Joe on the Go (Green Light Readers Level 1)

I bought this book after I read it with my daugher in a library. This is one of those book that my kids always want to read 1M times. Perhaps it is because of the repetition of some phrases that gives kids some predictibility and it sounds so nice when you read it. Or perhaps it is for small details here or there in the drawings. I have the hardcover book since 2009 and we keep reading it to our kids (now 6 and 4). I have to recognize that I also love it as in some way, you can get the feelings of the little frog with the beautiful drawings and the text. And the story is very simple but kids are so engaged and the end is the best, specially the details in the last pictures (small ice cream stains that kids love to find literally 1 million times).It is a must!

Joe wants to go exploring. He is a little frog and must have some one go with him. Everyone he asks is too busy! Finally when her asks grandma she agrees and off they go!The book is part of the green light readers series. Young children will feel a since of pride when completing the book. There are very few words per page and the story moves at a fast pace.

This vibrantly illustrated book tells the story of Joe the Frog, a spirited amphibian who just wants to go, go, go! -- whether by scooter, wagon, airplane, auto (shades of Mr. Toad!), tricycle, or skateboard. The crux of the rhyming narrative is that Joe on the Go picked the wrong day for going mobile" It's his frog family reunion! Frogs, frogs everywhere, but not a single one to speed with!The frogly green pages abound with picnic and party action, as well as assorted characters. Although unmistably froggy, their faces and poses parrot their human reunion counterparts: Two frogs just want to drink their favorite beverage and laugh, one is stuffing his face with a hamburger, there's the resident phofrographer (sorry, couldn't resist), and scolding types who complain that Joe is either too big, too small, too young, too old, or too unskilled to satisfy his need for speed.Joe is not exactly a role model: He "bawls" when everyone turns him down, and shows zero understanding of others' needs and desires during a big family reunion. (You might use Joe's self-centered attitude as a springboard for discussion).There's a swift and satisfying conclusion; however, as "Grandma," offers to go to the ice cream store; Grandma, whom he never even thought to ask. We see Joe on top of Grandma in her wheelchair, pushed by one other accomodating adult, off to the store and elsewhere: "And they went until they could go no more." The illustrations are bright, production values high (good, thick paper), the rhyming unforced, and, while there's some moral ambiguity here, it's a fun book that recognizes Grandmas and the craving to GO!