Just How Long Can a Long String Be?!

by Keith Baker

Top picture book author and artist Keith Baker presents a classic book about problem solving for the very young.

One day Ant encounters a great big ball of string, and can't see his way over or through it. Fortunately, when he asks his friend Bird "How long is a string?" Bird wisely shows him all the wonderful ways a string can be cut up and used, to the delight of both friends. And after a day of adventure the question doesn't seem to be a problem anymore -- a string can be as long as Ant needs it to be.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Keith Baker


Keith Baker lives in Seattle. He has written and illustrated many acclaimed picture books for young children, including the New York Times bestselling LMNO Peas; 1-2-3 Peas; Little Green Peas; Hap-pea All Year; LMNO Pea-quel; My Octopus Arms; and No Two Alike.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Just how long can a string be?" asks a tiny ant, and his avian friend responds: "it all depends..." What it depends upon, of course, is the use to which the string is being put, whether tugging a balloon or hanging a picture. And so, in rhyming text, the bird lists the many ways a string can be used, helping ant to see that there is no single answer to his question.

Recommended in a recent issue of The Horn Book Magazine, Just How Long Can A String Be?! is an engaging picture-book, with a playful tone and appealing pastel illustrations. I'm not sure that I am convinced by the assertion, on the front flap of the dust-jacket, that Baker's title will help young readers to break down large problems. But it definitely does communicate the idea that sometimes there is more than one answer to a question.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ant asks a bird how long a string is. Bird replies it depends on what it is used for.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

My personal reaction to this book was that it had great illustrations. For example, the little string is very simple yet the main focus on the pages.


The purpose of this book would be a read aloud for curricular purposes. This would be suitable for Kindergarten. This would be all about measurement. This book simplifies measurement to a string. I would use this in the classroom when showing measurements and how long different things are. There are short rhymes and illustrations match up and engage the students. This book would also be good to show how you can use a string to measure different things throughout your house.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO CUTE. Another winner. A bird explains to an ant the different things a string can be used for. Beautiful, sunny pictures, and kids would have a great time finding the tiny ant on each page.

Oh. Apparently the string was supposed to be an "allegory" for a "problem" that little "ants" need to solve. Taking a star away now.

Arthur A. Levine Books.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just How Long Can a Long String Be?! Bird and Ant take the reader through wonderfully illustrated scenarios to answer that question. With only a few words per page - with an easy to pick up rhyming scheme - and beautiful illustrations by Keith Baker, this is a treasure that children will ask for again and again.

Baker, K. (2009). Just How Long Can a Long String Be?! New York, NY: Authur A. Levine Books.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When an ant asks a bird how long a string can be, the bird proceeds to explain all kinds of different things that string can be used for that would dictate how long it should be. Theoretically, the book is also supposed to communicate that you can keep working on a problem and eventually detangle it, but it didn't really communicate that to me. To me, it's just a fun story about a bird and an ant and a string. Appropriate for story time, but not outstanding.

[Melissa Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book style math informational book that helps young students see that length is subjective to its use or need. The text is cleverly written in a rhyming style conversation between an aunt and a bird about how long a long string can be. The vibrant and brightly water colored illustrations support the examples given through the text to give a child a visual while reading.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ant asks a bird about string. The bird offers lots of examples for how long string needs to be.
Use to teach that the right length depends on the job to be done.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down

[Kiersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful. Eli liked finding the little ant on each page

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oz didn't find this very intriguing, but I liked the idea of this story. It's a good metaphor for life...a string is as long as it needs to be. He might be a little young for it.

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

GPL Storytime Goes Online

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be very, very sweet. The rhyming text is short and thoughtful- perfect for young children. I especially like that the verses are broken up over the course of several pages so that the do not become monotonous, boring, or annoying. I do think it a little odd that it's a conversation between a bird and an ant. Wouldn't a bird realistically be more likely to eat an ant than explain the theoretical properties of length as applied to strings? I like the general nature of the inquiry though- it has just enough nonsense to be interesting but not so much that it's just wacky. Overall, a nice, sweet book with lovely little illustrations of a really cute bird and a pretty cute but much smaller ant.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baker, Keith Just how long can a long string be?! pgs. 32 Arthur A. Levine Books Language~G, Sexual Content~G; Violence~G

A ant encounters a LONG piece of string and asks his friend Bird the question, “Just how long can a long string be?!” Bird takes ant and the reader along as he describes how it depends on what your perspective is and what the string is used for. This delightful picture book will entertain all ages. The illustrations deserve their own applause.

ELM–ESSENTIAL Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Library

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's not really anything special here -- the blurb says it's about problem solving, which is why I was interested in it, but it's not really . . . I don't even understand the ant's question! How long can a long string be?! It's as long as it is, and also you can cut it to make it shorter. That's the answer, that's it. I mean, the bird took the roundabout way that required a lot of illustrations to keep kids entertained, but he also didn't really answer the question.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was eager to read this book after hearing some critical acclaim but I found it just so-so; it's a cute enough story about all the different uses of a string and it certainly plays to a child's imagination and sense of curiosity but I just found it rather uninspired compared to my high hopes for it.

[Jess Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! The illustrations are great, and there is just enough writing per page to be interesting but not overdone. It could be read to toddlers or preschoolers with success, and it also does a nice job of showing all the uses for a single piece of string (conveying the idea that one thing can be used in different ways, multiple ways). It's just super adorable!

[Megan Renner]

Baker, K. (2004). Just how long can a long string be?

I enjoyed this story. It explains the different uses for a piece of string. Also that it just the right length for anything that you may need to use it for. I rate this story 5/5. I liked the illustrations especially the one that was about a balloon.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a bird and an ant and the question of how long a string should be. Keith Baker always gives us beautiful illustrations and this is definately a fun book to look at. Maybe not the most inventive text but the pictures carried me delighted through. Ages 3+

[Marguarite Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story about string. It seems that several quirky stories about string have popped up in the last couple years. It would be fun to pair this with Muriel's Red Sweater by Dara Dokas and a couple of string stories

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answers an imponderable like "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...",in an original and delightful way. Illustrations are simple but cheerful.Good for memory care storytime--bring a ball of yarn to "connect" everyone, or strings to tie on each finger present.

[Stephanie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book 41: This book was very enjoyable to read. It rhymes at times and the pictures are nice to look at. All of the different colors really caught my eye. And it teaches little children that there are lots of ways to use a string, not just to tie a shoe!

[Sarah]

It has some good rythmn, and while the blurb on the cover says it is about problems, the actual book is not very preachy!

[The Library Lady]

Terrific concept, nice pictures and a text that flows well for reading. This is going to work well in classrooms and may make even adults stop and think about an ordinary household item.

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for encouraging imagination. I love the illustrations of the bird.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I didn't love it. I totally don't get how it's supposed to be a metaphor for breaking down a problem as the inside cover indicated. Ah well. Back to the library it goes...

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice. Might be a good storytime pairing with . It also has a banjo in the story!

[MissInformation · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhymes, simple, repetitive. Cute characters in pastel. Good for opening thinking by showing many possible uses of string.

Would work for youngest Storytime if you cut a few out.

[Marge]

Great story to use with a string and One Elephant Went Out to Play

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and it went over well at storytime too.