Arlene Sardine

While many are offended or upset by this book, I find 'Arlene Sardine' to be a wonderful book. What a great way to approach the rocky topic of death with kids. Picture books have the wonderful ability to take uncomfortable situations and help parents address with them children. Sometimes, they bring to light problems that a child is having that the parent never knew about! Plus, this is just pure fun - the art is hysterical and it is perfect to read aloud. So, yes, you need to preview before reading this to your young child. But you should be doing that anyway. No one else is going to for you! And, no, this might not be appropriate for everyone - but give it a try! Raschka is a wonderful artist, and a talented writer.

This story is absolutely fabulous. I teach 4th grade and teach students with and without disabilities. I differentiated this story for all of their needs. They were truly excited to use web organizers for the vocabulary, they loved sequencing the story with pictures to orally retell, and loved the fact that the story continued even after the main character became a sardine. They had no clue what a sardine was. Boy were they disgusted when I brought in the example. They loved the repetitive language, and the pictures were awesome. I reccomend this to any teacher. Contact me for lesson plans.

Arlene could be commentary, but why make it so complicated? This is a great book with brilliant artwork that young children love because things are made very obvious. I reconciles the fact that all the kids' books and cartoons personify small creatures and animals with the fact that we eat those smelly little things. It's a hilarious gift for most adults, unless of course they are the overly-sensitive mom-type. I personally enjoy reading this to children and friends alike.

My daughter is now two years old and she loves this book. It starts out with a little fish called Arlene that wants to be a sardine - it ends with Arlene accomplishing her life-long goal - and gives some details of the process.I think it is intended to be light-hearted, and since some reviews have concentrated on the grimmer aspects of the story (namely the heroine of the story dying and being packed in the can, or under some interpretations, turning life forms into commodities) I think I will tell you what my daughter enjoys about this book.1) Arlene is a little fish that she can follow through the whole book because Arlene has a red circle on her cheek.2) The fish swim "this way" and "that way". This seems to hold her attention - I think because the pictures are colorful.3) She has a particular fondness for the word "thronging".4) She likes to point to the pictures that show the different ways sardines are packed and say - "packed like this!!" She says it again, and again, and again...5) She likes to pretend she is eating the sardines at the end of the story.6) She claps when Arlene is finally a sardine.

Sick of sappy stories about teddy bears, bunnies, and tea parties? Arlene Sardine, a favorite story in our household, fills the void. The artwork is gorgeous and the story is realistic and fun. Added plus: your child will understand the word "hermetically"!