A Sick Day for Amos McGee

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Written by Philip C. Stead

Illustrated by Erin E. Stead

A Neal Porter Book Roaring Brook Press, 2010

32 pages

Picture Book-Fiction

                I chose this book because it was a Caldecott Award winner. Amos Mcgee worked at the city zoo. He always put others before himself. Every day, Amos spent time with each animal and took good care of them. One day Amos became ill. The animals left the zoo and came to his rescue. They took care of him just like he had taken care of them. 

                The illustrations in this book are done by Erin E. Stead. She drew the pictures with a pencil on colored woodblock prints. These drawings are realistic and detailed. The way she utilized the pencil and colored woodblock prints gives the pictures texture and depth. All of the animals have full color, but Amos is always pale and gray.

                This book is appropriate for students ranging from preschool to first grade. There are many ways this book could be used in an elementary classroom. A lesson could be created around this book whenever it is time to learn about zoo animals. This book is also great for character development. Students can learn about the value of friendship. Teachers may also want to use this book to illustrate how students should treat others as they wish to be treated. A Sick Day for Amos McGee received the Caldecott Medal in 2011.