Straw (Spoon #3)

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author) Scott Magoon (Illustrator)

Straw (Spoon #3)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Spoon

First there was Spoon. Then came Chopsticks. Now the last... Straw! The final entry in a trio of favorite "punny" tales reminds readers to savor life's little pleasures, from beloved bestselling and award-winning author Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Straw has always had a great thirst for being first, slurping up anything in sight and rushing straight to the finish in every situation. But when his speedy streak gets the best of him, it takes a friend to show Straw how to take his time and drink in the amazing world around him. A companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, this warm and wise story--packed with the clever puns synonymous with this popular series--celebrates the joys of slowing down.

Don't miss these other titles in the Spoon series: Spoon and Chopsticks

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Publishers Weekly

In this peppy companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, bendable paper Straw, who "has a great thirst for being first," delights in boasting to his friends when he empties his glass well before they can complete their innate tasks. "Done!" he brags, as a funnel, sand timer, and eyedropper, still plugging along, look on chagrined. But Straw discovers a downside to his competitive craze when he dives into a snow cone and eagerly slurps away, soon experiencing a "Brain Freeze!" that "did not feel good--not even one little bit." A curlicue glass straw encourages Straw to slow down and savor, advice that Spoon reinforces: "Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the milk shake!" The late Rosenthal's trademark wordplay is on full display, as is Magoon's flair for giving kitchen utensils personality through a revealing shift of googly eyes, a suspicious lilt of an eyebrow, a telltale curve of a mouth. Relaxing in a frozen drink, Straw delivers the tale's final flip line: when Spoon asks him, "What's shakin'?" he replies, "Just chillin'. And it's strawesome." Ages 3-5. Agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency. (Feb.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—A companion book to precursors Spoon and Chopsticks, this third installment about another popular mealtime implement showcases Straw, a stripy fellow with many friends and "...a great thirst for being first." When zipping ahead results in an unanticipated case of brain freeze, Straw starts appreciating the slower, leisurely, and more meaningful hobby of blowing bubbles and stopping to "...smell the milk shake," along with floating off to sleep in a bubbly root beer float. He finally takes the time to savor the juicy red strawberry and swirly whipped cream in his glass. Rosenthal's quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life. Some of the images, however, may be somewhat unclear to youngsters. While goggle-eyed, swirly Krazy Straw is recognizably fun, young audiences may have trouble identifying the other tools used to pick up liquid: an eye dropper, funnel, and others. A turquoise pick in the shape of a palm tree may represent a utensil used to mix adult cocktails, but this will not mean much to children. Overall, kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit. VERDICT With such a child-friendly protagonist, children may be more inclined to absorb this lesson. Who wouldn't want to "chill" in a frothy milkshake?—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Rosenthal's quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life.... Kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit."—School Library Journal
Amy Krouse Rosenthal
AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL is the author of lots of books for children (such as That's Me Loving You, On the Spot, and Uni the Unicorn, of course) and even some books for grown-ups (like Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life). You can find more about Amy online at whoisamy.com.

BRIGETTE BARRAGER (Uni the Unicorn) is an artist, designer, and illustrator and writer of children's books. She spent some time at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios before taking the plunge into freelance illustration, where she's lived happily ever after. She resides in Los Angeles with her handsome husband, cute doggy, and terrible cat. Visit Brigette at brigetteb.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781484749555
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
February 04, 2020
Series
Spoon
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Conduct of life
Mindfulness (Psychology)
Disposable tableware
Plastic tableware

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