Silly Sally

Retelling: Silly Sally and her silly friends got to town by walking backwards and upside down.

Thoughts and Feelings: This book appeals to my playful side. It reminds me of when I was a little girl and saw objects, not for what they were were supposed to be used for, but for what I wanted to use them for: the arm of a sofa was a balance beam, the edge of a table was a monkey bar, and a bed sheet was a rope. Shhhhh don't tell my mother! Let's keep this between us.

"Silly Sally went to town dancing backwards, upside down. On the way, she met a pig, a silly pig. They danced a jigged. (She met a dog, a silly dog. They played LeapFrog)."

We followed Silly Sally as she walks to town. Silly Sally doesn't walk normal, she walks upside down! (HOW SILLY!?) Sally is so silly that she walks, dances, leaps, and sings into town all while being upside down. Sally meets new characters along the way and she brings them into town. Sally embraces her silliness when she meets a friend who is right-side up. Silly Sally teaches children that it is perfectly okay to act silly and different sometimes. You don't have to be like everyone else. Be yourself. Be silly!
"And that's how Sally got to town dancing backwards, show more upside down!"

The author, Woods, included rhymes in this book. (See the first thing written in this review). The book has an excellent flow and can be read as if it were a song. (Which is the only way I do). This book can also be an introduction to alliteration. It also includes repetition of "Silly Sally went to town ___ backwards, upside down." The blank words represent the verb that kids can predict such as dancing, leaping, singing because whatever Sally did with the new character on the previous page, she did on the next.

My personal experience:
I can say that it is hard to write a un-bias review with a book that has imprinted on your life. That quote above is from the first couple pages. The EXACT words and I clearly remember it from 15 years ago. There was NO copy/paste. When I hear this book, that is the first things out my mouth. (I was on this website reading Audrey Wood books and was flabbergasted when I saw "Silly Sally".) I don't think many people are able to say they can quote parts of a book from 1st/2nd grade. I enjoy rediscovering this book, which was completely by accident.
Fun Fact: I clearly remember quoting this WHOLE book and singing it as if it were a song. show less

'Silly Sally' by Audrey Wood is a book of rhyming words that is almost musical. Silly Sally went to town, walking backwards, upside down. The book tells of Silly Sally's adventures in town all day and describes with a rhyme what she does next. This book is great for young students and to teach rhyming. The book is short and simple, so I would not read it to older students.

In Silly Sally by Audrey Wood, the characters and the illustrations make it fun to read. The book is a board book, so it is made with thick pages. It uses the literally device rhyming in every sentence of the book. The book also uses the literally device of repetition with the words, “Silly Sally went to town” (Wood). The setting takes place in the countryside on a path on the way into town. Colorful illustrations show how funny and playful the book is. For example, Sally has crazy hair and she is sticking her tongue out. In the book Silly Sally, there are a lot of bright colors and large images which take up the majority of the page, so it is visually appealing to young readers. The composition of the book is arranged around Sally show more in the images of the book. A folk-art style is used in the illustrations in Silly Sally. The third person-narrator is the point of view used in the book. Sally is the main character, and the animals are the supporting characters in the book. The book is relevant to children because the silliness makes it fun for children to read the book. It is good for kids because the words are predicable, so it builds confidence with reading. My mom’s name is Sally so that is why I picked this book to read. show less

We first read this when you were about 14 months and it was FUN!!! You had a lot of signs and this book was a great book for signing... lots of animals and actions like walking, dancing and sleeping. Plus its simple with a great rhyme. At 20 months I found the book at the thrift store and had to buy it. Now you fill in words and love when Ned Buttercup comes to tickle everyone.... and you get tickled too!!!!

Buy this one early as it will get LOTS of wear!

This is a nice book, bright and happy colors, silly story, but to me the prose did not feel compelling enough. I found the repetitive allusions to silliness a little tedious, admitting the text may have wider appeal to three year olds. My son did not verbally react much to it while reading, but it brought a coy smile to his face and he acknowledged it was good when we finished. After deciding from borrowing it, as I didn't feel like reading it again, I still leafed through the pages, to find that there was much to appreciate in the detailed illustrations.

Picture / Graphic Novel - Characters

Sally is always flipping upside-down everywhere she goes. She's going to town and on her way, she meets a dog, a sheep, and a pig and they join her on her upside-down trip to town.

I love this book because it teaches kids to just have fun and be a little silly sometimes.