Animals Should Definitely Not Act Like People

by Judi Barrett and Judith Barrett

Book Overview

Animals should definitely not act like people. ...because it would be foolish for a fish, so silly for a sheep, and preposterous for a panda -- as Ron Barrett's wonderfully detailed drawings show. This book will show children a new way of looking at animals and people, even as they laugh.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689307683
• ISBN13: 9780689307683
• Release Date: July 1980
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.5" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

There's a reason you don't see hens in pants

This deceptively simple read-aloud will appeal to all from ages 3 to 93. Each two-page spread features one animal wearing some very inappropriate piece of clothing, accompanied by a quick explanation of why it's wrong for this animal to wear this particular article. For example, a kangaroo would find a coat with pockets "quite unneccessary" and a moose might find suspenders hard to "manage." The illustrations are a particular delight; the animals have very droll expressions and the problems are depicted with some subtlety which will encourage dialogue during a read aloud. This 1970 title truly has stood the test of time!

Very cute book!

We got this book as a Weekly Reader edition in our QVC pack and it's just great. I have to read this one almost nightly - it's just so funny to see all these animals dressed in clothes. My favorite personally is the last one with the elephant wearing a dress: "because it might be embarrassing." The elephant has the same dress on as the lady in front of her. Pretty cute stuff. And hey, you need to buy it just to see the hen try to lay an egg in a pair of pants! Great book, we laugh ourselves silly over this one.

A creative and entertaining book.

My first grade daughter and I just read this book (and listened to an accompanying audio recording) at the library today. It was so enjoyable that I plan to purchase it for my four-year-old nephew as a holiday gift. The illustrations are bright, colorful and very clever. The text is simple (and easy enough for a beginning reader), yet very creative. The Barretts really hit the nail on the head with this one.

Laughed out loud...

My husband brought this book home from the library. I picked it up to read it to my 2-year-old, and could not stop laughing at the picture of the hen. If you have seen the book, you know what I mean. My son didn't think it was funny because he's too young, but I just know that someday he will love this book!

A Definite Must

My 3rd grade class can't get enough of this book. Easy text to read and the illustrations make the book. It covers several different animals wearing clothing that would never suit them. For example...sheep wearing a wool sweater, a giraffe wearing neck ties, a chicken wearing pants (Where does the egg go?), just to name a few. Maybe animals shouldn't wear clothing, but your child will definitely LOVE this book. You'll probably enjoy it too!