The Retired Kid is a great book! However, I feel that I would choose it for an older audience. Maybe 3rd or 4th grade, where students can really understand what Brian goes through at his age. I love this book because it picks at the little issues of being a kid, like going to school or other lessons. Most kids would agree that school is a job that they want to retire from. But, would they really want to leave to a retirement home? This book allows for great discussions in class. You could have students write about what their idea of retirement would be, if they could retire. The illustrations are colorful and very bold. They are similar to a child's drawings, and could easily be used by children as inspiration to illustrate their own images about retirement.In the end, though, I love how the author brought the story round full circle. He reverted back to how things used to be for Brian and how he missed his life at home. This is a great lesson for children. Something may look good or be a good idea, but it may not turn out the way you expect it to. The story of a boy who's had it with school and soccer and basically the endless responsibility of being a kid decides to retire and move to Florida He moves into a retirement community and settles into the life of a retired person. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful that sounds. The only difference being that he eventually got tired of the retired life and decided to return to the hectic schedule of being a kid. I wouldn't do that. I' stay retired and never look back. Still, this was a good book and you should give it a read.
What do You think about The Retired Kid (2008)?
I'm going to try this at the nursing home. Boy decides to retire at age 9.
—nara
Funny story about a kid who decides to retire.
—ohmylola
