Imogene's Antlers

Imogene #1

by David Small

First Scholastic printing 1988, Paperback by David Small, A READING RAINBOW FEATURED SELECTION, A PARENT'S CHOICE AWARD BOOK FOR LITERATURE. This copy is brand new and has never been used. "How would you feel if you woke up and found that you had grown antlers during the night? That is what happened to Imogene... and nothing's been the same since!"

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Storytime, Christmas

27 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful whimsical wistful story. I simply adore this book and I see it was a Reading Rainbow book as well. I wonder if I read this as a kid. I think I did, but I’m not sure. What a premise; one day, out of the blue, Imogene wakes up with a large rack of antlers on her head. She deals with it really well, but what I love is how the people around her deal with it. The maid has her sit down next to the stove to dry out all the towels draped over her antlers. Cracks me up. The cook loads up the antlers with donuts to go out and feed the birds. Her mother keeps fainting and then calls a milliner to create a hat for her. It looks like a giant seashell that Aphrodite would come out of the ocean in. I just love it all. The best is the next day she wakes up normal, without antlers, but then we find she has grown something else. It’s wonderful.

The thing I find especially interesting about this is that Imogene is a little girl growing antlers which male animals would have. Obviously, that doesn’t matter, but it is interesting. This book lifted my spirits and I want to own this TREASURE. I think it’s about seeing the world through different perspectives. One day, you can't be the same old person you were, you stand out and what can you learn.

The nephew loved this book. He wondered if its really possible to wake up with that. He would boss everyone around and get his way, he said, if he had that. Scary. We laughed enough to get the niece interested and she read this on her own. The nephew gave this 5 stars with me and the niece gave this 4 stars.

[Maggie Stiefvater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this is far from a new book, but it's not a bit dated. I remembered reading and loving the humorous and charmingly illustrated story when I was a new reader, and now, twenty-two years later, my four-year-old has decided it's her new favorite book. Just a touch of the extraordinary presented in a very matter-of-fact, non-scary way.

***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can't believe I just said "hearty." It sounds like a stew.***

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

"On Thursday, when Imogene woke up, she found she had grown antlers. Getting dressed was difficult, and going through a door now took some thinking..." And so begins this delightfully comic picture-book masterpiece from David Small, first published in 1985, and featured in that classic children's television program, Reading Rainbow. Imogene navigates her house and her day, meeting each new challenge created by her unusual appendages with aplomb, and enjoying some of the unexpected benefits - like being a walking bird-feeder! - that they provide. When Friday comes, the antlers have disappeared... but a new surprise is in store!

I have loved Imogene's Antlers from the day I first picked it up, while working in the children's section of a bookstore as a young woman (somehow I missed it, as a little girl), and always get a kick out of the dry, understated humor of David Small's narrative and artwork. The image in which Imogene gets caught on the chandelier, after sliding down the bannisters, is just hilarious! Rereading it today on my morning commute, I shared it with a new mother, who (naturally) found it adorable, but also commented: "Imogene has lots of servants!" Which is quite true, and something I'd not noticed before. But while some of the details of setting and character here are rather old-fashioned - Imogene's mother is constantly fainting, the doctor makes house-calls, the concerned family call in a milliner(!) - the end-result feels fresh and contemporary, for all that. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a little bit of absurdist humor in their picture-books!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Small's affectingly sad memoir Stitches and had never read any of his children's illustrated books so when this one caught my eye at the library I thought I'd take a closer look at it and bring it home for the kids. This is my kind of kid book, with an edge to it, quirky, strange. A girl wakes up in the morning with elk antlers. What problems does that cause? Made me think of Sweet Tooth, that Jeff Lemire dystopian comic series, where the main kid has antlers… the comparison ends there, though! :)

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why everyone adores this book, it was just kinda silly to me. But kids seem to love it. Considering how old this book is, the great part about it is how it feels current. It isn't dated at all.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today was the first time I'd ever read this book (and the second and third too). The boys thought is was "so funny". For some reason they think fainting is the height of humor and thought it was hilarious that the mom faints three times in the book. The illustrations are fantastic and the story is fun. They had a great time making up all the things that would happen to her in the following days. The best one was "nacho ears with salsa dripping from them....but it would hurt if someone tried to eat them."

A great little book to read with your littles. But even my bigs liked it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because its ridiculous plot teaches a valuable lesson, which makes both the story and its theme more memorable for all who read it. Imogene's Antlers has a simple message: everyone is different, but even the things that people think are "weird" about you can be useful. If Imogene can use her antlers to help out around the house, then children can learn to be proud of the traits that make them unique and can positively impact themselves and others. The illustrations in this book are very beautifully drawn, and they convey the emotion of every character on every page without the author having to tell you how they felt. From the chaotic, childlike harmlessness of Imogene and her brother, to the distraught attitude of her parents and her principal, to the delight of the maids, and even the sneaky nature of the cat who wanted to steal the doctor's sucker, the detailed expressions add a level of depth of understanding in regard to the character's emotions. Although it would be nearly impossible to forget about Imogene's impressive set of antlers, the ending of this book is even more impressive when Imogene wakes up with peacock feathers! This is a great source for parents and teachers to help children practice making predictions or telling stories, as you could ask readers to predict what happens after she grows her feathers. Overall, I enjoyed this silly, simple plot, and the youthful illustrations, as they provide for a good read and an even better message!

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd heard of this book before I picked it up. Not surprising, given that it's been around for over 35 years now.

Imogene's Antlers is a cute story about a little girl who wakes up one Thursday morning to find that she has antlers. This takes some getting used to, and everybody has their own reaction. Some are helpful (the kitchen staff turn her into a giant birdfeeder) while others... not so much (her mother just continually faints). Imogene herself doesn't seem too upset by her new accessories, and goes to bed that night seemingly content. When she wakes on Friday, her antlers are gone. But are her problems?

The illustrations are quite cute, showing the little girl and her family try to deal with her giant antlers. While I wasn't crazy about the mother being depicted as a stereotypical fainting woman, the historical setting makes it not quite as offensive. I also appreciated the author's note in the edition I read, which tells us how he came up with the idea for Imogene and her strange problem.

This is charming and funny, and should appeal to most readers who like a touch of fantasy in their picture books. Give this one a look if you haven't already done so.

Quotable moment:

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is great fun! Please, please add it to your list if you haven't read it with your kiddos yet! You'll be so glad you did. It's a wonderful childhood favorite. And it's one of the books I remember being featured on Reading Rainbow... happy sigh.

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book used to just scare me into oblivion when I was a little girl. I always imagined that I could wake up with antlers or horns like a goat and ram. This story is so nostalgic now and I simply must read it to the little ones to terrify them and give them happy memories.

[Cheryl Rainfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a funny, laugh-out-loud picture book? Check out Imogene’s Antlers by David Small. It is SO funny, and has beautiful illustrations! It’s written and illustrated by David Small.

The story goes into fantasy–a little girl, Imogene, wakes up one morning with antlers. At first she encounters some problems (getting dressed, getting out the door), but then she also discovers some fun–hanging donuts off the antlers, feeding birds that way, having her mother faint. Imogene clearly enjoys her new experience. I think kids will delight in the adults’ reactions–her mother fainting away (twice), the principal getting bugged, the doctor unable to find anything wrong.

The text is beautiful–just enough to tell the story, but not overdoing it. Short sentences that tell us so much. I wish more writers wrote like this. And the illustrations! They are gorgeous–so full of life, light-hearted and happy, fun and funny.

Read my entire review here:
http://cherylrainfield.com/blog/index...

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful having Kiersten read this one. And the idea...I loved it.

5/11/10 & 5/13/10 This was a PERFECT read for preschool storytime. I don't know how I'd forgotten it before now. It was excellent on Tue. because the length and story were better choices than the other 2 I had picked. Thu. group was rather low-key, but I think they still liked seeing this girl with antlers.

4/11/12 My opener of "That's Silly" theme, this definitely set the tone. I tend to have a younger preschool crowd, so some of the words in this were unfamiliar. I explained a couple. Two older girls helped get the crowd into the book. Adults definitely enjoyed it. Everyone loved the end.

2/19/14: Part of my "That's Crazy" theme. Kids loved it, especially the doughnuts part. They also loved the ending.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this story is pretty cute. It's simple and just plain odd. I can imagine a kid would get a kick out of it. It is a picture book, so of course there is no in depth explanation of how she got antlers. But as an adult, you've got to wonder how it happened and could it all be in her imagination or a dream?

[Elevetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a blast from the past!! I saw this off on the side of recommendations, but I hadn't thought about it in years. I need a re-read for a proper rating and review, but I do remember this fondly.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogene wakes up one day having sprouted antlers, which seems to be a problem for everyone but Imogene.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enormous antler's can be a problem. Fortunately, her family doesn't shoot her and mount her head over the fireplace.

[Mackenzie]

Imogene's Antlers, by David Small

This book is about a girl who wakes up with antlers on her head. Her whole family is in dismay as the see her walking down for breakfast. They try and cover the antlers up, but find it is impossible. Then, others around her find good use of her antlers, and make the best out of them. When the girl goes to bed, she wakes up without the antlers. Her family is excited, but then, to their surprise, she has peacock feathers behind her!

This children's book has a hidden message. I think under the funniness the book offers, it shows that it's okay to be different, and even if people don't accept you at first, others will find your strengths that you have about yourself! This story is good for all ages, but probably more so for the younger grades. It will definitely keep them entertained as the book does a great job with its use of words and illustrations. The pictures go hand in hand with the content, and there is plenty of detail.

This book doesn't really have any cultural diversity, the characters within this story are white. From the pictures though, it looks like the little girl comes from an upper class family with a nice home, hence why her family tries to cover her antlers up.

[Cecilia Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly delightful flight of whimsy.

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is easier when you make the most of what you've got.

This girl named Imogene wakes up, finding that she has grown these massive antlers. Every time her mom sees her, she basically faints. They have the doctor come look at her, which, you know, is a reasonable thing. The first part of the story is basically the family trying to figure out why it happened. Her brother says, according to the encyclopedia, that she has turned into a rare form of miniature elk, which causes the mother to faint again.

Then people find utilitarian things to do with her antlers. It's kind of cool. Her mother declares that they have to get a hat to hide her antlers under. They get a milliner to come by who makes a hat immediately, just a giant bonnet that covers her antlers, and her mother hates it. Then Imogene goes to sleep, and the next day she wakes up without antlers, but she's got a peacock tail.

I think this book's message is, "Embrace differences." Basically, her mother is the only one that's got a problem with it (well, and the school principal, who is shown as glaring at her but having no advice to offer). It's like, so what if she's got antlers on her head? She just takes it like a champ, just keeps going and finds all kinds of cool things to do with her condition. She has her piano lessons where she's got her antlers bedecked in candles. It's great, and she looks pretty happy with her peacock tail at the end, too. It doesn't seem to be a metaphor for self-expression, but she is never shown as being upset that she has antlers. She either just takes it in stride or is completely thrilled about the whole situation, which is great. Only her mother is upset, everybody else is just kind of there watching this unfold. And the illustrations are great, too, with the other characters coming up with ideas like putting donuts all over her antlers and sending her out into the garden to feed the birds. There's a lovely picture of her covered in doughnuts and birds of all different kinds sitting on a bench outside. The book is basically saying, "Some people are different than other people and it's okay. You don't have to be upset that you don't fit in."

It's just wonderful to see somebody being happy with their differences rather than being upset like so many other books. So much of reality is people being told, "You can't do that" or "You can't be that way," and this girl is just like, "I am that way, so deal with it. This is who I am now, and I'm proud of it."

Message: Differences are something that can be celebrated.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Annie Baucke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great to use in a kindergarten classroom for a number of reasons. The first reason involves the simple sentences that the author uses. Not only are they short, they also include vocabulary that students in this age group could easily comprehend. Another reason covers the author’s creatively humorous drawings that readers of all ages can enjoy. At this age level, reading can be difficult for many children. With the detailed pictures, children can visualize what the words are saying, helping them pair the narrative with the images. My final reason for including this book in a kindergarten classroom is the lesson that this story provides to its readers. This book will teach students that being different is okay and that they need to celebrate those differences instead of look down upon them. A fun activity to do with students would involve asking them what they would do if they woke up with antlers, have them write down their answer and then complete it with a drawing.

[Antoinette Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, humorous, and well-illustrated book about a girl named Imogene who wakes up to find that she has grown antlers. Due to her antlers, everyday jobs become quite a challenge for her. This is a great story to teach about differences in individuals and how you shouldn't take those differences for granted. This is a very magical and inspiring story with quirky adventures that children would really enjoy.
Although this book is considered to be a classic, I personally believe that every child and adult would really love this book. The illustrations are expressive and colorful and present the story very well. With its silliness, this would make for a really good book within classrooms to teach about accepting differences or just reading out loud for a good laugh. Not to mention the crazy twist that comes up towards the end of the story, which could create quite a discussion among your students. I would strongly recommend this book to be an addition in every library.

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this quirky tale a girl wakes up one morning with antlers, the doctor and the principle are called to advise, her mother faints repeatedly, and her brother declares her a “miniature elk.” The antlers become quite useful as drying racks and candleholders. A huge hat is custom made to cover up the antlers but fails to meet the approval of mother. All is well the next morning as the antlers are gone but wait there’s a new surprise. David Small illustrates this tale in soft warm shades but with very poignant facial expressions especially that of the principle upon seeing Imogene’s antlers. My favorite spread is that of Imogene sliding down the winding stairway with details marking texture and movement in the drawing style.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a lovely 1985 edition of this book without any markings or damages whatsoever. Those who follow Mr. Hankins know that he is a huge David Small fan, and when David talked about his book in the new documentary, LIBRARY OF THE EARLY MIND, I jumped at the chance to find this book.

Imogene awakes one morning to find that she has grown antlers on her head. The members of her extended family all have various responses. . .and ultimately, creative solutions to Imogene's new head gear.

Whimsical story telling with Small's classic characterizations, Imogene's Antlers would make a nice picture book "ladder" to Kafka's THE METAMORPHOSIS.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lauren's Review:

I read Imogene's Antlers by David Small on February 5, 2012.

1. What was your favorite part of this book?

When Imogene fed the birds with the doughnuts stacked on her antlers!

2. Was this book funny, sad, silly, or boring?

It was a fun book.

3. Who was your favorite character?

Imogene, the girl who had the antlers grow out of her head.

4. Would you tell your best friend to read this book?

She should.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a wonderful children's classic about a girl who wakes one morning with a pair of antlers sprouting from her noggin. If I'd not had kids of my own, I doubt I'd have ever have heard of this one, so thank you, boys, for introducing me to Imogene.



I just adore this book!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young kids think this is very funny, especially since mom falls down several times. (They were giggling because she was falling down, then they thought it was even funnier when I told them about fainting.)

This is a book I'll keep because I like the opportunity to think about consequences, what would happen if ...

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youngsters and adults will enjoy this bizarre story and the fantastic situation it presents.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a funny story about a little girl who learns to be careful what she wishes for

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky story with a with a twist at the end. Kind of like First Day Jitters.

[Monique the Book Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the imagination behind this book, as well as the illustrations. :)