All About Sam

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All About Sam
First edition
AuthorLois Lowry
IllustratorDiane de Groat
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesSam Krupnik
Release number
1
GenreChildren's
PublisherHoughton Mifflin
Publication date
1988
Media typePrint
Pages135
AwardsMark Twain Award
ISBN978-0544582354
OCLC861695921
LC ClassPZ7.L9673
Followed byAttaboy, Sam! 
Websitehttp://loislowry.com/books-sam-krupnik-series/

All About Sam (1988) is a children's novel by Lois Lowry. It is the first in a series of four novels about the character Sam Krupnik; a character Lowry had developed earlier in her books on Sam's older sister, Anastasia Krupnik.[1] The novel is known for its humor, and was included in the 2003 reference publication Something Funny Happened At the Library published by the American Library Association.[2] A 1997 assessment of the novel by Joel Chaston stated that the work had wide appeal to young readers, and whereas the related Anastasia series books had appealed more to girls, the Sam Krupnik series expanded readership to audience of all genders.[3]

Background[edit]

In Lowry's book Anastasia Krupnik, Anastasia's parents give birth to her younger brother Sam, who would feature as a side character in later Anastasia books. Sam proved unexpectedly popular among readers, who asked Lowry to write books about Sam as well. All About Sam was Lowry's first book in what would later become the Sam Krupnik series.[4]

Plot summary[edit]

Sam Krupnik is a mischievous little boy, but mostly curious. He is very smart, and from the day he was born, Anastasia was jealous.

The story is told from Baby Sam's viewpoint and consists of his observations, feelings and thoughts, in the manner of the 1989 film Look Who's Talking.[original research?]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lisa Rondinelli Albert (2008). Lois Lowry: The Giver of Stories and Memories. Enslow. pp. 74–75. ISBN 9780766027220.
  2. ^ Rob Reid (2003). "All About Sam". Something Funny Happened at the Library. American Library Association. p. 118. ISBN 9780838908365.
  3. ^ Joel Chaston (1997). Lois Lowry. Twayne Publishers. p. 65. ISBN 9780805740349.
  4. ^ "Sam Krupnik Series". Lois Lowry's official website. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2022-04-24. Sam was born when Anastasia was ten, and for a long time he existed only in the books about her. But kids liked him. Maybe he reminded them of their own little brothers. So at the request of young readers, I gave Sam his own series.