A Sick Day for Amos McGee facts for kids
Cover
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| Author | Philip C. Stead |
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| Illustrator | Erin E. Stead |
| Language | English |
| Published | May 25, 2010 Roaring Brook Press |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-1-59643-402-8 |
| OCLC | 466344397 |
A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a wonderful children's picture book from 2011. It was written by Philip C. Stead and beautifully illustrated by Erin E. Stead. The story is about a kind zookeeper named Amos McGee. He has a special bond with the animals he looks after. One day, when Amos gets sick, his animal friends decide to visit him. This book teaches us about true friendship and how friends help each other. It was highly praised, and Erin Stead even won the famous Caldecott Medal for her amazing illustrations.
How the Book Was Made
The author, Philip Stead (who goes by Phil), wrote this book especially for his wife, Erin Stead, to illustrate. He found an old drawing of an elephant she had made. Erin had stopped drawing for three years and felt a bit discouraged. Phil and the book's editor, Neal Porter, asked Erin to illustrate the book.
It took Erin about a year to create all the pictures for the book. This was the first book she had ever illustrated! Phil and Erin worked together. They decided how the story would flow and where pictures could tell the story without words. When the book was finished, they didn't expect it to be a huge hit. They thought it was a "quiet" story.
The book was first released on May 25, 2010. Only a few thousand copies were printed at first. But soon, over 300,000 copies were printed! The book was also translated into many different languages. Two audio versions of the book were also released. One was in 2012, narrated by David de Vries. Another was in 2017, narrated by Jim Dale.
What Happens in the Story
Amos McGee is a very organized man. He does the same things every day. He wakes up, puts on his uniform, and catches the #5 bus to the zoo at 6:00 AM. At the City Zoo, Amos always makes time for his animal friends. He gives each of them exactly what they need.
Amos has a special routine with his favorite animals:
- He plays chess with the elephant. The elephant takes a long time to think about each move.
- He races the tortoise and lets the tortoise win.
- He sits quietly with the very shy penguin.
- He lends a handkerchief to the rhinoceros when it has a runny nose.
- At night, he reads to the owl, who is scared of the dark.
One morning, Amos wakes up with a bad cold. He knows he can't go to work. Because Amos is such a good friend, his animal pals start to worry. They wonder where he is. So, the animals decide to leave the zoo! They hop on the #5 bus and go to Amos's house. To cheer Amos up, each animal helps him in their own special way. They even do things that might be a little scary for them. After helping Amos, they all go to sleep. They have to catch the bus back to the zoo in the morning!
Art and Story Details
A Sick Day for Amos McGee feels like a timeless story. It doesn't really show what year it takes place. The main message of the book is about how friends help each other. Erin Stead's illustrations have small, hidden details. These details help make Amos and the animals feel real and unique. These subtle pictures add to the book's overall feeling.
Erin created her illustrations using a special method called woodblock printing. She also used pencils. She mostly used soft, muted colors. But she added bright yellows and reds to make certain parts stand out. Kitty Flynn, a reviewer for The Horn Book Magazine, said the pictures were drawn well. She felt they matched the "gentle text" of the story. Many people especially loved the last few pages of the book.
