Hooray for the Golly Sisters!

The Golly Sisters

by Betsy Byars, Sue Truesdell (Illustrator)

In continued adventures, May-May and Rose take their traveling road show to more audiences.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor, Adventure, Chapter Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!

Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.

Reviews

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was wonderful book for students beginning to read. It was kind of all over the place though!

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children, who have suddenly turned into little speed reading demons, loved the stories in this book and they even asked for more Golly sisters adventures! The illustrations also add so much to the reading experience. XOXOXOs to the author, Betsy Byars, and to the illustrator, Sue Truesdell:)

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some funny moments. The dialogue is a little repetitive so might not be appreciated by all readers.

Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades

Cleanliness: The sisters' last name is "Golly." The sisters attempt a magic show.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and adorable, even if it's a bit outdated. =)

[Jessica Homeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously fun!

[Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

our favorite story in this one is "Hooray for the Golly Sisters!"

[Blair Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy-to-read Books:

The book follows a pair of sisters, May May and Rose, who travel from town to town in a horse drawn buggy to perform their variety show at each stop they make. The two sisters are extremely goofy and do silly things in each story making it fun and light hearted in nature, which is ideal for children. I feel that the book is not really meant to be informational, but it's main purpose is for enjoyment. This simple fact makes it a great starter book for children who are just beginning to read on their own. The illustrations prove this point as they show the sisters and the silly things that they do through out the pages. The book set up in chapters where each one is it's own separate mini story about their journey. The chapters as small and easily read, which would bring a sense of achievement and self confidence to a child as they sharpen their literary skills. The text is also large making is easily visible and their are illustration on each page which clearly go along with the words that surround them. This characteristic also makes it an ideal pick for beginner readers since the pictures could help a child along if they were not entirely sure what the words on the page said, sort of like a clue to a puzzle.

[Joshua Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray for the Golly Sisters is a good book for kids in the first or second grade who are just learning how to read well enough to be able to do it on their own. This book uses simple, short words that make up very short sentences. Not that young children would know what this is, but Betsy Byars also uses onomatopoeia's, like "Thud!", which I think is a good element to use in an easy to read book. The book is fun and would be entertaining for a child reading by his/herself. It is about two sisters who travel and put on a show. We see a failed attempt in a magic act done by May-May to make pigs disappear, we are with them on their journey through a swamp, and Rose practicing her routine on a high wire before a show only to realize that she had better not do this during the actual show. The illustrations are appropriate for the age group and offer support to the text to help the story flow. Like I said before, this would be a book I would highly recommend as an easy to read for children just starting to read on their own.

[Inhabiting Books]

We discovered the Golly Sisters books by Betsy Byars at our local library. And we've checked them out a LOT! Written in the 1980's and early 1990's, these books are a delight.

Meet the Golly Sisters: two singing, dancing, thoroughly lovable, slightly dim-witted sisters traveling west in their covered wagon, who love putting on shows for people in the towns they pass through. They get into one misadventure after another.

I think the antics of the two sisters really resonates with my girls, because it reflects the rivalry and love that real sisters have. And Sue Truesdell's whimsical, funny illustrations fit the text perfectly. These books make my six year old laugh out loud and come running to share passages and even whole chapters with me.

They are great fun for reading aloud to your non-readers, too.

[Lindsay Garber]

1. Personal Reaction: Betsy Byars and Sue Truesdell create the perfect transitional book for children! They include bright pictures and some dialogue on each page, which is the perfect transitional book. Children will feel confident when they read this book because it includes chapters as well as dialogue.
2. Purposes/Use in the classroom:
-Read aloud to make a curricular connection: Teachers can read this aloud to children to introduce short chapter books and transitional books.
-Independent reading: 1st-3rd grade; This book is appropriate for children who are transitioning between beginning-to-read books and chapter books.
-Literary elements: This book can be used to teach characterization and plot. The teacher can refer to the pictures in the book to show the characters’ expressions as well as the setting and plot of the story.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book with five short stories about the Golly Sisters. These are silly, but fun tales and they are short enough for young readers, but interesting enough to read aloud.

I love how adventurous and independent they are, good role models for girls. Our girls love them too.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like the sisters were noodleheads but they were funny. They go into town and put on a show. They are optimistic about what they do and it makes the reader happy as well. There is a lot of dialogue so the reader gets to see more of the character in how they talk and think.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is so funny.

The ladies to me are so... Not smart. They are funny though. I liked the book and I thought it would be a good book for kids who are starting to read into chapter books, it's not too hard and it can be a beginner's chapter book.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these silly little books. I loved them as children as well. There's a tone to them that is so funny, and the subject matter -- two dopey sisters who travel around performing in the olden days -- seems really unique and fun.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems reasonable to me that a high-wire act on the ground would be a lot safer....

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book was a little ridiculous. It was intentionally basic, but I felt like the story line did not follow through very well. It was jumpy and did not really resolve anything.

[Paige Albright Vanderpool]

This was really cute and the sisters got themselves into lots of funny situations. I liked the funny clever things they would say and I enjoyed their relationship.

[Alnora]

This book was soooo funny. It kind of reminded me of some of the fun adventures my sister and I have had. I actually want to get her a copy as a fun gift.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much for a 2.5 year old.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister and I read this book as younger sisters and loved it... we would play the Golly sisters. Kids will love how silly they are.

[Stephanie Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter really enjoyed this book (she's 8), she even giggled during some of the silly points, I will say that I do think this is geared towards younger children, but they are cute stories.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky pair with adventures just as quirky

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Julia.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

May-May and Rose, the Golly Sisters, are still headed west with their traveling road show. They cross a big river, perform a magic act without rabbits, pass through a swamp, revise their high wire act, and promote themselves after a show. Silly fun!