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Archibald Frisby, Grade 3 Library Book: Lib Bk: Archibald Frisby Lib Bk: Archibald Frisby
Archibald Frisby, mad about science and wise beyond his years, is sent to camp to have fun and ends up broadening the horizons of his fellow campers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 3, 2015
This story follows a little boy who is absolutely obsessed with STEM field subjects and would rather read algebra and other texts than play sports. His mother is "horrified" by his obsession and thinks he needs to have fun and sends him to summer camp. There he does have fun, but it's due to his application of his knowledge to the activities and goings on at the camp.
After reading it, I'm torn about this book. The illustrations, rhyming (though occasionally a bit clunky), and main character are quite cute and the things he gets up to at camp are entertaining. I especially love the way the illustration works in the science and shows how the character views the world and the fact that he made friends and had fun at camp by using his skills and love of science, rather than by giving it up. However, I dislike that the mother appears unsupportive of his STEM interests and the book seems like it can't quite decide whether it is supportive of STEM fields or not. I think it means to be, but it doesn't quite come across fully. In the end, if you can get over the stumbling blocks, it's a nice story with a message of being yourself, not giving up your passions due to peer pressure, and finding ways to apply those passions to things to which you perhaps didn't think they could be.
After reading it, I'm torn about this book. The illustrations, rhyming (though occasionally a bit clunky), and main character are quite cute and the things he gets up to at camp are entertaining. I especially love the way the illustration works in the science and shows how the character views the world and the fact that he made friends and had fun at camp by using his skills and love of science, rather than by giving it up. However, I dislike that the mother appears unsupportive of his STEM interests and the book seems like it can't quite decide whether it is supportive of STEM fields or not. I think it means to be, but it doesn't quite come across fully. In the end, if you can get over the stumbling blocks, it's a nice story with a message of being yourself, not giving up your passions due to peer pressure, and finding ways to apply those passions to things to which you perhaps didn't think they could be.
October 23, 2018
Summary: This book is about a little boy named Archibald. He is consumed with learning about all things science. He asked questions about everything and spent most of his time looking around and observing the world around him. During recess he would read books about science, he would spend his nights dissecting flowers, and so much more. Archibald's mother was fed up with all his scientific questions so she sent him to summer camp. At camp he grew into a great student, learner, and friend. He won trophies for activities and found fossils for his campmates. In the end his mother could not believe that he was the same boy with all of his toys.
Evaluation: I think this is a cute book for students to read or be read to. It is on a low enough level that most kids would be able to read it independently. The pictures are interesting and exciting to look at! They are filled with colors and pictures showing the words on the page. I think that students would really enjoy this book and I would definitely have this in my classroom.
Lesson: This book could be a lesson about observations in science. The book shows different observations Archibald makes, the things he watches happen around him, and more. If I did this in my class I would read it to introduce the idea of observing things in science or in the outside world. Then, I would go into an activity involving observations. The students could use the book as a part of a writing assignment. They could write a story on the things they observe in their life like Archibald does in his.
Evaluation: I think this is a cute book for students to read or be read to. It is on a low enough level that most kids would be able to read it independently. The pictures are interesting and exciting to look at! They are filled with colors and pictures showing the words on the page. I think that students would really enjoy this book and I would definitely have this in my classroom.
Lesson: This book could be a lesson about observations in science. The book shows different observations Archibald makes, the things he watches happen around him, and more. If I did this in my class I would read it to introduce the idea of observing things in science or in the outside world. Then, I would go into an activity involving observations. The students could use the book as a part of a writing assignment. They could write a story on the things they observe in their life like Archibald does in his.
July 30, 2018
“Archibald was so smart and he read such a lot that he aw things in ways other people did not.”
So begins the story of Archibald Frisby, a boy who loves science so much that he ignores other kids and never plays games. So, his mother sends him to camp and there, Archibald finds a way to mix science with friends and fun.
So begins the story of Archibald Frisby, a boy who loves science so much that he ignores other kids and never plays games. So, his mother sends him to camp and there, Archibald finds a way to mix science with friends and fun.
September 6, 2017
Archibald has science on his mind. That's all he has on his mind. Hoping to introduce him to new things, his mother sends him off to camp. He doesn't leave science behind, but finds it in everything around him.
Cute story. Good for STEM
Cute story. Good for STEM
March 7, 2022
A delightful picture book that shows just how fun & helpful science can be in a young boy's life.
November 25, 2022
Cute enough, but not much to say beyond “nerdy kids should go outside more!”
March 24, 2024
Loved the illustrations and the story. A great gem of a book.
July 15, 2025
LOVED and stands the test of time with humor and stem and a camp story!
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November 27, 2011A scientific and mathematical book that circles around a boy named Archibald whose mother just can't get over how, for a lack of a better term, dorky her son is. She wishes for him to be athletic and popular instead of smart and inquisitive, so she send him away to a camp for the summer. He does end up becoming popular and somewhat athletic, but by his own fault through the use of science, math, and experimentation. A wonderful moral lesson on how to be yourself despite the pressure from others as well as educational too. I would use this for upper elementary grades as there is a bit a physics in the book that arlier grades may not understand. Students could perform their own basic physics experiement after reading about Archibald Frisby.
March 21, 2011
Wow! This book is an amazing read. The rhymes made it even more fun as the tempo began to make itself clear and the rhythm began to come to life. I loved how "Friz" never let go of his main passion: Science. Even when others tried to discourage him from pursuing what he knew was really in his heart, he kept after it and didn't give up. This is a good read read for students who have different interests than their peers and may feel out of the loop. Things changed for Archibald when he let his peers into his world. This is also a good lead in for a Science lesson. Different science concepts were mentioned such as photosynthesis and even constellations. Fun read aloud!
March 13, 2012
Archibald Frisby loves all things science-related. He's not much interested in anything else, and this gives his mother cause to worry, because he's ignoring everything else but science. So she decides to pack him off to summer camp, hoping he'll have a little fun and get away from science for a while. She doesn't realize kids like Archibald find science everywhere they go (because, of course, it is everywhere they go--literally).
If this had had inventions and made-up words, it would've sounded like Dr. Seuss (much rhyming). Kids who are science nuts like Archibald will enjoy this one.
If this had had inventions and made-up words, it would've sounded like Dr. Seuss (much rhyming). Kids who are science nuts like Archibald will enjoy this one.
January 18, 2016
Cute. I really appreciated that the science was real; the illustrations pull you into physics and astronomy (although what happened to Mercury?) and geology and archaeology and all manner of actual, get-your-interest-on science. The rhyming was a bit clunky and the mom character was saddening because too many parents freak out when their kids are readers/experimenters/introverts rather than climb-trees-throw-balls types. But Archibald keeps on keeping on with his fascinated self, and that's a great thing for kids to see.
November 25, 2012
Archibald Frisby LOVES science! He ignores kids his own age and is bored at their games. His mom grows concerned, so she decides to send him to camp to see what fun is all about. Archibald has fun, but it's because he sees the science in every activity. This story is set to rhyme, and it would be a great book to kick off the year in science class. This is an older book, but it would certainly appeal to kids now!
February 4, 2009
Archibald loves science and no matter what his mom does everything he does revolves around science including his stay at summer camp where His love of science is tranferred to his camp mates--A funny story for the child with a passion .
January 20, 2016
A very fun story of a boy who is engrossed in science. His mom worries about him not having "fun" so sends him off to camp - where even more science in the world around him awaits!
Excellent illustrations.
Excellent illustrations.
May 21, 2008
Too advanced for the younger reader and too childish for the older. I'm not sure who the target audience is for this book other than the younger mensa crowd.
January 31, 2012
Just okay. Awkward phrasing made it hard for me to enjoy reading this to my boys.
August 30, 2015
Gifted children will especially appreciate this gem.
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June 18, 2014This book advocates for trying new things, but incorporating things you love, and using your brain to solve problems. Pro-engineering.
May 3, 2016
This is a whimsical book written in couplets. The humor is more aimed for older students and adults....might be lost on younger students. A nice cross with higher level science and math.
January 22, 2017
Elementary teachers of science, you will want to share this with students!
November 24, 2019
A cute story about a science-obsessed kid. My family enjoyed the story, but found the rhyming text to be a bit awkward at times.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews