| Title | : | Nice Try, Charlie! |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1773061801 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781773061801 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 48 |
| Publication | : | Published August 4, 2020 |
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7
Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
Nice Try, Charlie! Reviews
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The narrative flow of this book is strange. But, I appreciate how it highlights resourcefulness, generosity, honesty, neighborhoods and community.
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I was delighted to read another book by Matt James, author of one of my favorites,
The Funeral. The art is, again, unique and begs lingering exploration. Community is important. I love that authors, illustrators, and publishers are reinforcing that with so many book treasures. -
A quirky story of community and how we interact with each other.
Charlie, the local dumpster diver, is out for a stroll in the neighborhood one day. He finds many treasures in the trash and puts them in his pushcart, helps get Aunt Myrtle's cat down from the tree and returns it to her, and finds a box with a pie in it. In order to do the the right thing of finding the pie's owner, he continues walking and asking Margaret, Malcolm, and the birds if the pie is theirs. When he returns to where he found the pie, he finds that Aunt Myrtle has a surprise set up for the neighbors.
James has a knack for finding an unusual story or character and making it/them come to life in an endearing way. He succeeds magnificently on this one. Charlie's background is nebulous. Is he homeless? Does he have a mental illness? What is his backstory? What the reader does know is that he is known in the neighborhood/community. He is a trusted, honest, endearing person whose contribution to the community is to keep an eye on it and straighten out whatever problems he can.
James' art is always interesting. The illustrations are rendered in acrylic, gouache and ink on masonite. Dimensional elements were made by using cut paper, photographs, cardboard, making tape and scroll-sawn masonite, all painted with acrylic. A few illustrations were digitally enhanced. The style of his art varies within the text. The first illustration (Charlie tying his boots) looks like it is 3-D. Turn the page to see 2D paintings. His use of color is on-target; the duller colors fit well into the grittiness of the city neighborhood. Placement of text is ever-changing, as well. It almost forces the reader to look at the art before reading. My favorite illustration has to be the gatefold of the pie box. When the reader lifts them open, they look down into the box at the magnificent pie! It looks lemony. Yum! Eagle-eyed readers will note that Charlie rides off into the "sunset" on his new riding cart (combining his pushcart with the red bicycle frame he found tossed in the trash earlier). Be sure to check out the book cover (under the jacket) after you read the book. Mystery solved!
An intriguing character study, this could also be used in units on neighbors/neighborhoods/community, helping others, and friendships.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool-grade 3. -
A colorful neighborhood dumpster diver tries to find the owner of a found pie but is unsuccessful and ends up sharing it with his neighbors in this warm-hearted story.
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I liked the pictures in this story and how they were layered. This is the story of a man who finds things and what he does with those things.
