Zach visits his grandparents every summer. Before he goes home, he and his grandparents ride amazement park rides, except the roller coaster called the Whipper. Zach is afraid of the roller coaster. Each summer he tries to muster up the courage to ride the Whipper and fails. Then one summer visit just isn’t the same because his grandmother has died and his grandfather misses her very much. Zach misses her too, yet he wants his grandfather to be happy. Maybe taking his grandfather on a roller coaster ride will make him happy. Will Zach be able to find the courage to ride the Whipper?
Traditional family celebrations and learning about family legacy are fun and memorable. Equally memorable are the unique ways adults’ model grief and loss. Mary Ann Rodman beautifully portrays what it is like for a child to experience the anxieties of trying new things, the bereavement of a grandparent and how family members work through their losses and personal fears in unique ways.
I found this book helpful in explaining timing and various emotions when a person faces their fears about trying new things and family change. The story and Roger Roth’s beautiful illustrations opened up questions about what other families do in happy, adventurous ways, as well as, the sad, awful, fearful times, and that grief and loss are a normal part of life. Ascending comparisons of family members like who are we most like and what do we have that isn’t like anyone else were prompted throughout the pages. Lastly, the illustrations rekindled past memories of fun filled family visits to different amazement parks.
THE ROLLER COASTER KID is an excellent resource for the home and school library. It is an easy book for parents and teachers to extend an elementary age child’s learning in discussing different ways to celebrate and honor family traditions, face personal fears, work through the loss of a grandparent, and adjust to family constellation change.
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Roller Coaster Kid Hardcover – July 5 2012
by
Mary Ann Rodman
(Author),
Roger Roth
(Illustrator)
Mary Ann Rodman (Author) Find all the books, read about the author and more. See search results for this author |
Enhance your purchase
A grandfather and grandson share a special love
Zach and his grandpa love all of the same things . . . except the roller coaster. His grandpa once rode it one hundred times! But Zach doesn't like the roller coaster. So when Grandpa goes on it every summer, Zach goes on the Big wheel with Grandma. She understands. But one summer, Grandma is gone and Grandpa is not the same. He misses her terribly. So does Zach.
But he also wants his grandpa to be happy again. What will it take? Maybe a ride on the roller coaster? Heart-warming and uplifting, here is a story for every family that loves and cares for one another.
Zach and his grandpa love all of the same things . . . except the roller coaster. His grandpa once rode it one hundred times! But Zach doesn't like the roller coaster. So when Grandpa goes on it every summer, Zach goes on the Big wheel with Grandma. She understands. But one summer, Grandma is gone and Grandpa is not the same. He misses her terribly. So does Zach.
But he also wants his grandpa to be happy again. What will it take? Maybe a ride on the roller coaster? Heart-warming and uplifting, here is a story for every family that loves and cares for one another.
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Dimensions22.63 x 0.91 x 27.36 cm
- PublisherViking Books for Young Readers
- Publication dateJuly 5 2012
- ISBN-100670011509
- ISBN-13978-0670011506
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Product description
Review
Praise for The Roller Coaster Kid by Mary Ann Rodman:
"Rodman gives the story just the right measure of emotion, while underlining the importance of mourning and communication." —Publishers Weekly
"Presented with warmth, sensitivity and a light touch, this story demonstrates the human need for sharing and support ... and emphasizes the need for communication and comfort." —Kirkus
"Pleasant pencil-and-watercolor illustrations contribute a comforting aesthetic to this well-intentioned tale..." —School Library Journal
"Rodman gives the story just the right measure of emotion, while underlining the importance of mourning and communication." —Publishers Weekly
"Presented with warmth, sensitivity and a light touch, this story demonstrates the human need for sharing and support ... and emphasizes the need for communication and comfort." —Kirkus
"Pleasant pencil-and-watercolor illustrations contribute a comforting aesthetic to this well-intentioned tale..." —School Library Journal
About the Author
Mary Ann Rodman has won both the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award and the Charlotte Zolotow Award for writing. She lives with her husband and daughter in Georgia.
Roger Roth has done illustration work for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife and daughter and two dogs in Pennsylvania.
Roger Roth has done illustration work for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife and daughter and two dogs in Pennsylvania.
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Product details
- Publisher : Viking Books for Young Readers (July 5 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0670011509
- ISBN-13 : 978-0670011506
- Item weight : 458 g
- Dimensions : 22.63 x 0.91 x 27.36 cm
- Customer Reviews:
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4.0 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
8 global ratings
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Top reviews from other countries

Jewel Sample, award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memorable Way to Help Kids with Fears and Bereavement
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2013Verified Purchase
One person found this helpful
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SouthernGal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Text and Awesome Illustrations!
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2012Verified Purchase
I love this book! It evokes days of feeling small and vulnerable as some roller coaster would creak its way loudly up a wooden platform. There, it would throw itself over the top and race wildly downward as if it was going to fly off the track and rain down on other scared kids waiting in line like me.
And much like the Roller Coaster Kid, once I made it to the top and back down again - ALIVE, the only thing I could think about was getting back in line to do it all over again.
The illustrations by Roger Roth are incredible and really enhance a great story!
And much like the Roller Coaster Kid, once I made it to the top and back down again - ALIVE, the only thing I could think about was getting back in line to do it all over again.
The illustrations by Roger Roth are incredible and really enhance a great story!
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Other than that the book has excellent illustrations and he seemed to enjoy the book despite ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2015Verified Purchase
I bought this book for my son who LOVES everything roller coaster. Buyer beware! The story involves the grandmother of the little boy in the book dying and the grandfather's subsequent depression. Try explaining THAT to your 3yr old!
Other than that the book has excellent illustrations and he seemed to enjoy the book despite the sad undertones of the plot.
Other than that the book has excellent illustrations and he seemed to enjoy the book despite the sad undertones of the plot.
One person found this helpful
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