Everything to Spend the Night From A to Z

by Ann Whitford Paul, Maggie Smith (Illustrator)

While showing her grandfather all the things, from A to Z, that she has brought with her to spend the night, a little girl suddenly realizes that she forgot one important item. By the illustrator of This Is Your Garden.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

ANN WHITFORD PAUL, author of 'TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS has always been crazy for Christmas, but overwhelmed by it, too. Afterwards she is worn-out and dreams that someone like Mrs. Saint Nick could help her out with the resulting chaos and mess.

Ann graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University School of Social Work. She became inspired to write picture books after years of bedtime reading to her four children. She's published 19 different award-winning books. Now she gets story ideas from her three grandchildren. For ten years she taught picture book writing through UCLA Extension. She still enjoys teaching how to write picture books. When she isn't writing or teaching, she loves listening to her cat purr, watching spiders spin their webs and following snails' trails.

You can learn more about her, download writing tips and classroom activities, and contact her through her web-site: www.annwhitfordpaul.net

Reviews

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young girl unpacks the Alphabet to show her grandfather everything she brought to spend the night she realizes she forgot the most important thing. Ann Whitford Paul's delightful story lets us watch the exhuberance of childhood, the love of a grandfather, and sneaks in a bit of educations.

Maggie Smith's watercolor illustrations are masterful in their chaos.

[Wendy Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a fun book to read, Every child loves sleepovers at grandpas house. Not only does this book help review letters but has rhyming and objects throughout the story. Fun for lower elementary.

Grade level: k-1
Genre: contemporary realistic fiction

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

While showing her grandfather all the things, from A to Z, that she has brought with her to spend the night, a little girl suddenly realizes she forgot one important item: pajamas.

[Lee Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so... so sick of this book. Ugh. Read it too many times. 2/5 stars.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute alphabet book. It's strange to read a book from 1999. So obvious how picture book trends have changed over the years. It definitely feels dated, but it's still a cute read.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and different alphabet story book.

A little girl is excited to spend the night at her grandfather's. She packs into her suitcase all she will need - from A to Z - and proceeds to show her grandfather each item. She unpacks Apples, her Bunny, her Chalk so they can play hopscotch on the walk, her Quilt - each item in order of the alphabet. She and her grandad have fun with all the things she'd brought for her sleepover. When she's tired out from all their games and it's time to go to bed she brings out her toothbrush and her slippers, but ... oh-oh ... she'd forgotten something! Grandpa comes to the rescue - which young readers will find quite funny.

[Jordan Coffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book to me because it wasn't like a Alphabet Book where on every page was just that last letter. It was short and sweat. The genre is an alphabet book from kids ages pre-K to second grade. This book would help a little bit with social skills and the recognition of vocabulary because it is an alphabet book. The content for this book is great for the kids at the age of pre-K through first and for second grade this book is a little bit easier but still a great book for those ages as well. There were no major concerns for the content of this book. This is a book about a girl visiting her grandpa, and with the help of the Alphabet bringing "everything" she thinks she needs.

[Emma Cisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this ABC Book! When I read through these creative pages, it reminds me of my childhood and my grandpa! This is a fun way to use the ABC's throughout the book while still continuing a plot and having a creative finish. I would use this in my future kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade classroom. Overall, a fun and quick read to showcase the alphabet while reminding me of what my grandparents do for me!

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 12/4/08 -


Julia and I both really like this book- it's a rhyming book which we both like and it also teaches ABCs and some words at the same time. The pictures go hand in hand which is good for a toddler because they can "pretend" to read and start learning what the words look like.

[Library Quine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun rhyming story about all the things the little girl deems necessary (from A to Z) when spending the night at Her Grandpa's house. Grandpa has to be shown everything in the overnight bag and does his best to keep up, with only the occasional nap. Love and humour shines through.

[Meadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute ABC book.

[Natalia Ortega-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool way off showing the ABCs

[Melanie]

could also be growing up family-grandparents

[Ms R · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ABC book