Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Marla Frazee copyright 2006
"Hey, Bill!" I yelled. Bill is my dad's for-other-people name. "Where's your razor?"
Dad came skidding into the bathroom so fast I thought his feet might be on fire, but they weren't. I showed him my beard.
Dad squinted and sniffed my cheek. "That's not a beard, Clementine," he signed. "That's chocolate frosting. As a matter of fact, that smells exactly like the kind of chocolate frosting that your mother put on the cake she made for her book club, which nobody was supposed to touch. Now isn't that a coincidence?
Today I discovered why everyone is raving about Clementine, the newest spunky heroine for the 7 to 10 year old set. This fresh and fun red-headed third grader has a big heart but a penchant for getting into trouble. Whether "helping" her best friend Margaret cut her hair or trying to distract her principal, Clementine does everything with enthusiasm and a style all her own. In the same vein as Ramona, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones (without the euphemisms Junie B. uses), Clementine is a feisty and humorous character readers will want to hear from again. Marla Frazee's lively illustrations are perfectly paired with Pennypacker's vivid prose for an enjoyable and memorable reading experience.
Dad came skidding into the bathroom so fast I thought his feet might be on fire, but they weren't. I showed him my beard.
Dad squinted and sniffed my cheek. "That's not a beard, Clementine," he signed. "That's chocolate frosting. As a matter of fact, that smells exactly like the kind of chocolate frosting that your mother put on the cake she made for her book club, which nobody was supposed to touch. Now isn't that a coincidence?
Today I discovered why everyone is raving about Clementine, the newest spunky heroine for the 7 to 10 year old set. This fresh and fun red-headed third grader has a big heart but a penchant for getting into trouble. Whether "helping" her best friend Margaret cut her hair or trying to distract her principal, Clementine does everything with enthusiasm and a style all her own. In the same vein as Ramona, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones (without the euphemisms Junie B. uses), Clementine is a feisty and humorous character readers will want to hear from again. Marla Frazee's lively illustrations are perfectly paired with Pennypacker's vivid prose for an enjoyable and memorable reading experience.
I will defnitely be looking for these books. This is the age group that I'm always looking for something really good for. Thanks for the heads up! Now, if I could just get my library to carry them, I'd be in great shape!
Tabitha
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