By the Side of the Road

by Jules Feiffer

Book Overview

Richard won't stop fooling around in the backseat of the car, despite his father's warning that he's going to pull over by the side of the road and let Richard out in the middle of nowhere unless he behaves.But Richard doesn't learn. After an hour by the side of the road, he decides it's not such a bad place. So that's where he takes up residence, first in a small house, and then, as the months and years go by, in a network of underground hideaways,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786809086
• ISBN13: 9780786809080
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Michael Di Capua Books
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.9" x 7.3"
• Age Range: 3 years and up
• Grade Range: Preschool and higher

Customer Reviews

The story interests children

When Richard won't stop goofing off with his brother in the backseat of the car, his parents leave him temporarily at the side of the road. Just to show them, he refuses to come home and builds his own living quarters beneath the ground and grows up, by the side of the road. This first person narrative uses cut-out, single and full-page pencil drawings that give a sense of earnestness to this ridiculous story and to portray Richard's new life and the story gives children a chance to think they might be able to take complete charge of their lives, even though most parents I know would bring their child kicking and screaming home.

Every Child's Secret Fantasy.....

"I was fooling around in the backseat of the car with my little brother, Rudy..." So begins Richard's simple story of how he ended up living his life "by the side of the road." One thing led to another, as it usually does on a long car trip, until his father finally issued that well known and well worn ultimatum: "If you don't behave, I'm gonna pull over right here, and you can wait by the side of the road till we come and get you." But this time when his father pulled the car on to the shoulder and stopped, Richard decided to call his bluff and get out. And there he stood, by the side of the road. At first he was a little nervous, standing there. "An hour later I was kind of used to it. Two hours later it was where I wanted to live. Better than my house at least, where my mother and father were always telling me what to do." When his parents come back to take him home, he decides he likes it right where he is, and chooses to stay. As hours pass to days, then weeks, months, and eventually years, no one can convince Richard to go back home, and he makes quite a nice life for himself by the side of the road..... Jules Feiffer offers the ultimate childhood fantasy in this clever and engaging picture book. His straighforward text, with its deadpan delivery is secondary to the marvelous cartoon-like, black and white illustrations, and each page is filled with playful wit, expressive detail, and emotion. Unfortunately, Mr Feiffer goes a bit too far and too long, detailing Richard's entire roadside life, and concludes with a weak ending that detracts from an otherwise charming fantasy. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, By The Side Of The Road is worth a read just for the artwork, and will delight kids with its intriguing, though unrealistic possibilities.

By the side of the side of the outside

Out is good. Away is even better. Far away is better still.In the late 60's I remember seeing a hitchhiker outside San Francisco holding a cardboard sign with one word: OUT.This book recounts the glories of OUT, which are many: freedom, choices, time to think, creation, and many, many more.It also warns any potential away-getters that others, for example, moms; dads; friends; potential mates hunting you down; possibly, though not necessarily, siblings; former teachers (not mentioned in the book but also likely, :-)) ) and sundry others.This can be and is marketed as a child's picture book by our witty and simultaneously biting friend Jules Feiffer, but it is for the child in anyone.It reached the child in me and, for 20 or so light minutes before I picked my fourth grader son up at school, made me, may I utter it, happy.I hope and trust it will do the same for you whether you have a fourth grader or not.