Customer Reviews: Read 44 more reviews...
 It is hard to be five! April 19, 2009
B. White
I bought this for my daughter for her fifth birthday. She loves it. She likes that she can relate to this book and the book is enjoyable. We have fun reading this together, we read it on her birthday. I like all of the books we have read by Jamie Lee Curtis, she is a wonderful childrens author!
It's Hard to be Five March 11, 2009
Catrina Gladding (NY, USA)
This is a great story. My son will be five soon and we read it a few nights each week. He loves the things that happen to the boy in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to other parents.
Lovely, lovely little book March 4, 2009
Bonnie B. Allen (Texas)
This book deals with issues that adults may not always be aware of or remember. It will surely bring smiles, laughter and comfort for you and your child.
Perfect for any 5 year old January 21, 2009
Sammie's mom (Basking Ridge, NJ)
My 5 year old has been giving me such a hard time lately. When I saw the title of this book in the library, I checked it out and brought it home. I was not expecting much because I am not a big fan of the actress, but when I read it, I started to cry! It gave me a completely new perspective of my little girl's behavior. I realized the stress that this big transition in life is putting on her. Besides the character being the opposite sex, he was experiencing the exact problems of my daughter. He even had a baby sibling like she does. She related to him right away, and both of us felt much better. That night, she was giving me a hard time, so I scolded her. She told me, "Yes, I know, Mommy. But it is SO00 hard for me to be 5!" I couldn't help to laugh!
The only problem I have with this book is the wording. Some of it is hard for a 5 year old to understand. For example, "At five I hear no and don't - I can't win - when balls bowl inside at my ten juice-box pins." But the content of the book was so amazing, I still had to give it 5 stars!
Getting a Handle on Yourself at Five November 14, 2008
Professor Donald Mitchell (Boston)
When one of my sons was five, he would get very angry about virtually anything. If you were in the vicinity, it was dangerous. He was kicked out of three pre-schools before we found one where he felt comfortable and peaceful. Whew!
It's hard to know how to talk to a child at that stage. I wish that It's Hard to Be Five had been around for that year.
The book opens on a sympathetic note:
"It's hard to be five. I'm little no more. Good old days are gone. 'Bye one, two, three, four." Across the way, a tiny brother is happily playing. "It's hard to be five. Just yelled at my brother."
The boy reveals that his mouth has a mind of its own, his clothes don't fit because he's growing, he can't stand being told "no," he loves to be dirty while his parents want him clean, school is scary, he wants to hit when someone cuts in line, he bit someone else for cutting in line, and he hates sitting still.
The boy also shares a rich fantasy life as a ninja chopping bad guys.
A major reversal occurs when the boy decides that his body is a car and he's licensed to steer. Then, it's fun to be five. He works, builds, and grows plants.
It's clear when to walk and when to run, when to stop and when to go, and when to push and when to tow.
He also becomes more forgiving of himself:
"And when I mess up or do right, it's a start 'cause I have my own mind and I have my own heart."
He concludes, "It's hard fun to be five so strong and so loud. Give me five 'cause I know it. I'm here and I'm proud!"
The illustrations add a lot of fun and depth to the messages. The two page spread at the front bound inside the cover shows a control panel on the boy that's turned off with a big panic button in the middle. There's a meltdown meter tied to an alarm clock that gives second warnings and finally a China Syndrome alert while steam seems to be emerging from his ears. The back inside cover has a parallel two page spread that shows the control panel is A-OK, he is running smoothly, he's not afraid, and there's no need to worry.
If your child knows a boy who has similar problems, your child might even enjoy sharing the book with the troubled boy.
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