George Shrinks

George dreams of being very small, and wakes up to find that his dream has become reality in this entertaining picture-book romp from author/illustrator William Joyce. Following the instructions in the note his parents have left for him, George cleans his room and cares for his younger brother. He also runs into a little trouble with the family cat, who seems to have mistaken him for a mouse...

George Shrinks is the eighth picture-book I have read from Joyce, and while it certainly has some of his trademark touches - the fantastic story-line, for one - it is also distinctive, in that the text is quite simple, with no more than a few words per page. This is quite different from titles like The Man in the Moon or Santa Calls, which feature show more more extensive text. The story itself is engaging, and the simplicity of the narrative makes it suitable for a younger picture-book audience. The artwork, done in watercolor, is humorous and appealing. The scene in which George and his little brother startle the cat certainly won a chuckle. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging adventure stories for younger children, especially if those children enjoy tales about little people. show less

When George wakes up, he finds a note from his parents, and a 'little' surprise! He goes through his chores and gets everything done, but it seems that they are 'huge' tasks for such a small boy!

George Shrinks is an imaginative romp, narrated by the letter left for George. Each task is richly illustrated, with a twist of course. My two-year-old enjoyed pointing out George's adventures and re-read the book to herself and her ponies afterwards, telling the story through the things George uses to accomplish each chore, trying to recreate the story as I did. So cute!

I great story for read-together time, and the happy reunion is one that can be shared with little ones.

George Shrinks is a very playful book. If one were to just simply read the words and not look at the pictures, it would just be a letter from George's parents with a list of chores. It's amazing how Joyce used illustrations to bring readers into this imaginative world with just a to do list. There are so many images that have details that are so fun to point out to children. The ending leaves you wondering and I love that it gives the reader the decision of if George really shrunk or it was just a dream or anything!

This book is about a boy named George who dreams he's shrunk and wakes up the reality that he really has! His parents are out for the day but have left him a list of things to do -- things for big people to do. How will a tiny George do things like brush his teeth, take a bath, or make his bed when his tooth brush is bigger than he is? In this bite-sized fantasy and picture book, children pre-K-2 will have a fun time watching George tackle big things. Most of the detail lies in the watercolor pictures which add to the story.

A young boy named George wakes up one day and has completely shrunk. His parents left for the day and George is left with a long list of chores, one being to take care of his baby brother. George spends his day figuring out to cope and manage his chores while being tiny. His chores that are usually dreaded become extremely fun. When asked to take a bath, he was able to ride his tiny rubber ducky and get into the tiny battleship that he usually plays with. When asked to wash the dishes, he is able to use the sponge as a slide and swim in the sink. He is even able to fit in the tiny fish bowl and swim with his goldfish. Eventually when George's parents return, the readers see that George was only dreaming and he returns to being his show more normal size.
Once I finished this book, I realized that the beginning and end pages of this book add a lot of detail. The opening pages are just silhouettes of feet getting smaller and smaller. The end pages are also silhouettes of feet, but they get bigger and bigger. I really enjoyed the style of this book. Most of the book was just one long quote from George's parents instructing him on what needed to be done for the day. The illustrator did a great job of showing us how tiny George accomplished the list while having way more than usual. show less

Age Appropriateness (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School): Primary
Review/Critique: This book is about a boy whose parents leave for the day and leave him a note that has a list of things he is supposed to do. The boy wakes up and realizes that he shrunk overnight and the book goes through his experience being very small. It is evident that the boy forgets his parents letter and he does not do anything they ask. I really love this book because it includes humor and an unexpected ending...the boy was dreaming the entire time!
Comments on Use: I feel like this book could be used in numerous ways. I could use it to teach students how to write letters, how to take responsibility, explain what chores are, and also to teach students about the show more complexity of dreams. show less

One day George dreams that he’s shrunk and when he wakes up his dream has come true! His parents are gone for the morning, so they leave him a list of things to do with his younger brother. Now that he’s barely 6 inches high, George has to get creative to complete his chores. George is having a terrific game of cat and mouse with an actual cat when his parents come home. Just as his parents walk into the room, George finds he’s become his regular size again, just in time.

The brief text is made up of the letter George’s parents leave for him. In fact, there are a few pages that are completely wordless. The illustrations are detailed and tell a story of their own beyond the text. George has a rampant imagination that allows him to show more have adventures while completing his chores. For instance, he washes the dishes by sledding on a soapy sponge.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-77-george-shrinks-by-william-jo... show less