1. Bibliography
Stead, Philip. 2010. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Ill by Erin Stead. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596434028.
2. Plot Summary
A loyal zookeeper named Amos McGee who is thoughtful & helpful with all of the animals at the zoo wakes up too sick to go into work one day. He does activities each day with each animal including running races with a tortoise and helping a rhinoceros with his allergies! When he does not show up at the zoo, the animals come to check on him. They reciprocate the good will he has shown them & help cheer him up. When it’s time for bed, they all snuggle up tight before heading back to the zoo the next day.
3. Critical Analysis
The use of basic colors & repetitive phrases make this book enjoyable and appropriate for children. Philip Stead has created a story that children can relate to in multiple situations when someone is unable to be there for them. Stead uses anthropomorphism to give life to the animals by showing them playing games, reading books and even riding a train.
The main theme in this story is importance of the thoughtful little things that you can do to show your care for those around you. A child reading this will come away with the lesson that if you treat others loyally, they will do the same for you. Amos treats his friends at the zoo with kindness and he receives kindness in return.
Erin Stead creates a world that draws your focus into the main characters. The details are so beautiful yet memorable. Every character has a detailed and expressive face. Each animal has his own shape and size which creates a variety of scenes for children. Stead makes the animals look beautiful whether they are running, reading or all stuffed on a train together!
4. Award & Review Excerpts
Awards and recognitions: Caldecott Medal, Best Illustrated Children’s book award, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books, ALA Notable Books for Children and nominated for Charlotte Zolotow Award.
School Library Journal - “The artwork in this quiet tale of good deeds rewarded uses woodblocking-printing techniques, soft flat colors, & occasional bits of red.”
Booklist - “The extension of the familiar pet-bonding theme will have great appeal, especially in the final images of the wild creatures snuggled up with Amos in his cozy home.”
5. Connections
-Use this book to treat a lesson of treating others how you would like to be treated.
-Also, use this to lead a discussion to reduce the fears of animals that children may have (probably most useful in a one-on-one lesson with a fearful child).
-Invite children to make a list of things that they do with people in their lives that they would miss if they could not do them one day.
-Other books about the zoo:
Redmond, E.S. 2010. Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo. ISBN: 9780763649753
Markarian, Margie. 2010. Who scoops elephant poo? : working at a zoo. ISBN: 9781410938480
