McGraw's Emporium

by Jim Aylesworth, Mavis Smith (Illustrator)

Rhyming couplets name eighty-eight unlikely items for young children to find and identify in McGraw's Emporium, and artful collage illustrations include every one of them, along with many others to help expand vocabularies and cultural literacy.

32 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1995

About the author

Jim Aylesworth was born in Jacksonville, Florida but as an infant moved from the state. He lived in many places during his childhood: Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas... but by the time Aylesworth was 15 his family had settled in Hinsdale, Illinois and that is where he graduated from high school in 1961.

In 1965, he graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.A. in English. He returned to Hinsdale and began a career as a stockbroker. By 1970, however, Aylesworth was thinking about what he really wanted to do. After a series of assignments as a substitute teacher, Aylesworth ended up in a primary classroom. He began teaching first grade students in Oak Park, Illinois in 1971 and entered Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois, to earn a graduate degree in elementary education -- a goal he reached in 1978.

But it was his work with children that brought him the most reward. It was Aylesworth's experiences as a teacher that eventually led him to writing children's books.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is basically just a rhyming seek-and-find.

My boss loves it, but it did nothing for me.

[Heather]

My daughter enjoyed this book. She picked it up on her own after I read it to her. It includes interesting vocabulary (such as “Union Jack”). I thought it was fine but nothing I wanted to pick up again. The lines rhyme EXCEPT for the line about Illinois. I don’t remember which word was paired with it, but it did NOT rhyme, not even close, not even a little. Haha.

[Alyssa Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

It bothers me when rhymes don't actually rhyme. Also, the fact that we went through all of that and then he ended up choosing something not even in the store... I can't.

[Serethiel ⏾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Jim Aylesworth's MCGRAW'S EMPORIUM!! With a fun set to the writing and beautiful backgrounds (and also a very lovely smell), MCGRAW'S EMPORIUM is a beautiful read for a person of any age.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

-great vocabulary to discuss with children
-rhyming
-introduces many different items on each page with beautiful illustrations

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for all of the "I Spy" enthusiasts.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is mainly just a rhyming list of various things, it's fun to try to find them in the pictures. A little like an I Spy book, only with cooler illustrations.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little sister told me to read it. Many historical references as well as cultural ones. I loved the sing song rhyming.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really loved this book. Theres not a big story but when you read as many books as we do a year, you appreciate creativity where you find it. My kids learned a bunch of new words as well.