Not Me!

I Like to Read

by Valeri Gorbachev

Bear likes going to the beach, but Chipmunk says "Not me!" in this Guided Reading Level D story, perfect for beginning readers.

Summer is here, and Bear and Chipmunk are headed to the beach. Bear likes the sun, and the sand, and swimming.  But Chipmunk doesn't. The sun is too bright, the waves are so big, and the big fish are scary when you're so small!

Full of humor, Valeri Gorbachev's colorful illustrations add detail and help support understanding of the text—and they're sure to make young readers laugh, as Bear floats serenely past Chipmunk, who's stuck upside-down in a float. 

"Why did you come?" asks Bear finally, as Chipmunk tries to help collect their things. "I came to be with you," replies Chipmunk. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you're doing—as long as you're with your friends!

Bear and Chipmunk enjoy winter weather, too, in Me Too! , another I Like to Read® book.
The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards.  Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!

Suitable for late kindergarten readers, Level D books feature wider vocabulary, longer sentences, and greater variety in sentence structure than levels A, B, and C.  When Level D is mastered, follow up with Level E.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Storytime, Humor, Animals

24 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

(from harpercollins.com)

Reviews

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear and Chipmunk are spending a day at the beach, and having quite different experiences. Bear is having the time of his life. Chipmunk, however, is not doing so well. Beginning readers will grin as they see the contrast between the two experiences. Why did Chipmunk go at all? Because Bear is his friend, of course! Detailed enthusiastic illustrations accompany the simple text.

[Emily Rella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story teaches a great lesson at a keen point of development. Not Me! teaches that although a situation may not be ideal to you, its important to do things your friends enjoy strictly for there company. It exemplifies this by using a bear and a chipmunk and there day at the beach. They then discover there differences when bear loves all the activities and chipmunk does not. Moral of the story being selflessness.

[Celinda Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for little ones who are just starting to read. It flows in a way the promotes independence on reading as they can "predict" the words they don't know yet. My 5-year-old PreK child read it all by herself today, right after reading the previous one "Me too" by the same author.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an easy reader book this is super sweet. It tells a fun story and develops two great characters and their relationship all with simple words that an new reader can handle.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuine humor and interesting characters in a very-early-reader! Loved the predictability of the text paired with the dynamic illustrations. Highly recommended for ages 4-7.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

February 2020 - a good level of difficulty for Ben (lots of repetition and then more complicated sentences) but not one he came back to.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an F&G of this book at an ALA conference.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oso le gusta la playa, pero su amigo Ardilla no lo hace.

Bear likes the beach, but his friend Chipmunk does not.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple enough text that my 5yo could read it with help. A nice story of a friend doing things he'd rather not do just to spend time with his friend.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toddlers and school-age

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute for a storytime- lots of repetition and humor with a heartwarming ending.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say, the pictures entirely make this book. Without the detailed pictures, the narrative would be very, very flat.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorbachev, Valeri. Not Me!, PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2016. $14.95.

Bear and Chipmunk go to the beach together to spend the day. Bear loves everything about it. The sun, the sand, the swimming, the fish. Chipmunk does not like the beach. He doesn’t like anything about it. When Bear asks Chipmunk why he came when he dislikes it so much, Chipmunk tells him it was to spend the day with him.

This is an easy reader book. It’s a little lengthy in terms of having to read about how many things the chipmunk doesn’t like, but once you get to the end it’s very sweet. The pictures are a little distracting and I had a difficult time finding the chipmunk quickly enough in some of them, which you need to do to see the chipmunk and bear experiences side by side.

PRE-K, K-3- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really simple text, (repetitive text,) which will help early readers read this one independently (or aloud to an adult), but great message at the end. Definitely one I could use for the message it sends about doing the preferred activity of someone else (and putting your agenda on hold- huge for kids on the spectrum, as well as typically developing kids as well!) I would just make sure to stress that IF you are focusing on a peer's preferred topic (whether in conversation or in activity) it's also important to not complain/comment on it the whole time! How would that make that person feel?!

Definitely makes this one a good conversation starter for my groups. If the kids can get past the simple text!

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear and Chipmunk are good friends having a day at the beach. Bear likes the sun but not Chipmunk. Bear likes to cool off in the water but not Chipmunk. Bear likes to play with a beach ball but not Chipmunk. Bear hopes to see a big fish but not Chipmunk. Bear had fun at the beach but for Chipmunk everything that could go wrong for him did. On the way home Bear asked why Chipmunk went to the beach if he didn’t like the beach? What do you think Chipmunk said?

Author Valerie Gorbachev has created a lively story of friendship and sacrifice. Action packed colorful illustrations make this story a fun read. Parents and teachers can use this as a guide to discuss trying new things and the value of friendship. Beginner readers will find easy sentence structure with fun interactive words.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the things we do for our friends--or in the name of friendship! As Bear extols the pleasures of spending time at the beach, his poor friend Chipmunk expresses his displeasure. In the end, as the simple text and light-filled watercolor and ink illustrations reveal, it isn't the beach that has any allure for Chipmunk. The appeal comes from spending time with his good friend, Bear. This simple picture book contains a great lesson for youngsters about not always getting their way and sometimes having to sacrifice in order to be with a friend. Then again, it might have been a good idea for Chipmunk to suggest some activities he might have liked to do during their outing.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS:
I am in love with Chipmunk and Bear...just look at this cover! Can you not see the fun they have together! I have reviewed the book ME TOO in a previous round-up and fell in love instantly with these two unlikely friends. In NOT ME, the two friends try to find things that they can do together at the beach but Chipmunk is not a fan of the things Bear loves. For some, this could be the end of a friendship, but as Bear finds out it is what makes them the greatest of friends. Told in simple dialogue and accompanied by vibrant and delightful illustrations, NOT ME is a book about friendship and love. 5 huge stars

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was getting annoyed by the repetitiveness of the story, especially because I kept thinking "Chipmunk, if you hate it so much, why are you there?" And much to my surprise, the story answered that question and made everything all right.
Overall, I'm, really enjoying the I Like to Read beginning readers. They're often funny or clever.

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute early reader about friendship. Poor chipmunk doesn't like anything about the beach, but his friend bear does. Even though chipmunk is a complaining companion, he is still willing to sacrifice discomfort just to be with bear. "You are a good friend," said bear. "That's me!" said Chipmunk.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off slow, and was repetitive, but the ending was very touching. The book shows that true friendship requires compromise, doing something that one person may not like to do but another does. True friendship is knowing each others differences and respecting them.

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[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute friendship story with great illustrations

[Awjtf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good design, good repetition and fun illustration make this a good book to share with beginning readers

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chipmunk doesn't seem to like anything about the beach. Why did he agree to go with bear? The answer is an affirmation of the things we do for a good friend.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan summer reading 2016, children's book, picture book, easy reader, first grade, beach, friends,

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's aimed at beginning readers, and it is a funny, sweet story about friendship. A picture book for grades PK-2 (but I enjoyed it too). Would make a good read aloud.