A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Author: Philip C. Stead

Title: A Sick Day for Amos McGee 

Illustrator: Erin E. Stead 

Genre: Picture Book, Juvenile Fiction, Fiction + Literature Genres

Subgenre: Social Issues / Friendship, General, Animals / Zoos

Theme: Friendship and Compassion

Primary and Secondary Charters: Amos McGee, Elephant, Tortoise, Penguin, Rhinoceros, Owl

Awards: ALSC Notable Children's Book; Caldecott Medal Winner; Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year; NYPL Book for Reading and Sharing; Charlotte Zolotow Award / Honor Book; Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens; CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Publishing Company: Roaring Brook

Date of Publication: May 25, 2010

Brief Summary and How to Use With Students:

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a touching tale of friendship. Amos, a kind and gentle old man, begins his day following a daily routine where he awakes early in the morning, winds his watch, and prepares his breakfast of tea and oatmeal. He is then off and ready for the workday ahead. He patiently waits for the number five bus that will take him to his job, at the city zoo. Even though Amos has a busy day ahead of him, he always finds time to visit with his animal friends. He plays chess with the elephant, races with the tortoise, sits with the penguin, lends a handkerchief to the rhino, and as the sun sets he reads to the owl. One day while beginning his morning rituals, Amos awakes feeling ill. Unable to go to work Amos stays home to rest and try to regain his health. Meanwhile at the zoo his animal friends begin to wonder where Amos could be and begin to miss their friend terribly. Later that day, the animals decide to take action and leave the city zoo and as if it is perfectly natural hop onto bus number five to Amos’s house. While there, they repay Amos McGee's acts of kindness by caring for him in his time of need.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is an easy to read book directed primarily towards children ages two through six. It also is an Accelerated Reader book that has a third grade reading level. This book is perfect to read aloud to children to promote and encourage reading. Following reading the book as a teacher you can use its theme to help build on students social and language arts skills. You can have students compare the differences between being a friend and being a good citizen. They can make a list of good friend characteristics or write letters to a friend in class explaining why they are glad to have them as a friend.