagine how she can live without McDonalds, her friends, and other city-life amenities. As the family gets to the car to leave Tooter threatens the silent treatment which lasts until they get to the farm and are having supper at Aunt Sally's. Tooter's adventures on the farm are enlarged due to her reaction to them. This is a cute book about a young girl discovering who she really is.
Classroom Use:
Point of View: I live in a farming community and reading the book to students would help them see how outsiders see farming.
Attitudes and Learning: Tooter made sure that everyone knew she was not going to be a farm girl. Her younger brother loved the adventure. Embracing new things is a part of life and how you approach new things makes a huge difference.
Mentor Writing Traits:
Voice: The first chapter title sets the tone for Tooter; Never! Tooter's attitude comes through loud and clear and when she starts to change her attitude the writing changes.
Word Choice: Aunt Sally has a unique set of words that she uses. Tooter asks her about why she uses words like critter, reckon, yonder, and the phrase hog in slop.
Conventions: Tooter lists all of the things she will miss about Morgantown in a series of sentence fragments. You can just hear the pouting voice come through because of the structure.
April 3, 2018
Tooter isn't happy she has to move to a farm because her father wants to write a book and while he is writing they don't have much money. Everyone is as happy as a pig in slop except Tooter. It's a funny book and has a happy ending.
Read
May 29, 2025rereading my childhood bookshelf
this one was fine. i think this is the book that taught me about queen anne's lace
this one was fine. i think this is the book that taught me about queen anne's lace
September 28, 2010
Reading with Michelle... She makes me laugh because somebody at school told her a little about the movie Chuckie and Tooter's little brother is Chuckie. She insists on calling him Chuck now so it doesn't scare her...not that the book is at all scary. Cute beginning chapter book so far.
Cute, easy read for 2nd/3rd graders. Tooter is spunky and has a terrible attitude about living on her aunt's farm. That is until her aunt "punishes" her by taking her on a tour and telling her to look for a couple of things. Suddenly, Tooter feels like 2 people (who can't relate to that?)... one who hates the farm and one who kind of likes it but doesn't want to admit it.
Cute, easy read for 2nd/3rd graders. Tooter is spunky and has a terrible attitude about living on her aunt's farm. That is until her aunt "punishes" her by taking her on a tour and telling her to look for a couple of things. Suddenly, Tooter feels like 2 people (who can't relate to that?)... one who hates the farm and one who kind of likes it but doesn't want to admit it.
October 7, 2015
An adorable book that is sure to bring some giggles to each reader. In this book Tooter Pepperday and her family are moving from their suburban lifestyle to Aunt Sally's farm. Tooter has a hard time dealing with no McDonalds and no television.
This would be great to use in a classroom to have your students see that there isn't always a right way to do things in your life. Especially, that technology isn't always so important.
This would be great to use in a classroom to have your students see that there isn't always a right way to do things in your life. Especially, that technology isn't always so important.
July 18, 2019
I give this book two and a half stars.
Tooter Pepperday is written with the same sweet touch as all of Jerry Spinelli's literary offerings, only slightly muted by the brevity of this book. Readers may or may not identify with Tooter's specific adventures, but her feelings are universal, and this makes Tooter Pepperday a revealing, worthwhile story for anybody.
Tooter Pepperday is written with the same sweet touch as all of Jerry Spinelli's literary offerings, only slightly muted by the brevity of this book. Readers may or may not identify with Tooter's specific adventures, but her feelings are universal, and this makes Tooter Pepperday a revealing, worthwhile story for anybody.
April 29, 2011
I thought this was a very cute chapter book. Not everyone can identify with the story line itself, but anyone can identify with the feeling of doing something that you don't want to do. I would recommend this book for second or third grade.
June 26, 2012
It kept my kids' attention which makes for a good book in my opinion. The one complaint my 6 year old had was that it is labeled as a humorous book (there is a comedy mask in the upper right hand corner of the cover), but she thought that Tooter was too grouchy for the book to be funny.
September 13, 2013
Tooter annoyed me for the most part, until the end of the book. I was happy to see the change in her as she comes to accept (somewhat) farm life. But she's hard to get used to. I think perhaps I'll try the second book and see if she continues to grow on me.
September 28, 2014
I really did not enjoy this book, but my 3rd graders are really liking it. I love Jerry Spinelli, but I think this beginning chapter book level takes away his ability to use the writing style I so appreciate of his books for older children.
Read
May 4, 2011I read this book in school, but I really need to read it again. Jerry Spinelli is an AWESOME author!!!
July 16, 2011
Great read, I enjoyed how Tooter changed her mind about living on the farm.
June 17, 2012
This story is a great read for struggling readers. I read it with a 3rd grader and she loved it. Great confidence booster for srugglers. Read the next story for more laughs.
May 29, 2017
Just one more of the many books I never grow tired of reading to my students! Tooter learns that change is hard, but given some time, you can become "a hog in slop".
October 23, 2015
A great Short Jerry Spinelli book for readers who want to read this author but need a shorter book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews