WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Description
Two-time Newbery Medalist Lowry introduces young readers to the elements of storytelling through the tales of the lovable Gooney Bird in the first book of her beloved series about the most interesting second-grader at Watertower Elementary. Illustrations.
Two-time Newbery Medalist Lowry (The Giver; Number the Stars) introduces a feisty, friendly heroine in this light novel. Readers know immediately that red-haired, freckle-face Gooney Bird Greene is as unorthodox as her name: wearing pajamas and cowboy boots, she arrives at the door of her new second-grade classroom all alone, "without even a mother to introduce her." She announces she has just moved from China (which turns out to be the name of a town, not the country) and demands "a desk right smack in the middle of the room, because I like to be right smack in the middle of everything." Dressed each day in another eccentric outfit, she relays to the class a series of stories that are "absolutely true" even though they initially seem anything but. Stretching the facts creatively through some wily wordplay, Gooney Bird explains how she spent time in jail (while playing Monopoly), acquired diamond earrings at a palace (they came from a gumball machine in an ice cream shop called The Palace) and directed a symphony orchestra (she directed the lost driver of the bus transporting musicians to the auditorium). Interruptions from curious classmates heighten the fun. Never mind the dubious likelihood that a second-grader would possess such command of language and pithy delivery; youngsters will likely hope that Gooney Bird has enough tales stored in her fertile imagination to fill another volume. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 6-10. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-Second-grader Gooney Bird Greene is new to Watertower Elementary School. She tells fantastic stories, which are "always absolutely true." Her clothes are always unusual, ranging from pajamas with cowboy boots to a pink tutu over green stretch pants. In seven chapters, she captivates her classmates with her wild tales about "How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet" and "The Prince, the Palace, and the Diamond Earrings." She assumes the role of the teacher as she fields the class's questions about storytelling. The students learn that stories have main characters and secondary characters, and that using the word "suddenly" gets people's attention. In the last chapter, she takes off her props, an orange fur jacket and a cowhide purse, which she used to tell how her cat fell in love with a cow, and assures her peers that everyone has all sorts of stories to tell. While the "voice" of Gooney Bird is supposed to be that of a second grader, it sounds more like an adult talking through her. Most of the time, she sounds just like the teacher. The cleverly titled stories could spark children's interest in writing their own stories. This isn't one of Lowry's best, but it's a useful read-aloud.-Janet M. Bair, Trumbull Library, CT Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Whether she’s writing comedy, adventure, or poignant, powerful drama—from Attaboy, Sam! and Anastasia Krupnik to Number the Stars and The Giver—Lois Lowry’s appeal is as broad as her subject matter and as deep as her desire to affect an eager generation of readers. An author who is “fast becoming the Beverly Cleary for the upper middle grades” (The Horn Book Magazine), Lois Lowry has written more than 50 books for children and young adults and is a two-time Newbery Medal winner.
Lowry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended junior high school in Tokyo, Japan. At the age of 17, she attended Brown University and majored in writing. She left school at 19, got married, and had four children before her 25th birthday. After some time, she returned to college and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maine.
Lowry didn’t start writing professionally until she was in her mid-30s. Now she spends time writing every single day. When she’s not writing, Lowry enjoys gardening during the spring and summer and knitting during the winter. One of her other hobbies is photography, and her own photos grace the covers of Number the Stars, The Giver, and Gathering Blue. Lois Lowry has four children and two grandchildren. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ya sea que escriba comedia, aventuras o dramas conmovedores y poderosos, desde ¡Attaboy, Sam! y Anastasia Krupnik hasta ¿Quién cuenta las estrellas? y El dador, el atractivo de Lois Lowry es tan amplio como su temática y tan profundo como su deseo de conmover a una generación entusiasta de lectores. Una autora que se está convirtiendo rápidamente en la Beverly Cleary para los grados intermedios superiores (The Horn Book Magazine), Lois Lowry ha escrito más de 50 libros para niños y jóvenes y ha ganado dos veces la Medalla Newbery.
Lowry nació en Honolulu, Hawái, y asistió a la escuela secundaria en Tokio, Japón. A los 17 años, asistió a la Universidad de Brown y se especializó en escritura. Dejó la escuela a los 19 años, se casó y tuvo cuatro hijos antes de cumplir los 25. Tiempo después, regresó a la universidad y recibió su licenciatura de la Universidad de Maine.
Lowry no empezó a escribir profesionalmente hasta mediados de los 30 años. Ahora dedica tiempo a escribir todos los días. Cuando no está escribiendo, Lowry disfruta de la jardinería durante la primavera y el verano y del tejido durante el invierno. Otra de sus aficiones es la fotografía, y sus propias fotos adornan las portadas de ¿Quién cuenta las estrellas?, El dador y En busca del azul. Lois Lowry tiene cuatro hijos y dos nietos. Vive en Cambridge, Massachusetts.
