Status
Available
Collection
Genres
Publication
Harper & Row. (1703)
Description
Cumulative rhymed text explains what might happen if you had a giraffe that stretched another half, put on a hat in which lived a rat that looked cute in a suit, and so on. Delightfully zany rhymes about a giraffe who accumulates some ridiculous things--like glue on his shoe and a bee on his knee--only to lose them again, one by one. Infectiously funny ... a good nonsensical text and illustrations.
User reviews
LibraryThing member lisabankey
The detailed illustrations really show what is happening in 's head while he imagines some crazy situations for his giraffe to get into. The story builds and then unbuilds in a circular style similar to If you give a mouse a cookie story.
LibraryThing member crystalr
Creative funny writting by Shel Silverstein. you could use it to teach kids how to write short funny poetry
LibraryThing member ccondra
A go book to teach when studying the ending sounds to simple words.
LibraryThing member CrystalReed
A Giraffe and a Half is a book that is a poem. It is about a little boy and a giraffe. The giraffe has many funny things that happen to him. As the book goes along, all the things that happened to him get undone.
I found this book to be pretty neat. I liked the way it goes all the way through and
I would use this book as part of a lesson on poetry. I would also like to use it with a wildlife lesson. I would like to discuss the poetry with the children and we would write a poem as a class. We would write a poem about another animal
I found this book to be pretty neat. I liked the way it goes all the way through and
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at the end the giraffe turns out to be exactly like in the beginning. The drawings are cute. I think young children would find this book entertaining. It is a little silly, and I like that.I would use this book as part of a lesson on poetry. I would also like to use it with a wildlife lesson. I would like to discuss the poetry with the children and we would write a poem as a class. We would write a poem about another animal
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LibraryThing member BBallard09
A Giraffe and a Half is a poetry book that is about a boy and a giraffe. This giraffe has lots of funny things that keep happening to him. It keeps adding more and more interesting points through each rhyme.
I really enjoyed reading this story book, it has good illustrations that show what is going
One activity a teacher could do with the poem is go through the story and have the rhyming words all on different flashcards. The students could take one of the flashcards, say with the word rat and match it with the other flashcard that says hat. This is also a good way of retelling the story. For a art project you could also make giraffes and make the spots on him with rhyming words.That is a way to incorporate rhyming words with the key character, the giraffe.
I really enjoyed reading this story book, it has good illustrations that show what is going
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on with the silly giraffe. Shel Silverstein is a great writer, and I love reading all of his books.One activity a teacher could do with the poem is go through the story and have the rhyming words all on different flashcards. The students could take one of the flashcards, say with the word rat and match it with the other flashcard that says hat. This is also a good way of retelling the story. For a art project you could also make giraffes and make the spots on him with rhyming words.That is a way to incorporate rhyming words with the key character, the giraffe.
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LibraryThing member sosandra
Shel Silverstein is known for writing many quirky, funny children's poetry books, such as Falling Up. A Giraffe and a Half focuses on the transformation from a giraffe to a giraffe with tons of items on him and finally, back to a giraffe. It is a book that shows what would happen to a giraffe if
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items, such as clothes, umbrellas, etc., were added on to it; in the end, the giraffe is content to just a plain old giraffe. It illustrates the concepts of adding things and taking it away to get the product that you had at the beginning. Show Less
LibraryThing member ljemanuel
This is a book i remember reading when i was in school. A great book to help with poetry in school. This tells a story about a giraffe gathering other stuff.
LibraryThing member McClendon
This is a cute book with very cute illistrations. It is about a little boy and his pet giraffe who comes in contact with a bunch of strange things. It also shows how these strages things go away.
I read this aloud to my students, who seemed to throughly enjoy the pictures in the book. I watched as
I read this aloud to my students, who seemed to throughly enjoy the pictures in the book. I watched as
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they constantly giggled at the pictures. It is also a repetitive book, so as it lists items on the giraffe, my students would say the list as well. At the end I ask how many things they could remember the giraffe coming in contact with and they did a pretty good job of remembering almost everything. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShalynAdams
This is a really cute poem about a Giraffe and a little boy keeps adding stuff to him makeing a really cute poem
It's hard to write about a poem I think. I actually read this to my daughter and one of my friends little boy and they just loved it. Everytime they added something to the Giraffe they
This would be a good book to read for the kids to have a good time and cut up a little. After we read this poem i would let them write their own silly poem and share it with the class.
It's hard to write about a poem I think. I actually read this to my daughter and one of my friends little boy and they just loved it. Everytime they added something to the Giraffe they
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would just laugh and laugh.This would be a good book to read for the kids to have a good time and cut up a little. After we read this poem i would let them write their own silly poem and share it with the class.
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LibraryThing member nataliev1311
This classic book brings back the imagination of childhood. With clever wordplay and lots of repetition, this book is perfect for adults and children alike. The illustrations here are particularly interesting. Children love to spend time exploring all of the details in each drawing. Though it is a
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simple premise and a simple format, the book is a delight to read and share. Show Less
LibraryThing member BSmiles
Summary:
If a giraffe is stretched by a half you have a giraffe in a half. the book goes on to be about a rat in the giraffes hat and a rose on his nose. along with many more rhymes.
Personal Reaction:
I really like this book, it was cute, had a great rhyme scheme and the pictures were good
Classroom
1. The children can make their own poem
2. the children can think of other things to add to this book.
If a giraffe is stretched by a half you have a giraffe in a half. the book goes on to be about a rat in the giraffes hat and a rose on his nose. along with many more rhymes.
Personal Reaction:
I really like this book, it was cute, had a great rhyme scheme and the pictures were good
Classroom
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extention:1. The children can make their own poem
2. the children can think of other things to add to this book.
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LibraryThing member lesleydawn
Shel Silverstein doesn't disappoint.
LibraryThing member sarahbatte
This book is about a giraffe and a little boy. The little boy adds stuff to the giraffe to make him different. He keeps adding and adding then at the end the giraffe tumbles over and all the stuff falls off then he just a giraffe. An adorable book to read to young children. They can giggle by the
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rymes and pictures of Shel Silverstein. Show Less
LibraryThing member nkertz
this is a great kids book that makes a long list of things done and added to a pet giraffe then he loses them in the opposite order he gained them
LibraryThing member iShanella
"If you have a giraffe
and he stretched another half
You would have a giraffe and a half.
If he put on hat and inside lived a rat
you would have a giraffe and a half
with a rat in his hat."
And so it goes on. Shel Silverstein’s poem, A Giraffe and a Half, shows the Giraffe getting into sillier and
I was reading this aloud to a young child and we have fun together, looking at the pictures and seeing the different situations the Giraffe found himself in.
Definitely a fun read for parents and young ones.
and he stretched another half
You would have a giraffe and a half.
If he put on hat and inside lived a rat
you would have a giraffe and a half
with a rat in his hat."
And so it goes on. Shel Silverstein’s poem, A Giraffe and a Half, shows the Giraffe getting into sillier and
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sillier situations. It’s illustrated in black and white and it’s quite comical to read and look at the pictures together. I was reading this aloud to a young child and we have fun together, looking at the pictures and seeing the different situations the Giraffe found himself in.
Definitely a fun read for parents and young ones.
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LibraryThing member elizabethhart
A Giraffe and a Half is book written using rhyme and repetition to tell the account of what one would do if they “had a giraffe and he stretched another half.” The comedic poem uses alliteration and imagery to engage readers both, young and old. However, I found that even more exciting were
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Silverstein’s illustrations accompanying the poem. Although they are black and white, the illustrations are intricate and imaginative. Show Less
LibraryThing member DHouston
I just love this fictional book. It is cute and repeats phrases as it adds another line. Remindes me of "There was an old woman ho had a fly". Although it is different. I was going to use the book in my twin book share as one of the readings but opted out. I did read it to the class later.
LibraryThing member Jill.Haner
This book is perfect for teaching about rhymes. Its a great stepping stone to poetry. I enjoy the absurdity of the giraffe's predicament, which I think kids will enjoy as well. The artwork is simply sketches, but they are perfect for the book. The focus on the giraffe and his bizarre accessories is
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key to the humor. Background I don't think is needed. Show Less
LibraryThing member cseiger
This could be a cute book to read to young children, however, I think the long rhymes might frustrate them reading on their own. Personally, I did not enjoy this book as much as I had enjoyed other Shel Silverstein books when I was a child. I enjoyed the illustrations and thought it was funny at
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the beginning, but I got bored while reading because it was very lengthy and repetitive. It could also be a good book to work on phonics because of all the rhyming. I don’t think this would be the best book for a read-aloud, because it is very easy to get tripped up on the wording while reading, which could confuse children. However, with some practice it might be possible. Overall, I see some practical uses for A Giraffe and a Half but I might not necessarily have students read it for pleasure. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tarakalynn
Summary:
A little boy with a very wild imagination. About what if. What if, you had a giraffe and crazy things happen to him.
Personal Reaction:
This is a very silly book. Not really much point or moral to it at all. Just for fun and laughter. Sometimes I think it is good to read a book for no other
Classroom Extension:
I can see that children would really love this book.
1. To practice Rhyming words. Play a memory matching game, suit/cute, snake/cake, bee/knee, etc.
2. Create your own additional rhymes to add to the book.
A little boy with a very wild imagination. About what if. What if, you had a giraffe and crazy things happen to him.
Personal Reaction:
This is a very silly book. Not really much point or moral to it at all. Just for fun and laughter. Sometimes I think it is good to read a book for no other
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reason, but its funny and you need to laugh. Classroom Extension:
I can see that children would really love this book.
1. To practice Rhyming words. Play a memory matching game, suit/cute, snake/cake, bee/knee, etc.
2. Create your own additional rhymes to add to the book.
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LibraryThing member grapeapril75
Fantastic book for kids! So imaginative and creative. Easy read that children will find delightful!
Shel Silverstein is always brilliant! His rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!
Shel Silverstein is always brilliant! His rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!
LibraryThing member schendo
This book consists of exciting additions on each page to the giraffe and the child who is with his giraffe. The rhymes and rhythms make each page fun to add on to the previous page. It consists of "what if's" and playful prose. Once it builds to a peaking moment of chaos if gradually as each page
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progresses starts taking away what was once added to the giraffe. The book is a fun math riddle and consists of fun word play as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member RachelBowers
A book that children will love to read and adults will love to read aloud to them (or just for them too!). It is funny and delightful. A must have if you are teaching about rhyming, poetry or repetition!
LibraryThing member pathogenik
So enjoyable! Loved the rhymes, the weirdness, and the illustrations.
LibraryThing member lindalou924
If you had a giraffe and he stretched another half . . . you would have a giraffe and a half.
And if you glued a rose to the tip of his nose . . .
And . . . if he put on a shoe and then stepped in some glue . .
And if he used a chair to comb his hair . . .
And so it goes until . . . .
A rhyming, silly
Shel Silverstein’s is the artist as well and has drawn wonderful black line drawings on white paper that dance with the rhyming words on every page. This fiftieth anniversary edition has the original cover art from 1964.
Zany. Goofy. Fun! You can’t help but love this silly book and the giraffe which gets into all kinds of crazy situations.
Reading Level: 4 – 8 Years
Author/Illustrator:
Shel Silverstein is the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.
He served in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea in the ’50s and drew cartoons for Stars and Stripes, the American military publication. He also wrote several songs. His country-western song “A Boy Named Sue” was a hit for Johnny Cash in 1969. His song for Postcards From the Edge, “I’m Checkin’ Out,” was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Shel Silverstein was born September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, and died on May 10, 1999. He is remembered in all the smiles he put on our faces as we read his many books which include Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, and Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. His more serious but wonderful book is The Giving Tree.
And if you glued a rose to the tip of his nose . . .
And . . . if he put on a shoe and then stepped in some glue . .
And if he used a chair to comb his hair . . .
And so it goes until . . . .
A rhyming, silly
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book that is fifty years old this year, first published in 1964. It is still a favorite and a great read-aloud. It is filled with funny situations, mostly ones that probably never could happen except in one’s imagination (and seen in a book), but they are so fun and so laughable.Shel Silverstein’s is the artist as well and has drawn wonderful black line drawings on white paper that dance with the rhyming words on every page. This fiftieth anniversary edition has the original cover art from 1964.
Zany. Goofy. Fun! You can’t help but love this silly book and the giraffe which gets into all kinds of crazy situations.
Reading Level: 4 – 8 Years
Author/Illustrator:
Shel Silverstein is the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.
He served in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea in the ’50s and drew cartoons for Stars and Stripes, the American military publication. He also wrote several songs. His country-western song “A Boy Named Sue” was a hit for Johnny Cash in 1969. His song for Postcards From the Edge, “I’m Checkin’ Out,” was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Shel Silverstein was born September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, and died on May 10, 1999. He is remembered in all the smiles he put on our faces as we read his many books which include Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, and Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. His more serious but wonderful book is The Giving Tree.
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