Officer Buckle and Gloria is a 1995 picture book by Peggy Rathmann that won the 1996 Caldecott Medal.[1] Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."[2] It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by School Library Journal.[3] The animated adaptation, narrated by John Lithgow and animated by Chris Larson, was released in 1997 by Weston Woods Studios.
 Front over showing Caldecott Medallion | |
| Author | Peggy Rathmann |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Peggy Rathmann |
| Genre | children's book |
| Publisher | Putnam Books |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 978-0-399-22616-8 |
| OCLC | 69654218 |
| [E] 20 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.R1936 Of 1995 |
Plot summary
editIn the town of Napville, policeman Officer Buckle frequently gives safety speeches at the local school, but the boring nature of his speeches causes the students to lose interest. One day, Officer Buckle is assigned to take a police dog named Gloria to the school for a safety speech. During the speech, Gloria, behind Officer Buckle's back, demonstrates the safety tips discussed by acting out the effects in pantomime. The speech is a success as Gloria's performance catches the students' interests, and a confused but thrilled Officer Buckle receives a vast number of letters from the students, unaware that their attention is focused on Gloria and not him.
As time passes, Officer Buckle gains fame as he gives safety speeches to other schools with Gloria. Officer Buckle does not realize the truth behind his fame until seeing one of his taped speeches at a college on the news, revealing Gloria's antics. Livid, Officer Buckle refuses to give a planned speech at the local school, so Gloria is brought to the school alone. Without Officer Buckle, Gloria becomes lonely and falls asleep, ending her stay early; afterwards, a large accident happens at the school as a spilled jar of banana pudding causes students to slip into the principal, who accidentally hurls a hammer towards the crowd upon impact.
The next day, Officer Buckle is horrified when he receives another stack of letters from the students, detailing the accident upon seeing a letter from a student named Claire, who notes how Gloria had missed Officer Buckle the day before. He then reconciles with Gloria and decides to return to giving safety speeches. In the end, they go to many schools and teach the students about safety together.
References
edit- ^ American Library Association: Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present. URL accessed 27 May 2009.
- ^ National Education Association (2007). "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children". Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ Bird, Elizabeth (July 6, 2012). "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results". School Library Journal "A Fuse #8 Production" blog. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
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