A Couple Of Boys Have The Best Week Ever (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
This book made me laugh out loud on public transportation, which I always find to be the mark of an excellent story. From the very cover, James and Eamon capture my attention and make me want to keep turning the pages to find out more about their adventures. I spent a good deal of time looking at the endpapers, checking out the photographs of their time at nature camp, which, as I found out when I read the story, are the only way to find out what they did, because they don’t really mention much (or show them there) at all. I think my favorite part of this book is the strong disparity between what the text says is going on and what the pictures show is going on which is where most of the humor and irony of the book comes from. For example, according to the text, James is sad when his mother leaves him, but according to the pictures, he can’t wait to get rid of her. I loved how “everyday” this story was, and felt that these adventures were attainable for many similar young boys, and I completely understand why it was given a Caldecott Honor. It’s fantastic, and I think I might add it to my own collection. For one whole week in the summer, buddies James and Eamon get to experience nature camp while they stay with Eamon’s grandparents. A nice curriculum connection for his book would be to use it in a science lesson to introduce Antarctica. It also has a valuable lesson about treating others with respect and kindness. James and Eamon (or “Jamon” as they come to be known) are really excited about attending nature camp together but find they enjoy the comforts of Eamon’s grandparents’ house even more. Grandfather Bill tries his best to interest them in his passion- penguins- but the boys seem uninterested. That makes the surprising conclusion to the story even more touching. When the day comes for the boys to leave they surprise Bill with a boy-made version of Antarctica on his porch- complete with clamshell penguins!Marla Frazee’s playful and cartoonish watercolors are the perfect way to convey the fun times of a childhood vacation spent with a friend.This book is intended for an audience from kindergarten to fourth grade.
What do You think about A Couple Of Boys Have The Best Week Ever (2008)?
This is an entertaining book. The two characters seem to have pretty funny typical responses.
—Deborah
I thought this was a cute story. E didn't like it as much it was "weird"
—crla
