At the Supermarket

by Anne Rockwell

On a special trip to the supermarket, a young boy helps his mom buy what they need. There are meats, fruits, and vegetables to put in the shopping cart; soap and toilet paper, too. But the most important ingredients are those needed to bake a birthday cake. Children love to help out at the grocery store. In her signature style, Anne Rockwell conveys the thrill of a trip to the supermarket from a young child's point-of-view. Thirty years ago, Anne Rockwell collaborated with her husband Harlow on this charming book. This beloved favorite has been newly updated for a new generation of young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1979

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a boy and his mom going to the grocery store. Much as Neo and I tackle the aisles, this little boy wonders at all there is to see: fruits, veg, meats, cans, and bags. There is a method to their madness as well, with a birthday cake to be made. In the end, it is a sweet experience for all involved. Neo wants us to shop for ingredients to create a birthday cake. We have until November, but there is no harm in practicing.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know this book was originally written 30 years ago with Anne Rockwell and her late husband Harlow. When the publisher wanted to reprint the book they had a problem.... the original printing technique they used no longer practical so Anne worked with her granddaughter Julianna Brion for the illustrations.

It is a cute little book about the supermarket. But it isn't all about shopping like I thought it might be...it is about why they are buying... Cute story well done!!

[Julia Tetreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title (italicize): At the Supermarket
Author:Anne Rockwell
Genre: economics
Theme(s): Food shopping
Opening line/sentence: Time to go shopping!
Brief Book Summary : In the story At the Supermarket, it explains all the items bought at the store with his mom. Not only does it talk about all the different food items they get, but the little boy expressed each section of the store. For example he talk about how the dairy section was so cold. His mom asked him to remember to grab sprinkles because his birthday was tomorrow.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: From Goodreads it was expressed how children love to help out at the grocery store, that the children love seeing the different foods. The story expressed the joys that children have in a store, helping their guardians too.
Tell Me Framework :
Like(s): I loved how enthusiastic the boy was that he got to go to the store with his mom. He enjoyed helping and watching what they got at the store.
Dislike(s): I wish they talk more about the cost of each item.
Patterns(s): Each section they got food but different types of food.
Puzzle(s): Where they having a party for his birthday?
Consideration of Instructional Application: Giving the child a sense of time. Throughout the story the boy explained each day of the week that the food would be prepared for. He also remembered his birthday was tomorrow and he needed sprinkles. Another sense of economics given was purchasing the food, that the food they were getting was being paid to the cashier who puts the money in the cash register.

[Christine Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Rockwell delivers another wonderful story about a mother and son’s trip to the supermarket. The audience gets a glimpse into what the family is going to have for dinner the next three days. The book mentions three proteins, some fruits and vegetables, a loaf of bread and some household paper necessities. Ultimately, the trip cannot be complete without ingredients for the boy’s birthday cake. Since his birthday is the next day, he and his mom are going to bake the cake from scratch and serve it with his favorite ice cream. My only wish was that more emphasis was placed on the supermarket experience and shopping for healthy foods from the different food groups. My daughter is very curious about what vitamins come from what foods and it would’ve been great to have more exposure to what can be found going up and down each aisle.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My two year old loves this book. She loves it because the child in the book does all the same things she does at the grocery store. It’s a long book for her with no flaps to lift or fabric to touch. It isn’t a book with lyrics to sing. Yet the descriptions hold her attention like few books we own. It helps that the text is appropriately limited on each page. Not excessively verbose. We will probably end up needing a second copy of this book.

[Catarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a great book for young children, but it was not my favorite read. It is quick and it just talks about a young child who helps their parent at the grocery store. In the end that child and parent are actually shopping for cake ingredients, and by the end of the story it felt less focused on the supermarket. Again, it was a normal children's book, I personally was just not the biggest fan.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations of a very healthy and efficient trip to the grocery store! The story mentions all main food groups, gives good examples, and gives a glimpse into planning meals. Fun and entertaining story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story about a little boy and his mother going grocery shopping. There's not much plot, but we do get a listing of what they buy and it's a good intro to what a supermarket is for. It's not really exciting enough to use in story time, but one-on-one a kid might enjoy it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This colorful picture book describes a trip to the grocery store. A child tells what he and his mom select, and the experience of the automatic doors, the shopping cart and the check out line.
Useful for pre-K social studies or as an example of realistic fiction.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visiting the grocery store can be a thrilling experience for young toddlers..especially when it involves purchasing ingredients to bake a birthday cake! This story captures the joys of one such visit.

[Shiloah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicolette reading time at the library.

[Natalie Greaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had really nice illustrations. It's a good book to teach about communities and different places we go. It can also be used to teach children about making lists.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple, mostly informational about all the things you can find at the grocery store.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a little dated, but still gets the gist of going to the store with a parent.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This updated edition of Rockwell’s picture book from 1979 offers a modern and timeless feel. A little boy heads to the supermarket with his mother. They buy meat, fruit and vegetables, bread and peanut butter. In the cold dairy case, they get milk, butter, eggs and cheese. Then there are the items in boxes and cans like coffee and napkins. But it turns out that this is a special grocery trip and the boy and his mother select items to help them bake a birthday cake, including sprinkles and ice cream! Returning home, they bake the cake together.

There is something special about books that focus on a specific activity. This book is both universal and specific. Children will enjoy seeing the similarities of what their family buys and also the differences. Rockwell wisely lingers on the specific purchases, offering images of many of them. Her illustrations that update this new version of the book are done in acrylic gouache. They are simple and specific, underlining the universal appeal of the book and its subject.

Toddlers will relate quickly to this book and enjoy seeing another child heading out to the grocery store with a parent. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Ro Menendez]

Young readers will be able to relive their trips to the supermarket with a family member as they follow a young boy and his mom picking up groceries. The boy talks about the products they put in their cart which will be familiar to readers, but wait! There are some special items that the boy asks his mom not to forget to purchase. Readers will enjoy predicting what the ingredients are for and will find out if their predictions come true at the end of the story. The author leaves many clues in the story for young readers and their adults to have discussions about days of the week, what the boy's mom might be making for dinner during the week, what are some favorite products to buy at the supermarket, as well as what exactly does the computer at the cash register line does. This book would be great to take on a grocery store trip to retell, enjoy, and play at finding the things the boy and his mom buy in the story. Excellent conversations can be had with this little board book!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This adorable board book follows a mother and son as they pick up several items at the grocery store. Although they stock up on essentials, readers will quickly realize that the main point--at least for the boy--is to buy all the ingredients for his birthday cake and party. The illustrations are very attractive and allow readers to pay attention to the different foods and objects that can be found in a supermarket while realizing that this little guy can barely contain himself about the cake that the two of them will make. What a sweetly nostalgic book, appropriate since it was first published in 1979! This is a good book for sharing with youngsters on or right before their own birthdays. Even though he cannot wait to bake that cake, the boy still helps put away the groceries.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quality update on the timeless picture book "At the Supermarket." There is nothing more exciting for a small child than to enter the wondrous palace of foodstuffs that is the supermarket. To making an outing to the market perfect is being allowed to help out one's parent on what purchases to make, and choosing some special ingredients for a special treat to be made at home. The only curious omission from an otherwise enjoyable book was the notion of recycling and going green. Absent were reusable bags for the groceries or featuring grocery items that are organic or environmentally sound.

Highly recommended for grades Pre-K/Kindergarten and up.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This board book version of the classic picture book does not deviate from the original format, resulting in text that is slightly longer than appropriate and illustrations that are mostly too small or detailed for the target audience. Still, many babies and toddlers will be able to relate to weekly shopping trips and the common food items that the family purchases. Families will enjoy sharing this book that can build a young child’s vocabulary.

[Tdavis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to the grocery store can be a great vocabulary builder for children! This trip is extra special as they get ingredients to bake the child’s birthday cake.

Early Literacy Skills:

Narrative Skills
Vocabulary


The updated version changes just a few things from the orginal.

[Monalisa Johnson-brown]

It is about a little boy who likes the super market.because the doors open by themselves. He was fascinated with the store. They picked up the meat and the season to cook it with. The main thing they went for was ingredients to make a cake for his birthday.

[Courtney]

I thought the illustrations were charming and simple. Wonderful for toddlers or a preschool class leaning about stores. Love that it's told from the point of view by the young boy without sounding babyish or unrealistic.

[Sterrett Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew: I give this book 5 stars because it teaches you about supermarkets. My favorite part is when they made the cake.

Daniel: I give this book 3 stars because I like all the pages. My favorite part is the dairy case because I like the food there.


Format: Hardcover, Pleasant Hill Library

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of my children have always loved Anne Rockwell books. Apples and Pumpkins being their favorite. She does a great job making something simple and everyday, like a trip to the grocery store, interesting for both child and adult reader. I like this re-illustrated version.

[Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this centers around the experience of going to the store and finding so many different things to buy, and then ties it into a special event for the kid. This is a cute addition to a food- or grocery shopping-themed storytime.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy and his mom go through the grocery store. Great chance to see all the things to buy for a household. No focus on specific group of items. Short text makes it easy to follow for any group.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute update!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and direct. New edition with updated illustrations.

[Melissa]

Good example of a really concrete here-and-now book for young toddlers.

[Tina B · Rating 2 out of 5]

shopping