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Poppleton #2

Poppleton: Poppleton and Friends by Cynthia Rylant

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A sequel to the popular children's book introduces the beloved pig's extraordinary friends and explains how Poppleton learns how to live to be one hundred years old. By the author of the Henry and Mudge series.

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 1997

18 people are currently reading
215 people want to read

About the author

Cynthia Rylant

536 books847 followers
An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

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5 stars
239 (36%)
4 stars
220 (33%)
3 stars
166 (25%)
2 stars
23 (3%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Chinook.
2,330 reviews19 followers
December 6, 2020
I taught the grapefruit story in Korea and I always loved sharing it with students. It was just as fun to read this with my kids. Tomorrow we should definitely buy them some to try.
Profile Image for Claire.
225 reviews69 followers
August 24, 2025
My 4 year old thinks it’s weird he doesn’t have a wife…and it’s true…why write children’s books about a pig bachelor? 🤔
Profile Image for Alex.
708 reviews
March 12, 2018
I did not like this book because I didn't like the part when Poppleton's lips got inside out. He was eating something that he really didn't like. I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when a mouse told him that instead of eating something he really didn't like, he said he just needed friends.
Profile Image for Nora.
191 reviews
April 27, 2011
MCL. It was funny when he kept getting questions about his lips.
Profile Image for Theresa.
8,201 reviews130 followers
May 3, 2015
Poppleton And Friends
Rylant, Cynthia
an easy reading story
Profile Image for Elizabeth S.
1,856 reviews78 followers
August 6, 2011
These are fun, enjoyable books. This one contains 3 stories or chapters. Each ends with a fun little twist. I like Poppleton. And yet I don't love him. Not sure why.
Profile Image for Pam.
9,497 reviews49 followers
January 10, 2020
Three short stories about Poppleton for mid-elementary readers.
Profile Image for Becky.
6,129 reviews299 followers
March 15, 2018
First sentence: Poppleton was tired of being landlocked. He wanted to go to the shore.

Premise/plot: Poppleton and Friends is the second book in the series by Cynthia Rylant. It is an early chapter book series. This one has three stories: "The Shore Day," "Dry Skin," and "Grapefruit." In the first story, Poppleton goes to the beach for the day. In the second story, Poppleton thinks he's suffering from dry skin. His friend, Cherry Sue, has plenty of advice for him. Can she solve the mystery of what is causing Poppleton's problem?! In the third story, Poppleton decides he wants to live a LONG, LONG life. Will eating grapefruit help him out?!

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED meeting Poppleton. I now want to read all the books in the series. I also loved meeting his friends. I would definitely recommend this one!
2 reviews
September 9, 2019
My 7-year-old just finished reading this one to me. I was excited to read another book in the Scholastic Acorn line. This level is great for us, a step above a beginner but not quite an early chapter book. This book has a bit more text than others we have read in the Acorn line. It features 3 stories of daily adventures with Poppleton and his friends and includes hand-drawn, black and write illustrations. This book was average with my 7-year-old giving it a rating of 5/10. It will release on 11/5/19 along with four more ‘Poppleton’ books in this series in the future.

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for KaitandMaddie.
4,091 reviews11 followers
April 7, 2021
I don’t know quite what makes Poppleton stories so charming, but we all love them.
Profile Image for Nicola.
3,607 reviews
August 6, 2018
I guess I'm in a minority. We've just read two of the Poppleton volumes and I just didn't like them (Miss 4 thought they were okay). We read so many books and I just think there are better ways of expressing friendship and social interactions.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Profile Image for Anna Barnes.
133 reviews22 followers
October 31, 2018
When I was in the second grade, my class read the story “Grapefruit”. After finishing the story, we all tried some grapefruit as a class. Everyone else thought it was sour and gross, but I loved it. Not wanting to be an outcast, I pretended I thought it was gross. Later in life I found out that my mom had grapefruit cravings while pregnant with me, which explains my love for grapefruit or not idk I don’t know anything about pregnancy. Anyways, this story has always stuck with me and I’m glad I finally know what it’s called.
Profile Image for FM Family.
1,067 reviews12 followers
July 27, 2020
Love all the Poppleton books. My 2.5 year old is a huge fan of this series. This one was funny but not one of the bests, but the story of going to the beach with the Sassy Sues was definitely fun - especially the idea that they had the most fun of all in retelling it. The other two stories (I think it was dry skin and the grapefruit) were ok, but both had something gross about them that made them less endearing (eg. Dry skin and Poppletons shrivelled grapefruit mouth)

Great series for early readers with silly stories to keep your attention.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
12.5k reviews479 followers
June 20, 2023
Book two. I just can't give this even three stars. I forgave the debut for the animals wearing shirts but no pants, but this still has that ridiculousness. And it has wasting food. And P. overeating and not washing his dirty sweater. "I can be such a pig." I guess some kids will giggle, but I'm not a fan yet.
Profile Image for Robert Sutherland.
307 reviews16 followers
June 12, 2025
This series of books is one of the best for small children. With multiple short stories per book, it has continuing characters but new plots in each. The stories are fun, the characters well done, and as bedtime reading, this is tough to top. Read these with my children two and a half decades ago and now and reading them to another generation. They have great staying power.
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,668 reviews16 followers
October 31, 2019
The third story (Grapefruit) is the best, the other two are just so-so. We like some of the other Poppleton books better. I liked how he discovered the true way to live longer and it wasn't grapefruit lol.
Profile Image for Sarah Bruce.
2 reviews
April 11, 2025
Sweet little series, especially the one about going to the shore, meeting the Sassy Sue’s and experiences unforeseen! Loved the idea of remembrance bringing much joy after an adventure. These stories bring up great questions of friendship and virtue for my young readers!
Profile Image for Lee Ann.
778 reviews21 followers
March 4, 2018
Fun and silly, full of quirky characters. 3/5 stars.
Profile Image for Nupur.
357 reviews28 followers
June 16, 2018
This book has three short stories, each revolving around the sweetness that good friends bring into life.
4,068 reviews29 followers
August 16, 2019
Sweet and funny beginning chapter book. Poppleton's gentle adventures will keep kids turning the pages. I LOVED the disappearing lips in the chapter about grapefruit!
Profile Image for Donalyn.
Author 9 books5,982 followers
September 2, 2019
Dry skin? Eating grapefruit to live longer? Are these relatable concerns for the seven-year-olds reading this book?
Profile Image for DJ.
181 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2020
Disjointed. It seems meant to be a chapter book, no link to the unrelated stories.
Profile Image for Alyssa Haverfield.
290 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2021
The art was cute and there were a number of silly-funny moments, but the writing was just okay. Plus, the actual topics were kind of snoozy. And I love grapefruit ;)
Profile Image for Joy Keil.
601 reviews
March 20, 2021
We are enjoying these Poppleton books more and more. With three short stories in each book, they are perfect for bedtime! Has been read on repeat for the last month!
Profile Image for Katie.
663 reviews5 followers
April 22, 2021
Poppleton goes to the beach, battles dry skin, and tries to eat grapefruit so he’ll live longer!

These cute silly stories are quick for me to read, and a big listening hit with my four-year-old!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews

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