All About Sam

Adorable. This jaded reader has seen the trope too many other times to be enchanted, and Sam is just too too smart & curious (and his family too too heedless) but it's highly recommended to new parents and older siblings who need help understanding the perspective of a child who, for example, doesn't know that water pipes and smoking pipes are different.

Best moment is when Sam realizes his poor impulse control has gotten him into a mess and he tells his mom that he wishes he could spank himself (but neither of them want spanking to happen, so they decide to laugh instead).

I also recommend [b:Socks|936570|Socks|Beverly Cleary|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179608574l/936570._SY75_.jpg|434595] by show more [a:Beverly Cleary|403|Beverly Cleary|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1197935108p2/403.jpg] if you liked the idea of seeing the world through the eyes of a small being with a limited means of expression.... show less

Lowry adds another dimension to her stories about the Krupnik family with this first volume in a series about Anastasia's extremely precocious younger brother, Sam. The story is told from Sam's point of view which is especially fascinating because it begins with Sam's birth. Sam is remarkably self-aware for a newborn, which does not come off as terribly unrealistic, but rather an unique and fun. Readers of the Anastasia books will notice events and conversations becoming much more clear from Sam's very literal and logical point of view. (For instance, when Anastasia tells Sam they are moving, he holds very still and says, "I'm not moving!" which Anastasia interprets as him taking her side in not wanting to go live in the suburbs.)
I show more would recommend this book to any young person. It holds up remarkably well upon reading it as an adult, but that might not be true if it weren't for the nostalgia value in having read it as a kid as well. I have no way of knowing, though. show less

A hysterical story told from the perspective of a little boy from birth to age 2. This story will make you laugh out loud as he continues to get into mischief! From trying to make goldfish rain to hiding food under the carpet, this book will keep you in stitches! Mrs. B.

Sam gives us the story of his life from age birth to about four. He is a spunky kid who enjoys discovering the world around him and playing with his big sister, Anastasia. This book is an easy ready and I feel it has no purpose to it other than pure enjoyment. It's a cute story, but doesn't have a real plot.

Lowry, L. (1988). All about Sam. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

All About Sam is based on the Anastasia Krupnik series. Only this time, the story is from her baby brother’s perspective. The book begins with Sam’s first days at the hospital. Readers experience many of Sam’s adventures: starting nursery school, stealing gum at the supermarket, bringing a pipe to school, and flushing Anastasia’s goldfish in the toilet.

It is difficult to determine if the depictions really represent a baby’s point of view. While Sam is a genius, he grows up extremely fast in the book. In the beginning, all he can do is cry when he is sad, hungry, or tired. About half way through the book, he suddenly speaks long sentences. While Sam does show more occasionally get his words mixed up, he sometimes talks too mature for a three or four-year old. This makes his character only somewhat convincing.

While the story does have its humorous moments, such as Sam’s search for the Terrible Twos, the plot lacks a real conflict. As a result, the story seems to drag on. I have read other works by Lowry and found them deeply moving. However, I thought that All about Sam was somewhat boring. Based on this book, I do not plan on reading the Anastasia Krupnik series.

All about Sam is appropriate for grades two through five. show less

Sweet and funny, if a bit contrived. The misunderstood word device is hoary but still works really well.

Sam Krupnik comes into the world with his own hilarious personality and views on the world.

A really funny story from Sam's point of view from his birth until nursery school. His escapades make kids roll with laughter.

4 stars = Read this with your child soon!