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My Side of the Car
Wishful thinking and a wonderful daughter-and-dad rapport drive this charming collaboration between Kate Feiffer and her father, Jules Feiffer.
Sadie has wanted to go the zoo forever, but something always gets in the way. Not today! Today they are finally on their way, and nothing can stop them - not a broken arm or a lost dog or a surprise visit. Not even her dad’s observation: "Sadie, it’s raining." Because when Sadie looks out her window, not only is it not raining on her side of the car, the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. Even when the road on Dad’s side starts looking more like a river, Sadie can barely see a raindrop fall on her side of the car. This warmhearted tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience is guaranteed to tickle the funny bone, no matter the weather.
Sadie has wanted to go the zoo forever, but something always gets in the way. Not today! Today they are finally on their way, and nothing can stop them - not a broken arm or a lost dog or a surprise visit. Not even her dad’s observation: "Sadie, it’s raining." Because when Sadie looks out her window, not only is it not raining on her side of the car, the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. Even when the road on Dad’s side starts looking more like a river, Sadie can barely see a raindrop fall on her side of the car. This warmhearted tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience is guaranteed to tickle the funny bone, no matter the weather.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2011
129 people want to read
About the author
Kate Feiffer
21 books16 followersKate Feiffer is the author of several children’s books, including Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman; President Pennybaker and My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, both illustrated by Diane Goode; The Problem with Puddles, illustrated by Tricia Tusa; and Henry the Dog with No tail, illustrated by her dad, Jules Feiffer. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 9, 2021
This is about a little girl, who just wants to go to the zoo, but something keeps her from going every time. This time it's raining on her dad's side of the car but not hers. It's supposedly based on something experienced by the author and her father, the illustrator. I thought it was a nice story, but it didn't really leave me with any residual feelings. Unfortunately it didn't hold my son's attention either. The art was a little slapdash, so maybe that had something to do with it. So even though I didn't love it, I still think it would be a cute book for a child who is young enough to believe it.
June 4, 2017
Sadie is desperate to go to the zoo, but something always gets in her way. This time, the journey with her dad seems to be headed for perfection, until the skies open and the rain comes down. Sadie convinces herself that the rain is NOT on her side of the road, though she must eventually come to terms with it. Still, Sadie and her dad want to make it work, so they come up with a plan. Neo is excited to go to the zoo (with me, no less). We have a school field trip date all lined up. It better be sunny, or I will be reading this one to the entire class.
April 25, 2011
Reality is subjective. You learn this when you have children of your own. What may be glaringly obvious to a parent will pass right over a six-year-old’s head (and vice-versa). To a certain extent, children and parents live in entirely different worlds. I’ve been trying to come up with a list of children’s books that acknowledge this fact, and it’s tough. So many picture books are of the didactic let’s-teach-kids-not-to-lie variety that the ones where kids come up with their own imaginative stories and live to tell the tale are few and far between. I mean, can you think of any books where a child stretches the truth because they truly believe what they’re saying, straight in the face of parental obliviousness? Aside from Calvin and Hobbes it’s a toughie, but that’s just one of the many reasons why I am so very fond of the father/daughter creation that is My Side of the Car. A brilliant example of willful ignorance (or is it?) Kate and Jules Feiffer tap into those times in a kid’s life when the line between what’s true and what they hope is true blur.
You don’t understand. Sadie isn’t just excited that she’s going to the zoo today. She’s excited because she’s FINALLY going to the zoo today. If you ask her, she can come up with three previous times when she was supposed to go to the zoo and ended up having to do something else instead. But today’s different. She and her dad are in the car and nothing could possibly stop them . . . until it starts to rain. Sadie’s dad is understandably worried and has to inform his daughter that rain means they can’t go to the zoo. However, Sadie (ever the optimist) informs him in no uncertain terms that while it may be pouring on his side of the car, there’s nothing but sunshine, and zoo-going folks, and people watering their lawns, and ice cream eaters on her side of the car. That is until they actually get to the zoo. Then it’s up to Sadie to determine what it is they do next.
I’ve always liked Kate Feiffer’s books but until now I hadn’t found one that killed with the cadences like this one does. Repetition works in books when it’s used well and in the service of the story. That’s part of what I love about what Kate has done here. Right from the start Sadie starts in on the different days when she was supposed to go to the zoo. Listen to how beautifully Ms. Feiffer recounts these. “One day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my mom tripped over a toy fire engine. So we went to the hospital instead of the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my dog, Pasha, got lost. So we spent the day looking for him instead of going to the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my grandparents showed up for a surprise visit. And they don’t like the zoo. So we went to the museum instead of the zoo.” First off, she gets 100 points for not beginning the third example with the word “and” (example: “And another day when were supposed to go to the zoo…”). Now look at how many times she uses the phrase “go to the zoo” or “going to the zoo”. It just fits like it was tailor made for the ear canal. The whole book is like that too!
Then there’s the use of little girl hyperbole. Kids exaggerate. It’s what they do. But part of what I love about Sadie’s exaggerations here is that some of the time she’s just exaggerating to herself alone. She's willing herself to believe what she says. For example, when her father asks her to look out her window to see if it’s raining yet the text reads, “I look out my window, and the sun is shining on my side of the car. People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car.” She doesn't tell this to her father, which leads me to believe that it's something she needs to see and believe for herself first. Then Ms. Feiffer starts to test how far she can push her audience. Are kids reading this book going to believe Sadie when she says it’s not raining on her side? They know that rain doesn’t tend to fall on 50% of a car. Interestingly, they may side with the idea that Sadie is making this stuff up . . . until the moment when she concedes that one drop has fallen down her window. That’s such an odd little detail that it may throw young readers right there. If she’s lying then why does she admit to seeing even one drop?
Mr. Feiffer’s job is to keep up with his daughter. She’s laying down the beats of the book and he’s picking ‘em right up again. Some of this is fairly self-explanatory, like when he has to show the previous interrupted zoo trips. But Kate has left him sufficient room to get creative as well. When Sadie says that, “The monkeys and giraffes and elephants and polar bears have waited a long time to see us,” Mr. Feiffer conjures up the most morose looking polar bear you’ve seen this side of a melting ice cap. He also has to find a way to show great zoo-going masses of people and, perhaps trickiest of all, he has to illustrate a car where only half of it is being rained on. Or rather . . . he has to be ambiguous. Since the child reader is never quite certain if Sadie is telling the truth or not about her side of the car, Mr. Feiffer has to show the car from her perspective, while also making other images a little less crystal clear. There are certain drawings where you can definitely see the rain hitting the roof and hood of the car, but it’s up for interpretation as to whether or not only half the vehicle is getting wet or if it’s the whole kerschmozzle.
Mr. Feiffer, I’d like to note, is the author of the greatest picture book readaloud in the history of the world: Bark George. I seriously believe that if you were to come up with a single picture book to enthrall readers 0-100, it would be the winner. Part of the charm of that book, aside from the beautifully unnerving storyline, is Feiffer’s art. Those of you familiar with his Village Voice days will be pleased that after all this time his style remains recognizably his own. Best of all, he doesn’t suffer the problems of a Charles Schulz, who began his cartooning life with perfectly straight lines only to get shakier and shakier as the years wore on. Feiffer’s style has always been loose, and in My Side of the Car that looseness is key to the storytelling. Sadie, for her part, is infinitely adorable. Your initial glimpse of her is on the first page where she can be seen performing a mid-air leap, the prospect of a zoo visit gleaming in her eyes. Later that look is repeated when it is clear that the rain has stopped and she can go to the zoo after all. The watercolors employed in this book perfectly capture the look of daytime in the rain, all green foliage and gray overcast light. As for the details, parents will appreciate that Sadie is strapped into the backseat and not the front passenger seat (not a safe place for a kid to be, particularly on a rainy day). They’ll also like that Sadie’s father thought to have a change of clothes for his daughter in the backseat. For my own part, I loved what Feiffer did with her post-wet hair. Prior to walking to her father’s side of the car in the rain her hair was a rather nicely coiffed Ramona-esque do. After getting back in the car that same hair frizzes out every which way. Nice touch.
There are certain concepts that work really well in a picture book because all kids understand them. Injustice is probably one of the best. Kids really glom on to stories about injustice and disappointment. My Side of the Car, therefore, does a bloody brilliant job of tapping into that feeling. Kids don’t just identify with Sadie here. They become her. There’s not a child alive that’s going to blame her for wanting to go to the zoo so badly that her observations fly in the face of reality itself. And with Mr. Feiffer’s excessively accessible illustrations to help the story along, this just comes across as one of the best little picture books to hit the market all year. A fun, beautifully illustrated, original concept with a great idea and some top-notch writing. Nuff said.
For ages 4-8.
You don’t understand. Sadie isn’t just excited that she’s going to the zoo today. She’s excited because she’s FINALLY going to the zoo today. If you ask her, she can come up with three previous times when she was supposed to go to the zoo and ended up having to do something else instead. But today’s different. She and her dad are in the car and nothing could possibly stop them . . . until it starts to rain. Sadie’s dad is understandably worried and has to inform his daughter that rain means they can’t go to the zoo. However, Sadie (ever the optimist) informs him in no uncertain terms that while it may be pouring on his side of the car, there’s nothing but sunshine, and zoo-going folks, and people watering their lawns, and ice cream eaters on her side of the car. That is until they actually get to the zoo. Then it’s up to Sadie to determine what it is they do next.
I’ve always liked Kate Feiffer’s books but until now I hadn’t found one that killed with the cadences like this one does. Repetition works in books when it’s used well and in the service of the story. That’s part of what I love about what Kate has done here. Right from the start Sadie starts in on the different days when she was supposed to go to the zoo. Listen to how beautifully Ms. Feiffer recounts these. “One day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my mom tripped over a toy fire engine. So we went to the hospital instead of the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my dog, Pasha, got lost. So we spent the day looking for him instead of going to the zoo. Another day when we were supposed to go to the zoo, my grandparents showed up for a surprise visit. And they don’t like the zoo. So we went to the museum instead of the zoo.” First off, she gets 100 points for not beginning the third example with the word “and” (example: “And another day when were supposed to go to the zoo…”). Now look at how many times she uses the phrase “go to the zoo” or “going to the zoo”. It just fits like it was tailor made for the ear canal. The whole book is like that too!
Then there’s the use of little girl hyperbole. Kids exaggerate. It’s what they do. But part of what I love about Sadie’s exaggerations here is that some of the time she’s just exaggerating to herself alone. She's willing herself to believe what she says. For example, when her father asks her to look out her window to see if it’s raining yet the text reads, “I look out my window, and the sun is shining on my side of the car. People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car.” She doesn't tell this to her father, which leads me to believe that it's something she needs to see and believe for herself first. Then Ms. Feiffer starts to test how far she can push her audience. Are kids reading this book going to believe Sadie when she says it’s not raining on her side? They know that rain doesn’t tend to fall on 50% of a car. Interestingly, they may side with the idea that Sadie is making this stuff up . . . until the moment when she concedes that one drop has fallen down her window. That’s such an odd little detail that it may throw young readers right there. If she’s lying then why does she admit to seeing even one drop?
Mr. Feiffer’s job is to keep up with his daughter. She’s laying down the beats of the book and he’s picking ‘em right up again. Some of this is fairly self-explanatory, like when he has to show the previous interrupted zoo trips. But Kate has left him sufficient room to get creative as well. When Sadie says that, “The monkeys and giraffes and elephants and polar bears have waited a long time to see us,” Mr. Feiffer conjures up the most morose looking polar bear you’ve seen this side of a melting ice cap. He also has to find a way to show great zoo-going masses of people and, perhaps trickiest of all, he has to illustrate a car where only half of it is being rained on. Or rather . . . he has to be ambiguous. Since the child reader is never quite certain if Sadie is telling the truth or not about her side of the car, Mr. Feiffer has to show the car from her perspective, while also making other images a little less crystal clear. There are certain drawings where you can definitely see the rain hitting the roof and hood of the car, but it’s up for interpretation as to whether or not only half the vehicle is getting wet or if it’s the whole kerschmozzle.
Mr. Feiffer, I’d like to note, is the author of the greatest picture book readaloud in the history of the world: Bark George. I seriously believe that if you were to come up with a single picture book to enthrall readers 0-100, it would be the winner. Part of the charm of that book, aside from the beautifully unnerving storyline, is Feiffer’s art. Those of you familiar with his Village Voice days will be pleased that after all this time his style remains recognizably his own. Best of all, he doesn’t suffer the problems of a Charles Schulz, who began his cartooning life with perfectly straight lines only to get shakier and shakier as the years wore on. Feiffer’s style has always been loose, and in My Side of the Car that looseness is key to the storytelling. Sadie, for her part, is infinitely adorable. Your initial glimpse of her is on the first page where she can be seen performing a mid-air leap, the prospect of a zoo visit gleaming in her eyes. Later that look is repeated when it is clear that the rain has stopped and she can go to the zoo after all. The watercolors employed in this book perfectly capture the look of daytime in the rain, all green foliage and gray overcast light. As for the details, parents will appreciate that Sadie is strapped into the backseat and not the front passenger seat (not a safe place for a kid to be, particularly on a rainy day). They’ll also like that Sadie’s father thought to have a change of clothes for his daughter in the backseat. For my own part, I loved what Feiffer did with her post-wet hair. Prior to walking to her father’s side of the car in the rain her hair was a rather nicely coiffed Ramona-esque do. After getting back in the car that same hair frizzes out every which way. Nice touch.
There are certain concepts that work really well in a picture book because all kids understand them. Injustice is probably one of the best. Kids really glom on to stories about injustice and disappointment. My Side of the Car, therefore, does a bloody brilliant job of tapping into that feeling. Kids don’t just identify with Sadie here. They become her. There’s not a child alive that’s going to blame her for wanting to go to the zoo so badly that her observations fly in the face of reality itself. And with Mr. Feiffer’s excessively accessible illustrations to help the story along, this just comes across as one of the best little picture books to hit the market all year. A fun, beautifully illustrated, original concept with a great idea and some top-notch writing. Nuff said.
For ages 4-8.
July 26, 2018
A lovely conversation between a dad and his daughter. A trip to the zoo turns lively when it begins to rain and each passenger has a different viewpoint from their seat in the car therefore offering different perspectives! Such a fun way to teach children to remember to listen to others’ stories and to always remember that life can be lived from a variety of perspectives.
Find My Side of the Car at the Westminster Public Library!
Find My Side of the Car at the Westminster Public Library!
September 17, 2011
My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer, illustrated by Jules Feiffer is a story based on an actual incident about a child and their insistence that a promised trip to the zoo be completed even when faced with a raging downpour.
Sadie is sure her trip to the zoo is finally here. Despite rain on her Dad's side of the car, on her side the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. This tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience should strike a chord with many readers.
The text has great dialog and a very child centered point of view. The repetition of the phrases "go to the zoo", "going to the zoo", and "It's not raining on my side of the car" help give this a strong cadence making it an effective read-aloud. The recounting of previous attempts to visit the zoo gains the sympathy of the reader. The loving father-daughter dynamic is wonderfully portrayed. The discussion, at the back of the book, of the actual event recounted in the story is a wonderful look at child versus adult point of view.
The illustrations done in watercolor and pencil have the trademark look of Jules Feiffer including his great ability to show expression using his chosen illustration technique. His ability to show the humor in a situation remains strong. Mr. Feiffer nails great details starting with the cover illustration showing the father's reflection of his face in his side mirror and the relection of the sun in the daughter's side mirror. I particularly enjoyed the delighted expressions of Sadie in the first picture of the story, and in the car when she realizes that they are going back to visit the zoo. The pictures of the imagined excaped tiger, and of throngs of people wearing sunglasses heading to the zoo are favorites too. The photo of father and daughter at the time of the story on the inside back jacket flap is a great touch.
This has the potential to become a favorite read for many and a classic example of father-daughter love. I recommend this for school and public library collections.
For ages 4 to 8, fathers-daughters, traveling, cars, perspective, rain, weather, zoos, patience themes, and fans of Kate Feiffer and Jules Feiffer.
Sadie is sure her trip to the zoo is finally here. Despite rain on her Dad's side of the car, on her side the sun is shining and people are watering their lawns and wearing sunglasses. This tale of a child’s optimism and a father’s loving patience should strike a chord with many readers.
The text has great dialog and a very child centered point of view. The repetition of the phrases "go to the zoo", "going to the zoo", and "It's not raining on my side of the car" help give this a strong cadence making it an effective read-aloud. The recounting of previous attempts to visit the zoo gains the sympathy of the reader. The loving father-daughter dynamic is wonderfully portrayed. The discussion, at the back of the book, of the actual event recounted in the story is a wonderful look at child versus adult point of view.
The illustrations done in watercolor and pencil have the trademark look of Jules Feiffer including his great ability to show expression using his chosen illustration technique. His ability to show the humor in a situation remains strong. Mr. Feiffer nails great details starting with the cover illustration showing the father's reflection of his face in his side mirror and the relection of the sun in the daughter's side mirror. I particularly enjoyed the delighted expressions of Sadie in the first picture of the story, and in the car when she realizes that they are going back to visit the zoo. The pictures of the imagined excaped tiger, and of throngs of people wearing sunglasses heading to the zoo are favorites too. The photo of father and daughter at the time of the story on the inside back jacket flap is a great touch.
This has the potential to become a favorite read for many and a classic example of father-daughter love. I recommend this for school and public library collections.
For ages 4 to 8, fathers-daughters, traveling, cars, perspective, rain, weather, zoos, patience themes, and fans of Kate Feiffer and Jules Feiffer.
July 23, 2011
Was there ever someplace you really wanted to go as a kid, but things kept getting in the way of it happening. For me, Disneyland was that place, but for the little girl in this story, it's the zoo. Obstacles large or small have prevented her from going there with her father. At last, today is her chance, and...
It's not often that you get your famous cartoonist dad to illustrate a picture book based on a real incident involving the two of you. Kate Feiffer, and father Jules, have turned in a very cute book about how parents and kids can perceive the same event differently, based on their own desires and needs. Just like Charlie Brown's refusal to admit to a baseball rainout, the little girl in the story is firmly convinced that it is only raining on her father's side of the car, and that nothing can prevent their many-times-delayed trip to the zoo.
Kids will identify with the kind of things that keep parents from fulfilling promises, and parents can relate to the way life can get in the way of the best intentions. It's a fun book that can get families talking about some of the things that never quite get around to happening.
The book is no celebrity fluff, either. Kate Feiffer has written several other children's books, and this one is a genuine treat. Still, her father's cartoons add quite a bit to the story. It's interesting, though, to see that the elder Feiffer draws the character based on himself with more hair than he had at the time.
It's not often that you get your famous cartoonist dad to illustrate a picture book based on a real incident involving the two of you. Kate Feiffer, and father Jules, have turned in a very cute book about how parents and kids can perceive the same event differently, based on their own desires and needs. Just like Charlie Brown's refusal to admit to a baseball rainout, the little girl in the story is firmly convinced that it is only raining on her father's side of the car, and that nothing can prevent their many-times-delayed trip to the zoo.
Kids will identify with the kind of things that keep parents from fulfilling promises, and parents can relate to the way life can get in the way of the best intentions. It's a fun book that can get families talking about some of the things that never quite get around to happening.
The book is no celebrity fluff, either. Kate Feiffer has written several other children's books, and this one is a genuine treat. Still, her father's cartoons add quite a bit to the story. It's interesting, though, to see that the elder Feiffer draws the character based on himself with more hair than he had at the time.
July 21, 2011
A two-points-of-view kind of story, or perhaps two versions of reality. Sadie and her dad are going to the zoo. They have planned this trip for a long time, and Sadie explains how and why it was cancelled several times. But today is the big exciting day! And then her dad notices it's raining. But, miracle of miracles, it's not raining on Sadie's side of the car! As they get closer to the zoo, Sadie's dad asks her if it's raining yet on her side of the car, and the answer is always no. Sadie describes what she sees on her side of the car, and at one point she sees that "people are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car." Reality hits when they reach the zoo, but there's still a happy ending to the story of a child's optimism and a father's love and patience. At the end, there is a discussion by Jules and Kate Feiffer on the event that inspired the book.
January 26, 2019
GR friend was talking about writer and illustrator Jules Feiffer who writes amd illistrates books written for adults. At the library branch were I am, I can only view a stack of pre-school and school-age children's books that are all illustrated by J Feiffer--wkth a few also written by him.
The ilustration is telling in this storybook. The daughter is delighted to go to the zoo, so she coming running out of the house . But the daughter is never sure if the parents are really taking her to the zoo as things are always happening. One a day when the daughter is sure she will go, gramdparents come to visit, the adults decide against the zoo and decode on a museum. . The illustrations almost tell the story by themselves, it is that good.
4 Stars. Although I am not much a reader of children's books--unless they are Literature (oh my my)--I found this book impressive. I would be open to buying this book as a Christmas gift for a young family member.
The ilustration is telling in this storybook. The daughter is delighted to go to the zoo, so she coming running out of the house . But the daughter is never sure if the parents are really taking her to the zoo as things are always happening. One a day when the daughter is sure she will go, gramdparents come to visit, the adults decide against the zoo and decode on a museum. . The illustrations almost tell the story by themselves, it is that good.
4 Stars. Although I am not much a reader of children's books--unless they are Literature (oh my my)--I found this book impressive. I would be open to buying this book as a Christmas gift for a young family member.
March 17, 2023
Right from seeing the cover, I have a hunch that this book is going to be a winner with me.
#1. That title. A picture book this may be, but some children develop early into children who can think. My hunch is, this will be a book for them.
#2. That drawing, vintage Jules Feiffer. The car is just an inanimate car, but the daughter's got so much expression, while the father's face (in the rearview mirror) looks so very focused and grim.
#3. Honk-honk-honk, let's go.
Wotta story. Poor daughter Sadie. Poor Dad.
* Thank you, real-life daughter (and book author here) Kate Feiffer.
* Thank you, illustrator hero of mine, Jules Feiffer.
Concepts -- brilliant! Expressions -- priceless!!!
#1. That title. A picture book this may be, but some children develop early into children who can think. My hunch is, this will be a book for them.
#2. That drawing, vintage Jules Feiffer. The car is just an inanimate car, but the daughter's got so much expression, while the father's face (in the rearview mirror) looks so very focused and grim.
#3. Honk-honk-honk, let's go.
Wotta story. Poor daughter Sadie. Poor Dad.
* Thank you, real-life daughter (and book author here) Kate Feiffer.
* Thank you, illustrator hero of mine, Jules Feiffer.
Concepts -- brilliant! Expressions -- priceless!!!
October 11, 2020
This was one my three year old picked out at the library. It was the kind of thing that you feel like would make a funny story, as an anecdote many parents could relate to but it was only partly successful. One thing I found strange about it (and this may just be me being too literal) was I couldn't totally get if the kid thought it WASN'T raining on her side, or if she knew it was raining and was just trying to work an angle. This book feels like the kind of thing if you picked it up in a waiting room or a cottage or something you'd be like "that was suprisingly not bad" but if you actually take it out of the library or purchase it, it leaves something to be desired.
April 24, 2018
I'm adding this picture book because something about it appealed to my 6-year old in a big way. I thought it was cute and enjoyable but probably wouldn't have read it more than once or twice...but he keeps asking for it over and over. I think he's intrigued by the idea that the girl in the story wants to go to the zoo so much that she stubbornly insists that it is not raining on her side of the car...perhaps he likes the idea that imagination and optimism can make things turn out the way you want them to. Sweet.
May 15, 2023
The story is fun, a little girl is desperate to go to the zoo with her day as several of their previous attempts to do so have been thwarted by a multitude of different things. So, when it starts to rain, she insists to her dad that it's not raining on her side of the car. Will they ever make it to the zoo?
The art in this book is really distracting from the story. It's watercolor and pencil but so much of it is scribbly and it just doesn't work for me. Hence, 3 stars instead of 4.
The art in this book is really distracting from the story. It's watercolor and pencil but so much of it is scribbly and it just doesn't work for me. Hence, 3 stars instead of 4.
February 15, 2019
Strange little story. Still, it celebrates the different views people have in situations, so I give it props there. The ending didn't match the rest of the story, but I guess a picture book without a happy ending just wouldn't be the same. Didn't care for the illustrations, personally. I ended up passing on this one for storytime.
May 9, 2017
A funny little story about a father who takes his daughter to the zoo, but it starts to rain and he wants to postpone the trip. The little girl's response is that it isn't raining on her side of the car, and they should continue on their way. It's a sweet, cheerful story.
July 9, 2018
This book is delightful, especially if you read the conversation between Jules and Katie Feiffer at the end. There isn't much to the story, but, in this case, the journey definitely is the adventure, and not the destination.
July 18, 2020
I love magical thinking. It promotes creativity and wonderment. My 5 year old granddaughter didn't get the premise that the little girl riding in the car with her father had alternative motives to get to the zoo. I smiled as I read and totally enjoyed the levity and persistence.
September 5, 2018
Enjoyed it.
October 4, 2018
I have to admit, I didn't really "get" this one. But I love the Feiffers so...
May 22, 2019
The pictures really sell this and the text accompanied them lovingly. You can read it either as a credulous, optimistic kid or a cynical adult and it works happily both ways.
June 18, 2020
A small child deludes herself into thinking it's not raining so she can go to the zoo.
September 27, 2023
Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 09-27-2023
October 28, 2019
My Side Of The Car is about a young girl named Sadie who loves to go to the zoo. But every time she and her dad get in the car to go to the zoo, something always happens. After many fluk accidents occur, they both finally get a day to go to the zoo. Sadie thought nothing could get in their way, until her dad told her it was raining. Her father keeps telling her it was raining and how they could not go, but Sadie keeps insisting it was not raining on her side of the car. At the end of the book, they reach the zoo but Sadie gets out of the car and decides it’s raining too hard on her dad’s side of the car so they should come back to the zoo another day. How does their day end? You’ll have to pick up this book to read and find out its sweet ending!
I think “My Side of the Car” is an excellent realistic fiction book to add to any Kindergarten to 3rd grade classroom library! It has won a gold star from the “Parent’s Choice Award Foundation” and has been a top book choice for several large book of the month brands! This book could be used with students as a model and introductory piece on teaching memoir writing. The story is actually based on the author’s childhood memories of her and her father going to visit Martha’s Vineyard, which was a wildlife sanctuary not far from their home. One day when they were driving, her dad told her it was raining, but Kate kept telling him it wasn’t raining on her side of the car. By retelling her childhood memoir, Kate Feiffer shows the audience about one of her favorite childhood memories and how important those outings were with her father and how the both of them were determined to not let anything wreck their day with each other; not even rain. I think many students can relate to a special time in their life such as Kate’s, and it’s simplicity speaks to children of many ages. I believe it is a book that not only is enjoyable and light-hearted to read, but also one that captures the reader's attention to think of some of their favorite memories and retell them for a bigger audience, just as Kate has done years later.
I think “My Side of the Car” is an excellent realistic fiction book to add to any Kindergarten to 3rd grade classroom library! It has won a gold star from the “Parent’s Choice Award Foundation” and has been a top book choice for several large book of the month brands! This book could be used with students as a model and introductory piece on teaching memoir writing. The story is actually based on the author’s childhood memories of her and her father going to visit Martha’s Vineyard, which was a wildlife sanctuary not far from their home. One day when they were driving, her dad told her it was raining, but Kate kept telling him it wasn’t raining on her side of the car. By retelling her childhood memoir, Kate Feiffer shows the audience about one of her favorite childhood memories and how important those outings were with her father and how the both of them were determined to not let anything wreck their day with each other; not even rain. I think many students can relate to a special time in their life such as Kate’s, and it’s simplicity speaks to children of many ages. I believe it is a book that not only is enjoyable and light-hearted to read, but also one that captures the reader's attention to think of some of their favorite memories and retell them for a bigger audience, just as Kate has done years later.
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January 31, 2014I was attracted to a couple different things about this book. The title and the cover of the book, both grabbed my attention while I was reading through all the books on the shelf. "My Side of the Car" made led me to believe that different viewpoints were a huge aspect to this book. The cover shows different pictures of the weather on each side of the car. One side of the car appears to be a father, who is driving, and the other side of the cover shows a young girl looking out the window.
I thought the book was creative, showing the differences in how people perceive things around them, especially when they really want to see something. In the book, a father and daughter take a day and plan to go to the zoo. The daughter, Sadie, explains that they have tried to go to the zoo three times before this day, and they were never able to because of complications. Something always seems to happen when they try to go to the zoo. Today they were going, and Sadie was excited! While driving to the zoo, it starts to rain hard and Sadie's dad says to her that they cannot go to the zoo because of the bad weather. "It's not raining on my side of the car", Sadie says to her dad. The two go back and forth about whether it is raining or not. The author, Kate Feiffer, tries to show how Sadie isn't seeing the bad weather because she is really excited to go to the zoo. The story is a cute way of showing how sometimes you see what you want to see.
I was most drawn to how the illustrations always matched each person's perception on every page. As a reader, you could both read and visually see each person's perception at the same time, giving a better overall effect. On the left page, you would see the father's perception as he was driving. On the right side of the page, you see the daughter's perception as she was riding in the car. The point of view of the illustrations were exactly that of riding in a car, making the reader feel completely involved in the story. I found myself picturing myself riding in that car seeing both perceptions actually.
I would recommend this book for use, both personally and in the classroom. It is a good book for parents and children, and an easy read for beginning readers. This book can be used in the classroom in multiple ways. I can see myself using this for describing different perceptions, or thinking about a different point of view. I can also see myself using this book for a prediction activity. The father asks Sadie several times if it has stopped raining yet, and the children can predict several times as to what will happen next.
I thought the book was creative, showing the differences in how people perceive things around them, especially when they really want to see something. In the book, a father and daughter take a day and plan to go to the zoo. The daughter, Sadie, explains that they have tried to go to the zoo three times before this day, and they were never able to because of complications. Something always seems to happen when they try to go to the zoo. Today they were going, and Sadie was excited! While driving to the zoo, it starts to rain hard and Sadie's dad says to her that they cannot go to the zoo because of the bad weather. "It's not raining on my side of the car", Sadie says to her dad. The two go back and forth about whether it is raining or not. The author, Kate Feiffer, tries to show how Sadie isn't seeing the bad weather because she is really excited to go to the zoo. The story is a cute way of showing how sometimes you see what you want to see.
I was most drawn to how the illustrations always matched each person's perception on every page. As a reader, you could both read and visually see each person's perception at the same time, giving a better overall effect. On the left page, you would see the father's perception as he was driving. On the right side of the page, you see the daughter's perception as she was riding in the car. The point of view of the illustrations were exactly that of riding in a car, making the reader feel completely involved in the story. I found myself picturing myself riding in that car seeing both perceptions actually.
I would recommend this book for use, both personally and in the classroom. It is a good book for parents and children, and an easy read for beginning readers. This book can be used in the classroom in multiple ways. I can see myself using this for describing different perceptions, or thinking about a different point of view. I can also see myself using this book for a prediction activity. The father asks Sadie several times if it has stopped raining yet, and the children can predict several times as to what will happen next.
May 13, 2011
Sadie and her dad are finally heading to the zoo. Their trip has been cancelled for several reasons that Sadie can clearly remember, but today nothing can stop the trip. They are on their way to the zoo when Sadie’s father points out that it’s raining. Sadie looks out her window and says that it isn’t raining on her side of the car. Her father keeps driving, because all Sadie sees out her window is sunshine and lots of people heading to zoos. People on her side of the car are watering their lawns, though it’s pouring on her father’s side of the car. When they get to the zoo, Sadie’s father allows her to decide if they should stay, because it is raining hard on his side of the car. Sadie decides that it would be too wet to go to the zoo in the rain. So they reluctantly head home, until her father notices that the sun is out on his side of the car…
This picture book is inspired by a real-life event between author Kate Feiffer and her father, illustrator Jules Feiffer. They share their version of the event that inspired the book at the end of the picture book, and Kate continues to insist that it was never raining on her side of the car. That’s be beauty of personal perspective and the power of imagination and expectations for children. This book captures it with humor and because it is told from Sadie’s point of view, with an honestly and care for the child view.
The combination of the fresh point of view from Kate Feiffer and the loose-lined art of her father is a winning one. The imaginative power of Sadie never wavers in Kate’s writing. The humor of the text and its attitude is reflected effectively in the illustrations as well.
Highly recommended, this book reminded me of both my own strong convictions as a child and those of my own children. It is a testament to the imagination and creativity through which children view the world. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
This picture book is inspired by a real-life event between author Kate Feiffer and her father, illustrator Jules Feiffer. They share their version of the event that inspired the book at the end of the picture book, and Kate continues to insist that it was never raining on her side of the car. That’s be beauty of personal perspective and the power of imagination and expectations for children. This book captures it with humor and because it is told from Sadie’s point of view, with an honestly and care for the child view.
The combination of the fresh point of view from Kate Feiffer and the loose-lined art of her father is a winning one. The imaginative power of Sadie never wavers in Kate’s writing. The humor of the text and its attitude is reflected effectively in the illustrations as well.
Highly recommended, this book reminded me of both my own strong convictions as a child and those of my own children. It is a testament to the imagination and creativity through which children view the world. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
October 27, 2012
1. Rating: 4
2. A book review by Children's Literature says, "Kate tells a story about a trip she and her father actually took. She really wanted to visit the animals at the zoo, but it was raining...at least on her father's side of the car. Kate looked out the window and saw people watering their lawns, walking dogs, playing with balloons, while the windshield wipers worked hard. Her father suggests they postpone this trip as the weather is so inclement, but Kate insists it is NOT raining on her side of the car, until she admits it is. As they prepare to return home disappointed, Dad realizes that the rain has stopped, and the visit to the animals is realized. The wonderful, whimsical watercolors show us the feelings of the two characters, and make the reader understand Kate's mistaken insistence on fair skies. This is a wonderful story of bonding, and wishing, and a father's comprehension of the feelings of his young daughter. It makes for a wonderful story time book."
3. The author wrote this story about when she was a little girl and her and her dad decided to try to take a trip to the zoo. They had tried to go before, but something always gets in the way - her mom had to go to the hospital after stepping on a toy, her dog ran away so they had to look for him, her grandparents ended up coming over. But this time, she was determined that they would go. However, it starts raining... But only on her dad's side of the car. On her side, it's sunny and people are wearing bathing suits and "going to zoos all over the world." By the end of the story, they get to the zoo and it has started to rain on her side so they decide to come back another day... Until they get up over a hill and all of a sudden it stops raining, so they head back to spend the day at zoo! The colorful watercolor illustrations definitely provide good picture support for this story and I think kindergartners, first, and second graders may really enjoy it.
2. A book review by Children's Literature says, "Kate tells a story about a trip she and her father actually took. She really wanted to visit the animals at the zoo, but it was raining...at least on her father's side of the car. Kate looked out the window and saw people watering their lawns, walking dogs, playing with balloons, while the windshield wipers worked hard. Her father suggests they postpone this trip as the weather is so inclement, but Kate insists it is NOT raining on her side of the car, until she admits it is. As they prepare to return home disappointed, Dad realizes that the rain has stopped, and the visit to the animals is realized. The wonderful, whimsical watercolors show us the feelings of the two characters, and make the reader understand Kate's mistaken insistence on fair skies. This is a wonderful story of bonding, and wishing, and a father's comprehension of the feelings of his young daughter. It makes for a wonderful story time book."
3. The author wrote this story about when she was a little girl and her and her dad decided to try to take a trip to the zoo. They had tried to go before, but something always gets in the way - her mom had to go to the hospital after stepping on a toy, her dog ran away so they had to look for him, her grandparents ended up coming over. But this time, she was determined that they would go. However, it starts raining... But only on her dad's side of the car. On her side, it's sunny and people are wearing bathing suits and "going to zoos all over the world." By the end of the story, they get to the zoo and it has started to rain on her side so they decide to come back another day... Until they get up over a hill and all of a sudden it stops raining, so they head back to spend the day at zoo! The colorful watercolor illustrations definitely provide good picture support for this story and I think kindergartners, first, and second graders may really enjoy it.
December 12, 2023
I thought it was so sweet. And my 6yo loved it too.
It reminds me of the resiliency of childhood. A lovely, sweet story for all ages.
It reminds me of the resiliency of childhood. A lovely, sweet story for all ages.
April 26, 2011
What a delightful road trip this is! We knew even before opening that a book by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by her award-winning dad, Jules Feiffer, would be something special and MY SIDE OF THE CAR is - something extra special.
Based on a real-life event that took place some years ago when Jules Feiffer was taking his young daughter to visit a nature preserve the book is an endearing story of a child’s optimism and a father’s patience.
In our story Katie has been very excited about going to the zoo, but each time Dad and daughter planned their trip something happened - first Mom tripped over a toy fire engine, “So we went to the hospital instead of the zoo.” Next time the zoo was planned the family dog had gotten lost, and the following time Katie’s grandparents dropped in and preferred the museum to the zoo.
But at last the much anticipated day arrives and it seems that Katie and her Dad are finally really going to the zoo. She believes nothing can stop them....that is until her Dad says it’s raining. Katie’s reply? “No, it’s not. It’s not raining on my side of the car.”
Young readers will smile and thoroughly enjoy what happens next as Katie’s optimism about their trip isn’t dimmed even by rain and Dad shows his loving kindness.
Highly recommended.
November 23, 2011
My Side of the Car is the story of a girl finally going to the zoo with her father. On the way, it starts to rain, but the girl refuses to admit that the rain is falling on her side of the car. Funny little story, made all the more so by the author’s conversation with her father, the book illustrator, at the back of the book, revealing that the incident actually happened when the author was a little girl.
“After we pass two stop signs and drive up a big hill, my dad says, ‘Sadie, what about now? It’s raining so hard on my side of the car that the windshield wipers are exhausted. Is it even sprinkling on your side of the car yet?’
The rain from his side of the car made a puddle that splashed my side of the car, so I can’t see all the people…
who I know are there, walking their dogs or riding their bikes or eating ice cream.
I tell him, ‘No, it’s still not raining on my side of the car.’
He keeps driving.”
“After we pass two stop signs and drive up a big hill, my dad says, ‘Sadie, what about now? It’s raining so hard on my side of the car that the windshield wipers are exhausted. Is it even sprinkling on your side of the car yet?’
The rain from his side of the car made a puddle that splashed my side of the car, so I can’t see all the people…
who I know are there, walking their dogs or riding their bikes or eating ice cream.
I tell him, ‘No, it’s still not raining on my side of the car.’
He keeps driving.”
April 16, 2013
This book is a fun tale about a girl whose optimism shows on a trip to the zoo. Her father sees right away that it is pouring down rain, and that a trip to the zoo may not be a good idea for that day. The little girl knows that they have tried to go to the zoo before and something always happens that hinders their trip. She is totally set on getting to see the zoo today. Even though it is raining the whole time the girl is in the car, she doesn't realize it because her heart is so set on seeing the zoo. Well she may realize it's raining, but that isn't a concern to her. I took away from this book to look on the bright side of things. Even when it is a rainy day you can't let that get you down, because at some point that sun will shine through and that day will be perfect! This is a quality book for students because it points out that not everything can always go your way, but with patience things usually work out.
children-and-young-adult-literature
June 22, 2011My Side of the Car reminds me of more than one failed trip to visit amusement parks, zoos, or whatever special trip was planned with my children. Sadie is very excited to be finally going to the zoo, but then the rain starts to fall. She insist that it isn't raining on her side of the car. Her optimistic thinking is contrasted by the deluge he father is driving through. Fun book to read alound and let students share their stories of family trips gone awry. This picture book would not be complete without the pictures that contrast Sadie's and her father's points of view.
Reviews & Awards
Booklist 03/01/11
Publishers Weekly starred 02/07/11
Horn Book 03/01/11
School Library Journal 03/01/11
Kirkus Review 03/15/11
Reviews & Awards
Booklist 03/01/11
Publishers Weekly starred 02/07/11
Horn Book 03/01/11
School Library Journal 03/01/11
Kirkus Review 03/15/11
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews