Lauren Child evokes the (mostly) joyful chaos of family life--through the eyes of an observant young narrator. I know lots of people, most of them in my family. Some of them live in our house, and some of them just visit. We are always raising a ruckus, but that's the way we (mostly) like it. When your annoying little brother shares your room, your older brother is in the tunnel of adolescence, your dad hides in his office eating rocky road ice cream and swaying to Frank Sinatra, and your mother listen to foreign language tapes in a candlelit bathtub, what can you do to get away from it all? Meet the feisty Clarice Bean and sympathize with her search for just a little peace and quiet amidst a family many of us will recognize only too well. In a brilliant picture book debut, Lauren Child's witty text and jazzy illustrations capture the wonderful wacky chaos of a large extended family from the hilarious vantage point of one of its youngest members.
We in this house adore this story. this must be a different rendition then the one we used to get from our local library though. Some of the words were different, and we liked it the other way. When we read it we just substitute what we know from before. If there is an older version that we could get I would rather like to know.
Nice to read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is a great book for kids: boys and girls alike. Very creatively illustrated and a nice story to read, Lauren Child does an amazing job with this children's book. In this volume, you'll get to know who is Clarice Bean and her family (which is presented in a most imaginative way). I still have to read the other Clarice Bean books, but this one I don't regret I bought it.
Kids and Adults both love this book - great fun
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
This is a great book, fun for children and adults, Clarice Bean introduces us to her family - her brother Minal Cricket (where do these names come from) her older sister Marcie and older brother Kurt - (who is going through the dark tunnel of adolescence.....) Mother loves lying in the bath and learning languages, Father swivels in his chair saying important things into the phone and eating tutti frutti ice cream. It is all from the point of view of Clarice Bean, so it is off-centre, fun and witty. Bright illustrations mean that my 18month old as well as my three year old enjoy it. It is a picture book with both collage and painting, bright, large illustrations which appeal to both adult and child as well. There is a story running through it - Clarice Bean is looking for peace and quiet and can't get it at all. Highly recommended along with Lauren Child's other books
Clarice Bean -- That's Me
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
A delightful new voice in children's books comes from Lauren Child, with her book, "Clarice Bean - That's Me" . The book's narrator, Clarice Bean, is a precocious little girl struggling through the circus of family life. Her mother says Clarice's older brother is "in the dark tunnel of adolescence." It's Clarice's observation, however, that "usually, he's in his room." When she fights with her brother and throws his blanket out the window and it lands on the neighbor's dog, Clarice is in trouble ("Right now," her father tells her, "you are not the flavor of the month, young lady."); she relates: "I am in such BIG TROUBLE that I get sent to my room for 3 whole hours. Alone. I LOVE IT (Finally, some peace and quiet.)." The writing is fresh and true -- the perfect voice for an intelligent young girl -- and the illustrations, also by Child, are a charming mix of ink line drawings, cut-paper collage and photographic background. Typography also plays a role in mimicking the inflections and emphasis of Clarice's pre-adolescent, observant narration.
Hilarious and too true!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Clarice Bean, That's Me is such a funny book. In it Lauren Child depicts Clarice and her wacky, oversize family. Everyone can recognize the teenager in "the dark tunnel of adolescence" or grandad whose eyesight is on the blink and who therefore is an easy target in card games . . . My kids really loved it and they're now making up their own books about our family (the results could be frightening!). This is a great "alternative" new baby gift-tells it like it really is! Lauren Child's art is wonderful, too, so expressive and quirky.
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