Alfie Gets in First

by Shirley Hughes

Book Overview

Arriving home after shopping with his mom and sister, Alfie rushes inside and slams the door. Bang! So now Alfie is stuck inside and his mom and Annie Rose are stuck outside without a key. Soon everyone in the street becomes involved in trying to rescue Alfie, but he has a plan of his own.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688070361
• ISBN13: 9780688070366
• Release Date: May 1987
• Publisher: Mulberry Books
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.9" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

The best of kids' literature

Why, oh why do they let the best books go out of print?! My kids loved this book when they were little--and I'd love to give it as a baby gift today....pity. All the "Alfie" books are thoughtful, warm, well-written and well-illustrated. Shirley Hughes is a master at her craft. If you can get this book, do so, and read it aloud to your child. Alfie is the perfect toddler main character, with a normal toddler life. It's the book equivalent to "one camera" filming, rather than the usual 2-second sound bites (Mr. Rogers vs. Sesame St.)--a breath of fresh air. In this book people move, think and feel at a "human" rate--perfect for a sleepy toddler who is following along as you read a bedtime story. The illustrations are detailed, but not ornate; every item has a purpose & you will see your child explore the drawings as you read. This is one of the best.

Fabulous book! Great story!

Shirley Hughes's books are incredible, and this one is our favorite. I have read this book to all 3 of my daughters and they all love it. They are now 19, 15, and 4. I grew up in England and have lived in the US for the last 35 years and Shirley Hughes's books bring back the feeling of being in England so well. Little ones can listen for hours to her stories!

Funny Funny Funny

When my son was born 13 years ago the hospital gave him this book. His first book. His favorite book until recently ( I think he is to cool to admit it now). It is evene in perfect condition. Hard to do with a toddler, young reader and now teenager. He still keeps it on his bookshelf and he tells his friends it was his first book.

May save your toddler from locking you out of your house

This is one of my favorite Alfie Books. It is also the first in the series. It's about a toddler named Alfie who keeps running ahead of his mother and baby sister as they return from their shopping. Alfie wants to get home first. Eventually, he gets into the flat first--only to shut the door and lock himself in. Various neighbors come over to help, until there is a crowd in front of the door. The situation is rendered wonderfully in "split-screen" fashion, with the adults and the exterior of the flat on the left-hand page and Alfie and the interior of the flat on the right-hand page. Thus we see the adults standing outside and becoming increasingly alarmed, while Alfie calms himself down, brings a chair over, climbs up on it, and opens the door. Then everyone comes in for tea. It's really a sweet story. It's also a cautionary tale for those toddlers who, like mine, tend to shut doors they ought not to. Alfie's predicament made quite an impression on my son!

Fantastic title for two year olds

I have a hard time believing such a wonderful book for two year olds is out of print. Both my children love the story of this little boy whose brazen independance places him in a scary situation. They truely could relate to his delimma and the feelings it caused. They really loved the ending. It reinforced that independance may get you into scary situations but with it you can also get out of them and feel proud of your accomplishment.