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Petunia
Petunia Goes Wild
Petunia has had just about enough of being human. All those baths, good manners, clean clothes, even combed hair! So our clever Petunia hatches a shocking and audacious plan to get away from all the haftas and instead live wild and free. It is only when Petunia is about to leave it all that she realizes there can be joys and pleasures in being a human child.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 24, 2012
About the author
Paul Schmid
25 books46 followersPaul Schmid is an author and illustrator of children's picture books.
He lives on Whidbey Island in Washington State. You can visit him online at www.paulschmidstudio.com.
He lives on Whidbey Island in Washington State. You can visit him online at www.paulschmidstudio.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 26, 2013
This book was pretty amusing. I especially liked all of the reasons Petunia felt being human was a hindrance. The illustrations were playful and fun. I liked her parents’ reaction to her crazy request. But at the same time, I could still see things from Petunia's perspective. I think kids who love exploring their wild side or who enjoy being animals will especially appreciate this book.
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
February 7, 2012
Nice child point of view and the illustrations are simple and fun, but the story resolves to quickly.
December 24, 2017
This book is a solid three stars. It is a good story about a little girl that just wants to be "wild" at home. But there is only one thing wrong with being wild, you don't have a mom to sing you good night or tuck you in. The ending wraps up a little too quickly and neatly for my taste. One minute she is mailing herself to Africa, the next she is listening to her mom sing in the kitchen.
July 7, 2019
This is a lovely book. It's all about a little girl who may as well be a wild animal. She's much more comfortable embracing her wild streak. If only her parents agreed....
It has a sweet story and the drawings are charming.
Watch Johanna and Leeanne read this book on their YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/KDFHbuhwSuM
It has a sweet story and the drawings are charming.
Watch Johanna and Leeanne read this book on their YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/KDFHbuhwSuM
Read
November 1, 2012This book is about Petunia, a girl who does some silly things to get her parents attention, she starts acting like an animal, because she thought being a human was too "hafta", not any fun for herself. So she asked her parents if she could be their pet, they got very angry and told her she is a human, not an animal and she needed to start acting like one, so she decided to escape, she got a big box and put lots of stamps on it, she was going to send herself to Africa, but as she was sitting in her box, she could hear her mom singing in the kitchen. She realized that if she was an animal she wouldn't get to hear her mom sing, or get her bedtime tickles. So she unpacked her box and went into the kitchen to listen to her mom.
This is great story for all ages about how lucky each of are to be human and be blessed with the ability to walk, talk, and live the lives we do.
I would use this book in my classroom by reading it to my students and talking about the blessings we all have in our lives. We would compare our lives to animals and draw pictures of how our lives differ.
I would use this for 2nd/3rd grade special education students
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
This is great story for all ages about how lucky each of are to be human and be blessed with the ability to walk, talk, and live the lives we do.
I would use this book in my classroom by reading it to my students and talking about the blessings we all have in our lives. We would compare our lives to animals and draw pictures of how our lives differ.
I would use this for 2nd/3rd grade special education students
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
July 8, 2016
This picture book is illustrated with simple black pastel or crayon drawings and touches of purple and orange watercolor. The pages are mostly white. However, the simple drawings are engaging.
Petunia is a little girl who wants to be free of societal restrictions and bathe naked in mud puddles, eat her food off the floor, and live in a cave like an animal. Her parents are not at all supportive of her desires. In fact they come across as cold and shrill.
Petunia finally has enough of their criticism and decides to mail herself to Africa to live with the animals. Then she hears her mother singing and remembers how much she loves it. She decides to stay.
I like the idea of this book but it ends rather limply. After the shaming given by her parents, I felt they needed to redeem themselves more. Neither showed any love or affection to the child although we are told that she sometimes received tickles at bedtime. We should have seen the parents showing some understanding for Petunia’s wild nature.
Petunia is a little girl who wants to be free of societal restrictions and bathe naked in mud puddles, eat her food off the floor, and live in a cave like an animal. Her parents are not at all supportive of her desires. In fact they come across as cold and shrill.
Petunia finally has enough of their criticism and decides to mail herself to Africa to live with the animals. Then she hears her mother singing and remembers how much she loves it. She decides to stay.
I like the idea of this book but it ends rather limply. After the shaming given by her parents, I felt they needed to redeem themselves more. Neither showed any love or affection to the child although we are told that she sometimes received tickles at bedtime. We should have seen the parents showing some understanding for Petunia’s wild nature.
October 20, 2012
Petunia Goes Wild by Paul Schmid is about a little girl who wants to be everything but a little girl. She wants to be a tiger because being human is just, well...too clean, to boring, and too "hafta". She wishes she can be sent to Africa to live with the Tigers, but soon realizes all the things she would miss at home by leaving, so she decides to stick with pretending instead. Petunia goes wild is intended for grades pre-K through about 2nd grade. This book is a good fit because all kids like to pretend and make believe when they are young. I could use this book in my field as a read-aloud book, and it would be fun to let kids dress up and pretend they are and animal. This will definitely engage kids in the reading and expand on the story.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
Read
November 11, 20141. Petunia decides that being an animal is a lot better then being a human. Her parents did not like the idea of her wanting to be an animal, and tell her to stop all the nonsense of being an animal. Petunia wanted to escape and go to Africa, so she found a box and tried to mail herself there. The box never left, but instead she decided that the box would be her escape for whenever things got too human-ish and she just wanted to be an animal.
2. Have the children think of a place where they would go if they could be anything they want and have them draw a picture of it. When they are done drawing a picture have them explain to a peer why they would want to go there and when.
3. Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia Goes Wild. New York: HarperCollins
2. Have the children think of a place where they would go if they could be anything they want and have them draw a picture of it. When they are done drawing a picture have them explain to a peer why they would want to go there and when.
3. Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia Goes Wild. New York: HarperCollins
June 2, 2015
The first time we met Petunia she wanted a skunk for a pet. Now she's decided being human is too much. She's rather be a pet herself like a tiger. If only she can convince her parents...
What I thought: Petunia's such a fun, spunky character. There's no telling what she'll be up to next. Her desire to be an animal is typical. My young cousin pretended to be a dog for months on end. It's just something kids like to do. Petunia Goes Wild will be an excellent addition to my imagination story time.
What I thought: Petunia's such a fun, spunky character. There's no telling what she'll be up to next. Her desire to be an animal is typical. My young cousin pretended to be a dog for months on end. It's just something kids like to do. Petunia Goes Wild will be an excellent addition to my imagination story time.
February 7, 2012
It started out so great. Petunia wants to be a wild animal. She evens decides to box herself up and somehow get mailed out of Africa. So what made Petunia decide to leave the box? Her mother's singing.
I assumed Paul Schmid would use several different things to draw Petunia out of the box: PB&J, going to the playground, going to the beach. All things that wild animals cant do. But he didn't expand enough in my opinion. It was just her mother's signing and I think tickling. Both of which are great things that wild animals can't do, but there should have been more.
I assumed Paul Schmid would use several different things to draw Petunia out of the box: PB&J, going to the playground, going to the beach. All things that wild animals cant do. But he didn't expand enough in my opinion. It was just her mother's signing and I think tickling. Both of which are great things that wild animals can't do, but there should have been more.
July 21, 2016
Petunia starts out wanting to avoid certain obligations (haftas) by trying to become an animal / pet. She tries shipping herself to Africa after her parents negative reaction to her animal ways, but ultimately leaves her box because she'll miss tickling.
The book has an incredibly cute premise that is universal to young children, but Schmid fails to develop Petunia's reasons for coming out of the box. (It just seems abrupt!)
Interesting book to recommend to reluctant early readers or kids with a rebellious streak! :)
The book has an incredibly cute premise that is universal to young children, but Schmid fails to develop Petunia's reasons for coming out of the box. (It just seems abrupt!)
Interesting book to recommend to reluctant early readers or kids with a rebellious streak! :)
December 18, 2012
This is such a fun story of make-belief and misgivings. Petunia is not sure having been born human was right for her. Being a wild animal is much better - no baths and good manners - but then her mother starts to sing, and Petunia realizes that being human is not all bad.
The black and white illustrations with purple and orange coloring-in take up little space on the white pages of this square book - but the images are powerful, funny and full of energy.
It is amazing how much illustrator and author Paul Schmid can convey with so few lines and so little color.
I adore Petunia!
The black and white illustrations with purple and orange coloring-in take up little space on the white pages of this square book - but the images are powerful, funny and full of energy.
It is amazing how much illustrator and author Paul Schmid can convey with so few lines and so little color.
I adore Petunia!
September 17, 2014
After reading the first Petunia book, I couldn't wait to read this one. Super cute illustrations, though I liked the first book better. Petunia is convinced that she is a wild animal and doesn't want to be human because it means you are "too clean, have to have good manners and too many haftas". She is determined to ship herself to Africa until she hears her mother singing in the kitchen. She realizes how much she would miss that and determines that being human isn't so bad, as long as you get to wild every now and then. Recommended for ages 2-6, 3 stars.
February 29, 2012
Petunia is back! Instead of a pet, Petunia wants to be a wild animal from Africa. There is so much freedom being an animal. No clothes. No haftas. It's wonderful, isn't it?
Schmid shares another tale full of childhood imagination. The line drawings with orange and purple watercolors are fun and childlike. Look closely and you will also find a special friend from A Pet for Petunia. If you are unfamiliar with Petunia, find Schmid's books and enjoy an excellent read!
Schmid shares another tale full of childhood imagination. The line drawings with orange and purple watercolors are fun and childlike. Look closely and you will also find a special friend from A Pet for Petunia. If you are unfamiliar with Petunia, find Schmid's books and enjoy an excellent read!
September 26, 2012
This book is about a girl named Petunia, who doesn't want to be human anymore and wants to start living the life of a wild animal, even though her parents disagree with her wish.
This is a good book for kindergarten or first grade with its hand-drawn illustrations and plot about using your imagination. It could go with a lesson about imagination and creativity.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
This is a good book for kindergarten or first grade with its hand-drawn illustrations and plot about using your imagination. It could go with a lesson about imagination and creativity.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
October 24, 2012
All Petunia wants to be is an animal. There are too many rules you have to follow when you are a human. When she gets ready to be shipped off to Africa to be wild and free, she realizes that just being a little girl isn't so bad after all. "Petunia Goes WIld" is intended for kindergarten-second grade students. It is an entertaining book. I would have this book in my classroom library to read aloud to my class.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
Schmid, P. (2012). Petunia goes wild. New York: Harper.
March 24, 2012
Think, a girl wild thing, in the 2000's, with a little less creepy. That pretty much sums up this books. The major difference being that the girl identifies the things her mother does WITH her, rather thant he things her mother does FOR her.
And I love that one of those things is her mother's singing. It's very fitting, since this is sing with your child month.
And I love that one of those things is her mother's singing. It's very fitting, since this is sing with your child month.
April 25, 2012
Paul Schmid's Petunia Goes Wild showcases a little girl who wants to be animal, a tiger, and run around free of human things, like bathing and having to listen to her parents. The drawings are simplistic and not very bright in color. Petunia is a good character, yet there are far better stories and picture books out there to choose from.
February 27, 2012
This book was okay, but there was nothing especially unique and engaging in either the story or the illustrations. Cute enough to see the little girl pretending to be a wild animal (much to the dismay of her off-page parents), but this book didn't have much 'impact.'
February 28, 2012
Petunia is fed up with being human! It's too "clean. Too careful. Too clothed. Too combed. Too quiet. Too...hafta."
When her parents refuse to let her become the house pet, she comes up with a great solution.
When her parents refuse to let her become the house pet, she comes up with a great solution.
March 13, 2012
I love Petunia and her antics. The minimalistic illustrations work for me, but I was a little disappointed with the ending. I wanted something really spectacular to be the reason why she came out of the box. While a mom singing is great, it just didn't have the draw I was expecting.
April 19, 2012
Petunia is tired of being a human, wearing clothes, being clean and careful. She decides to ship herself off to Africa where she can be wild, until she remembers that animals do not tickle at bedtime or sing. Maybe she can stay ahuman but keep a place where she can retreat to be wild. Reviwer 4.
May 10, 2012
I've not read the other Petunia books, but I love this one with its ladders to WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (with a nod from Sendak in the afterward), TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE (and the idea of being "fully human") and WALDEN (with the idea of sometimes needing to get away).
August 27, 2015
Sometimes Petunia wishes she could be a pet to get away from the "haftas" and sometimes she likes being human. Young readers will appreciate Petunia desire to get away from being too quiet and too careful.
September 19, 2011
Didn't enjoy this as much as the first. But the illustrations are delightful! Lots of cool detail.
August 9, 2016
Not as fun as A Pet for Petunia, unfortunately.
January 24, 2012
More mild than wild. Cute story about pretending to be a wild animal.
January 24, 2012
I <3 Petunia!
May 18, 2012
Adorable book about a little girl who wants to be a wild animal. Will definitely use in story time.
February 3, 2016
Cute, but I still like "Petunia" the best. It kind of made me want a pet skunk.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews