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The Sign Painter

Published
Nov 2000
Main Genre
General Fiction General Fiction
Rating
Pages
32

About This Book

In his Caldecott acceptance speech for GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, Allen Say told of his difficulty in separating his dreams from reality. For him this separation was not as important as finding a meaning behind the contradictions and choices we all must make in life and their consequences.
Early one morning a boy comes into town, hungry, and looking for work. He meets a sign painter who takes him on as a helper. The boy yearns to be a painter. The man offers him security.
The two are commissioned to paint a series of billboards in the desert. Each billboard has one word, Arrowstar. They do not know its meaning. As they are about to paint the last sign, the boy looks up and sees in the distance a magnificent structure. Is it real? They go to find out.
Through a simple text and extraordinary paintings, the reader learns of the temptation of safe choices and the uncertainties of following a personal dream. Here Allen Say tells a haunting and provocative story of dreams and choices for readers of all ages.
 
This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read-Aloud Story)

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Paperback

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Nov 2013 Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0544105141
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Hardcover

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Nov 2000 Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0395979749
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Nov 2013 San Val ISBN 0606336427
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Nov 2013 Perfection Learning ISBN 162765674X
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eBook

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Oct 2000 HMH Books for Young Readers ISBN B009UQ72GK
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Nov 2000 Harcourt ISBN 0547345917
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Nov 2000 Houghton Mifflin ISBN B003WUYPXS
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Nov 2000 Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0547771959
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