Yuck, a Love Story
Governor General’s Literary Award winning Picture Book
Gay, Marie-Louise & Gillmor, D. (2000). Yuck, a Love Story. New York, NY: Stoddart Kids.
This picture was obtained from: http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/12/28/macro-micro-and-moonlight-yuck-a-love-story/
“She’s yucky,” Austin told him.
“Who is?” Sternberg asked.
“Amy,” Austin said.”
-page 11 of Yuck, A Love Story
A Little about the Book:
Yuck, A Love Story is about Austin, a little boy who is in love with his new next door neighbour, Amy. Austin claims he does not like her and displays the typical younger kids love towards Amy. For example, Austin goes over to Amy’s house and builds her a Apatosaurus. When Amy looks at it she says Apatosaurus’s have small brains, and Austin all offended replies she does also. Amy invites Austin to her birthday party. Austin than goes and lassoes the moon for Amy and gives it to her for her birthday. At the end both Austin and Amy are friends.
The Illustrations:
Yuck, A Love story won the Governor General’s Literary Award for its illustrations. The pictures are well drawn and contain eye-pleasing combination of colors. My favourite illustrations of the book are pages 2 and 3, which depict Austin and Amy’s first meeting. The illustrations pay attention to detail, but still provide a cartoonish aspect to them. I enjoy how all the characters look like bobble-heads; it reminds me of comics I used to look at as a child.
Themes:
· Being a good neighbour
· friendship
Age Level:
Yuck, A Love Story is appropriate for children four years old and up. Although the younger, the child the less likely they are o understand Austin loves Amy. Children should be able to read Yuck, A Love Story by themselves by the age of eight years old and possibly sooner.
Personal Response:
Yuck, A Love Story was extremely interesting. I enjoyed the story, and loved the illustrations. When I was done reading Yuck, A Love Story, I was smiling due to being reminded of myself as a child and how I would say I didn’t like a boy but in fact had a crush on him. There is definitely humour in the story, which children would over look, but adults would catch right away.
As much as I like Yuck, A Love Story, I also believe adults need to take the time to explain to children some of the things Austin says to Amy can be hurtful and are very mean.
Teacher Ideas:
Add to the Book
Have the students write a page to add to Yuck, A Love Story. The page should state what Austin runs into on one of the twenty-two countries Austin goes through while trying to capture the moon for Amy.
When students have finished their pages, combine the pages and they have a class book.
Language Arts
This activity encompasses the language arts curriculum by getting the students to be creative and write an original adventure Austin experiences. Have the students write, edit, and share their adventure.
Social Studies
You can incorporate the social studies curriculum by getting students to focus on a country they are currently studying. For example in Grade 3, the students can focus on Peru, India, Tunisia, and the Ukraine. Have students incorporate aspects from the country in their illustrations, and possibly activities, which occur in the country in their story.
Art
Have the students draw and color their own pictures. You can be creative and allow students to use different textiles, mediums, and objects to draw and paint the pictures. In addition, have students pay attention to the illustrations present in the book, and ask them what they like about the illustrations. Have them incorporate some of these things in their illustration.
Order the book here:
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