| | |  | New in June | Home » » » The Important Book | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | The important thing about The Important Book -- is that you let your child tell you what is important about the sun and the moon and the wind and the rain and a bug and a bee and a chair and a table and a pencil and a bear and a rainbow and a cat (if he wants to). For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book goes on long after it is closed.What is most important about many familiar things -- like rain and wind, apples and daisies -- is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. 'A perfect book . . . the text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee.' -- K. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Margaret Wise Brown | | Paperback:
| 24 pages | | Publisher:
| HarperCollins | | Publication Date:
| March 10, 1990 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0064432270 | | Product Length:
| 9.96 inches | | Product Width:
| 7.1 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.08 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.2 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.8 inches | | Package Width:
| 7.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.2 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 51 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 51 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 found the following review helpful:
 Provocative on PurposeJun 12, 2006
By birdie
Hi, I just read the review below from the infuriated reader who said that this book talks down to children.
But once I went to a talk about children's books and they discussed this book and said that Margaret Wise Brown was not doing that at all. That the intent of the book is actually to invite kids to debate and have their own opinions. She sets up these statements on purpose to provoke, and to get kids to think for themselves. She's playing with the reader because of course, how CAN you say that a daisy is important 'because it is white'? It's also yellow in the middle, and has petals, or whatever. Same with an apple. She says it's important because 'it is round' but what about because it's sweet? Or juicy? The whole joke is that she's announcing 'what's important' about something in order to invite thought and prompt argument. Her other stories reveal too much depth for her to have really been trying to control kids' minds with the 'important book.'
46 of 48 found the following review helpful:
 Great for the beginning of the school year!Jul 19, 2001
I use this book at a "getting to know you" starter for the 1st day of school. After reading the book, the students start to see the pattern. I then have them write something about themselves using the same pattern in the book. "The most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read. Sue has 3 cats, plays soccer and can pitch like Nolan Ryan, but the most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read." I then have them illustrate these things on manilla paper or with the computer, then bind all of the pages into a class book. The kids love getting to know each other this way.
54 of 59 found the following review helpful:
Teach the"Main Idea"Aug 04, 2001
We use this selection to teach the concept of the main idea. I start the entire year off using this book. I read the book aloud to the students.We discuss each aspect of the important or the main idea of each subject.After completing the book we then write a page about ourselves. Example: The important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead,he loves computer games , he plays with his trucks and he always wears Carharts,but the important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead. Ellis is a student that has the whitest hair you have ever seen...everyone always says something to him about his "toehead". The children (usually third graders) each do their own page and we publish our book for the classroom. We try to have this completed by our open house. The parents really enjoy it and they get to know their childs classmates in a special way. Just a thought!
17 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Talk Science & Nature with Your Kids - a review of the "Important Book"Dec 19, 2005
By Pam Tee
"mom,wife,fur-mom,book-blogger"
We like this book. It may have some flaws, as other reviewers have indicated, but it more than makes up for them by providing a background for some invigorating discussions. Discussions and learning that both my kids and I enjoyed!
What is great about this book is that because the topics are about nature, my children could offer up some of their own observations. While my 3 year-old did not offer up many ideas, he certainly listened attentively as my 5 year-old and I talked about each page.
And she and I did not always agree with the book's conclusion! We decided, for example, that the most important part about air was that it is necessary for life. But that is the great thing about "The Important Book". It began a dialog in which we could each have our own input and opinion.
Four stars. I think it will be interesting to read this book every year to see how our answers grow and vary.
21 of 22 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Book even for fifth graders!!Sep 02, 1998
This book is an excellent study tool for any teacher. The format of the book gives students a perfect model in how to write a good paragraph. Eventhough it is basic, students grasp the idea of the difference between a topic sentence and a paragraph's supporting sentences.
See all 51 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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