When Andy Met Sandy (Andy & Sandy)

by Tomie dePaola (Author) Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Series: Andy & Sandy

From Caldecott and Newbery Honoree, Tomie dePaola, and Emmy Award-winning writer for the Muppets Jim Lewis comes the first book in a brand-new easy-to-read picture book series about friendship.

Andy is small. Sandy is tall. Andy is quiet. Sandy is LOUD. But when these two seemingly opposites meet at a playground one day, it might just be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Written in simple words and short, declarative sentences, this book is perfect for little ones just learning to read on their own.

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Publishers Weekly

DePaola and Muppets writer Lewis kick off a picture-book series with a sunny story of first friendship, which follows a short, brown-skinned boy named Andy as he gets to know Sandy, a girl with round eyeglasses and a mop of curly red hair. The narrative bounces effortlessly between the children's perspectives. "She is new here," thinks Andy, as Sandy returns his gaze, wondering, "Is this his playground?" Rather than have the two connect instantly, dePaola and Lewis credibly portray each child's tentativeness, while emphasizing what they have in common through parallel phrases. "I bet she has lots of friends," thinks Andy; "I bet he wants to play by himself," muses Sandy. After each child imagines the benefits of playing together, they enjoy a playground activity that requires trust and cooperation: a seesaw. The acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations are classic dePaola, with spare lines, rich colors, and facial expressions that transmit heaps of personality and heart. Short sentences, large type, and the early-reader trim size will give beginning readers' confidence a boost. Simultaneously available: Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--In a brand-new, not-to-be-missed series for young children, dePaola and Lewis introduce readers to Andy and Sandy. When Andy Met Sandy opens with a boy excited to see an empty playground, but within moments, a girl arrives. The two play independently, confident that the other will not want to be bothered, but after spying the seesaw, they realize playing together could have its advantages, and they become fast friends. In the second installment of the series, Andy and Sandy are playing dress-up on a rainy day. Once again dePaola and Lewis highlight the children making independent costume choices before realizing that teamwork allows them to dress up as a dragon. The authors carefully craft their story to avoid gender stereotypes when assigning each character's costume. The design layout in these early readers is flawless. Wordless spreads show sequencing and slow readers down as they digest the stories. Watercolor illustrations that help readers decode text are expressive and appealing. The repetition of sight words and simple sentence structures surrounded by plenty of white space are ideal for young readers and encourage independent reading. The depth of the stories also make them perfect for shared readings and discussions. VERDICT Andy and Sandy belong in every beginning reader collection.--Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"The acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations are classic dePaola, with spare lines, rich colors, and facial expressions that transmit heaps of personality and heart. Short sentences, large type, and the early-reader trim size will give beginning readers' confidence a boost."—Publishers Weekly
Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.

It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.

He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.

Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.

- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the children's book world, including:

- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

copyright (c) 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781534413726
Lexile Measure
280
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
April 03, 2018
Series
Andy & Sandy
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV043000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Beginner
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Friendship in children
Playgrounds

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