Russ and the Almost Perfect Day

by Janet Elizabeth Rickert, Pete McGahan (Photographer)

Russ, a student with Down syndrome, is having a perfect day until he realizes that the five-dollar bill he has found probably belongs to a classmate.

Genres: Picture Books, Realistic Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Paige Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russ and the almost perfect day is a picture book that tells the story of a in the life of Russ. Russ a child with a disability, more specifically down syndrome. At the beginning of his day he eats breakfast with his mom, and then heads off to school. On his way to school walking with a friend Russ finds a five dollar bill. He picks it up and his friend tells him to keep it, using the logic "finder's keepers". They find their way to school, and when it is lunch time they try to use the money they have found on ice cream! Then Russ here's a girl crying, talking to a teacher about how she must have dropped her money on the way to school. Deciding whether or not he should give the money to the girl, he decides it's the right thing to do. Russ returns the money to the girl, and is then celebrated for his act of honesty.

This is a realistic fiction book. Russ and the almost perfect day is most definitely an age appropriate story for kindergarten and first graders. The pictures in the book add a realistic feel, rather than using hand-drawn illustrations. Russ has down syndrome, but he is still a child that goes through the process of choosing right and wrong like any kid. This particular book was not written by an insider, but I am happy to see that the illustrations are pictures of real people. There is a conflict and a resolution to the plot which makes this story rich. The book does not offer very different cultural groups, and the main character is the only person who identifies as having a disability in the book. However, I believe that since Russ has friends that do not have disabilities this adds diversity. It shows children that Russ is just like any other child, and has many different kinds of people as friends.

[Yissel Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book to read and to look at. The pictures are not drawn, but they are all photographs with thought bubbles by some people. Since this is a disability book I would of liked that they would of mention what type of disability Russ had, so that kids can know that even children with a disability look, think, and act just like them. I like this book because it teaches a lesson to children and that is to be caring, friendly and helpful. Russ had found a five dollar bill that he wanted to use to buy some ice cream for his friend and himself, but at lunch when it was time to buy the ice cream he heard a little girl crying, saying that she had lost her five dollar bill that she was going to use to buy lunch. When Russ heard the little girl he did the right thing and gave the money to the little girl who was crying. This book is easy to understand and read. I think that kids will like looking at the photographs.

[Jawde Mayorga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the life of a boy with down syndrome, showing that he has a normal life. He has a lot of friends, he goes to school. One day he found 5 dollars and he decide to keep it and the he realizes that a girls has lost 5 dollars and he decided to give it back and demonstrate honesty.

The major theme of the book is that a boy with a Down syndrome can have a normal life.

I really liked this book it is very cute and easy to understand. I recommend this book because it creates awareness of different disabilities and how they can have a normal life.

[George Ginnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I enjoyed reading as Russ, who is a boy with down syndrome, has a great day and makes a tough but correct decision. Russ’s great day begins with mom making smores and finding five dollars while walking to school with his friend. At lunch time planned on buying ice cream with the five dollars that found but he overheard a young crying that she had lost five dollars on her way to school. Russ does the right thing and gives the money back to the young girl. I absolutely love books with lessons for young people, which is why I highly recommend this one. Good read for young ones!!!

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of things go right for Russ as he gets ready for school, participates in classes, and even finds five dollars. He's looking forward to buying ice cream for himself and his best friend when he realizes he doesn't really believe in the "finders keepers losers weepers" rule when someone is actually crying.

This is a fun story with a solid plot. I was hoping it would get a little more into how Russ navigates life with Down syndrome, but I appreciate that this book is pointing out that Russ is pretty much like any other kid.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

a. I really enjoyed this book. The book follows a young boy named Russ. Russ has Down syndrome. Russ is having a great day when he finds 5 dollars on the ground. He plans to buy ice cream for himself and his friend Kevin with the money. At lunch, Russ sees a girl crying who lost her lunch money. Will Russ return the lost money?
b. The theme of this book is honesty. Even though Russ did not want to give the girl her money back, he knew it was the right thing to do.
c. This would be a great book to read when discussing issues like honesty or disabilities. Russ' day at school is just like any other kid, so this would be good to show other kids. Also, the book has photographs of Russ at school, so the kids would probably like to see real people instead of illustrations. You could have the kids take pictures throughout their school day and put them together in a book just like this one. This would be a good way to see how all kids have different experiences in the same school.

[Kelsi Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book about how a little boy with down syndrome finds five dollars and it makes his day even better. At lunch he notices one of his friends is crying because she lost money and he gave the money he found to his friend.

[Marissa Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem of a children's book with fun pictures, a thoughtful moral-dilemma plot, and a protagonist who just happens to have Down's Syndrome.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about a boy, Russ, who has down syndrome. The book doesn't really focus on his down syndrome as much as it focuses on doing the right thing.

[Ariel Rudicel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute way to show how everyone has bad days!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent book on how we can fit in, even if we have a disability.