Giraffe Problems

Author Jory John
Illustrated by Lane Smith
Penguins aren't the only animals with problems. . . . A second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Lane Smith and Jory John!

Can you guess what's making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK?? Yes, it's exactly that--how on earth did you figure it out?

Edward the giraffe can't understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He's tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes--honestly, anything you can think of, he's tried. Just when Edward has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    South Carolina Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2019
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award
JORY JOHN is a New York Times bestselling author and two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient. Jory's previous collaboration with Lane Smith was the national bestselling picture book, Penguin Problems, an Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year selection. Jory's work also includes the award-winning Goodnight Already! series, the bestselling Terrible Two series, the national bestseller All my friends are dead, and the recent picture books I Will Chomp You!Quit Calling Me a Monster! and The Bad Seed, among many other books for both children and adults. He lives and works in Oregon. Find out more at joryjohn.com. View titles by Jory John
© Bob Shea
Lane Smith is a five-time recipient of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book award and a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. In 2012 the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art named him a Carle Artist for “lifelong innovation in the field of children’s picture books,” and in 2014 he was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the Society of Illustrators. He is the illustrator of many books, including The Stinky Cheese Man, and the author/illustrator of It’s a Book, Grandpa Green, and John, Paul, George & Ben, among others. He is married to book designer Molly Leach. View titles by Lane Smith

Classroom Activities for Giraffe Problems

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

Penguins aren't the only animals with problems. . . . A second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Lane Smith and Jory John!

Can you guess what's making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK?? Yes, it's exactly that--how on earth did you figure it out?

Edward the giraffe can't understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He's tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes--honestly, anything you can think of, he's tried. Just when Edward has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.

Awards

  • NOMINEE | 2020
    South Carolina Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2019
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award

Author

JORY JOHN is a New York Times bestselling author and two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient. Jory's previous collaboration with Lane Smith was the national bestselling picture book, Penguin Problems, an Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year selection. Jory's work also includes the award-winning Goodnight Already! series, the bestselling Terrible Two series, the national bestseller All my friends are dead, and the recent picture books I Will Chomp You!Quit Calling Me a Monster! and The Bad Seed, among many other books for both children and adults. He lives and works in Oregon. Find out more at joryjohn.com. View titles by Jory John
© Bob Shea
Lane Smith is a five-time recipient of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book award and a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. In 2012 the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art named him a Carle Artist for “lifelong innovation in the field of children’s picture books,” and in 2014 he was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the Society of Illustrators. He is the illustrator of many books, including The Stinky Cheese Man, and the author/illustrator of It’s a Book, Grandpa Green, and John, Paul, George & Ben, among others. He is married to book designer Molly Leach. View titles by Lane Smith

Guides

Classroom Activities for Giraffe Problems

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)