7.2 /10 1 Votes
Language English Media type Print (Hardcover) ISBN 0-688-22057-6 Country United States of America | 3.6/5 Goodreads Publication date 1976 Pages 64 pp Originally published 1976 Illustrator Johanna Hurwitz Genres Chapter book, Fiction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Publisher William Morrow and Company Similar Johanna Hurwitz books, Other books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Busybody Nora is a children's book written by Johanna Hurwitz and illustrated by Susan Jeschke. It was first published in 1976.
Contents
It was Hurwitz's first book and was an early chapter book. One of her daughters, Naomi was the inspiration for Nora.
On Accelerated Reader, the level of the story is 4.1 (blue color), has a lexile measure of 630L and is recommended for seven- to ten-year-olds. It has since become a popular children's library book and is also used for school lessons.
The book is made up of six stories about a six-year-old girl called Nora, her young brother Henry, and her parents who live in a New York apartment block.
Plot
The protaginist, Nora, is a girl who lives in an apartment building of about 200 people in New York with her little brother Henry and her parents. Although she has lived there all her life, she doesn't know all the residents' names so she asks everyone she meets what their name is and receives the moniker of 'Busybody'. One time Nora accidentally becomes a babysitter for a day and later she and Teddy prepare for their dad's birthday. Another day her grandparents visit and her grandfather talks about how he knew Jack from the beanstalk tale. Finally Nora arranges for a building party as a way to persuade one of the resident's daughters, who lives in Ohio, that New York is a safe and friendly place for her mother to live.
Reception
Publishers Weekly states that Busybody Nora is 'Six joyous stories ... will make six-year-old Nora and her little brother the favorite fiction friends of all readers, any age.'