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Who Invited You?
While preparing to spend a quiet day on the river, a young girl finds her little boat filled with a group of uninvited guests and so decides to make the best of things, but when a crocodile appears, she decides enough is enough.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
About the author
Candace Fleming
78 books677 followersI have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 6, 2024
This is a cute book set in a swamp where a girl is poling her boat along. As she does, various animals decide to join her. The poem continues as more and more animals pile on, soon overloading the boat. That's solved when Animal #10 arrives: an alligator. He makes short work of the other animals, leaving just the girl to continue her journey.
This is a counting book, teaching one through ten, and cleverly done. The bright illustrations will keep a long learner captivated.
This is a counting book, teaching one through ten, and cleverly done. The bright illustrations will keep a long learner captivated.
February 6, 2020
This is a fun read-aloud counting book, in partial rhyme, that has a surprise ending.
February 22, 2017
I chose this book out of pure curiosity. I really enjoyed that it was a counting book that rhymed. I would use this in kindergarten classroom to teach the counting aspect of the book. I would use this in a first grade classroom to teach the rhyming aspect of the book. For the first graders, I could then do an activity where they have to create a story that rhymes.
October 6, 2009
Surprising ending! I was not expecting all the animals to die in the end, especially in a children's book! However, I kind of liked the fact that it was more realistic for children.
The murky, pastel colors help suggest the tension and help foreshadow that something awful will happen on their journey.
The enormous amount of white or negative space on each page seemed to separate the text and illustrations.
The lines in the book originally were more wispy and thin emphasizing the girl's frustrations and complaining. The lines changed to bold, thick lines after the gator jumped on the boat emphasizing his strength.
Great book!
The murky, pastel colors help suggest the tension and help foreshadow that something awful will happen on their journey.
The enormous amount of white or negative space on each page seemed to separate the text and illustrations.
The lines in the book originally were more wispy and thin emphasizing the girl's frustrations and complaining. The lines changed to bold, thick lines after the gator jumped on the boat emphasizing his strength.
Great book!
February 25, 2013
As the main character, a young girl, poles her skiff through the swamp, she is joined by several animals inviting themselves onto her boat through a rhyming counting text. Gator makes boat-member number ten-- but when the animals all say that there's no room for him on board, HE has room for THEM-- in his tummy! The young girl continues on her way through the swamp, alone in her boat again. Energetic text and illustrations, if a bit unsettling. Perhaps not for the reader who likes ALL the characters to live happily ever after.
April 4, 2011
This you be a really fun read aloud! This book can be used through a variety of grade levels; for example this us of counting to ten in the book would be fun for pre-k through kindergarten and Since the setting is based in the swamp it would be a good book introducing the swamp habitat. Fun book because of the rhyming words, highly recommend it, but i must warn you If you are going to read it to the class read it before hand because some of the words get a little tricky!
November 24, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, text and illustrations. The illustrations had a lot of motion to them and went along well with the text. The text was very good in that it had a kind of refrain and similarities throughout that a child could really do well with. I found the ending a bit odd (maybe would be scary for younger children) since it's implied that the gator eats all the other animals and the girl seems happy about getting to be alone.
February 24, 2016
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The only rhyming scheme was on point, but the plot was a little weird. You have this girl on a boat going done the swamp the all of these animals come along. Eventually it's too crowded and then an alligator eats the animals. It was shocking , violent, and kind of funny. I'm still a little iffy and people should know the ending before reading this to children.
August 16, 2016
The reader joins as a little girl goes polin' through the swamp. One by one critters invite themselves onboard causing a ruckus in the little flat bottomed boat. The boat gets more and more crowded until an alligator comes along, "a-smilin', a-slinkin', and a-blinky-blanky-winkin'". There's no room for him on the boat, but he assures them there's room in his belly for all of them! The animals all take off and the girl is left alone to go a-polin' by herself.
February 24, 2015
I was not a fan of this book, the illustrations to this book are good, a little creepy in my opinion. To have a children's book end in death is very surprising and a little sad, even when the girl was happy that all these animals had died. It may be realistic but it is not something i would have my future classroom read.
Read
November 13, 2009This is book could be paired introducing basic counting skills. The book goes from the number one to the number nine, adding one each time. Kindergarten? It is funny how it goes from nine back to one. Students could write their own stories that are similar to this one.
September 22, 2014
A rather funny and charming little book! The animals invite themselves to pile onto the main characters boat just to get overtaken by a gator. The illustrations depict some ridiculous circumstances when will leave kids wanting more. Despite the unexpected ended, I liked this book a lot.
March 7, 2016
An okay book about a girl poling in the swamp and all these animals joining her. Not as charming as One Dog Canoe and the illustrations aren't as good either. But it does have some nice wordage.
Illustrations are sloppy but fun nonetheless.
Illustrations are sloppy but fun nonetheless.
February 25, 2016
I thought this was a funny story. I like how it has silly words in it and rhyming. Rhyming is definitely something I enjoy in books because it's easy to figure the words out. I also like silly stories because it will keep kids entertained.
July 5, 2016
I read this with an accent (I hesitate to say it was a New Orleans one because.... yeah) but when my daughter read it to me, she tried to say it with the accent because it sounded so good to her but she couldn't do it well so she asked me to read again. :-)
September 28, 2008
This is a great book--I think I enjoyed it more that my kids! Funny text, funny pictures. It's really fun to read out loud--rhymes and rhythm, the opportunity to use funny accents and voices.
December 21, 2011
My storyimte kids and parents love this book!
July 18, 2012
Story reminds me of "I Want My Hat Back"
August 11, 2013
Pretty cute story, which seems like it would be a fun read-aloud with young readers, along with cute illustrations.
September 22, 2016
The book was funny, but I don't think I would use it in the classroom. Half of the words are just sounds and not real words, and in the end the alligator comes along and eats everybody.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews