Synopses & Reviews
I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didnand#8217;t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first sheand#8217;s excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just canand#8217;t seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops.
Praise for Like Bug Juice on a Burger
"Eleanor doesnand#8217;t just survive, she growsand#133;Readers will celebrate and look forward to more."
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
"Sternberg gets all of the details exactly right, from the and#147;orange, oozing sloppy joesand#8221; to the frustrations of trying to swim in a life jacket. susan dove lempke."
and#151;The HornBook
"This is a really sweet novel in verse and a good sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Abrams, 2011), though it works fine as a stand-alone."
and#151;School Library Journal
"Eleanorand#8217;s tentative yet heartfelt voice comes through as clearly as in the first volume, with the short, ragged-right-margin lines as approachable as her personality. Sternberg is particularly deft at leaving young-reader-sized room for interpretation and extrapolation."
and#151;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (2011) is just as endearing and wise, illustrating how small triumphs can help children survive what, at the time, seems an insurmountable trial."
and#151;Booklist
Award
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbons List 2013
Honor list - 2014 Gryphon Award
Review
"Funny family hijinks explode into pure hilarity with lively dialogue and a simple plot." Kirkus Reviews
"Fans of Cleary, Hurwitz, and the Judy Moody series will enjoy this snapshot of real family life." Horn Book
"Well-developed characters, smooth dialogue, and a satisfying ending will leave [readers] eager to read more of Sophie's escapades." School Library Journal
"Greene delivers with humor, sharp dialogue, and a family dynamic that remains both loving and real." Booklist, ALA
"[An] entertaining portrayal of domestic unrest." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This solidly middle-class family will remind many of the Quimbys." Horn Book Guide, Pointer
Review
The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to...anyone looking for a funny book.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Just Grace--so named because she is the fourth Grace in her classroom--is an engaging and empathetic little girl who enjoys drawing, helping others and making lists. . . . An appealing chapter book with just a hint of mystery for middle-grade girls.
Kirkus Reviews
Grace's spirited annotated drawings and her inimitable narrative's arrangement into brief vignettes makes this a good choice for kids just beginning to tackle chapter books.
Publishers Weekly
"This charming book [is] written in an authentic young voice...just delightful fun...very appealing chick lit lite..." - Vicki's Bookshelf Midwest Book Review
Review
"Gooney Bird doesn't need much help putting herself on the map. She'll be famous for years to come."-Kirkus
"In this fifth book in the series, Lowry deals with the ticklish classroom issue of students gloating about vacations. She (and Mrs. Pidgeon and Gooney Bird) handle it well, helping young readers reflect on the competitive chatter that often strains the fabric of a class right before holidays."-Horn Bookand#160;
"Witty and perceptive in equal measure, the book features fine-tuned dialogue, kid-friendly illustrations, and a strongly realized classroom setting." -Booklist
Review
"Greene conveys Sophie's emotions and thoughts with ruthless candor and the dynamics of her large family with humor and clarity." —
Booklist, ALA
"Delightfully messy family dynamic and tightly composed subplots...here's hoping there is more of Queen Sophie to come." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[A] humorous voyage to self-discovery...simple plot, droll dialogue and strong characters...Sophie's world...feels wonderfully like Ramona Quimby's." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sophie is likeable and resilient, and readers will identify with her as she works through her school and family situations." —School Library Journal
"Greene's narrative shines in its depiction of the heartwarming, entirely realistic Hartley family dynamics." —Publishers Weekly
"Greene's...humor and understanding of...family dynamics are as impressive here as in her Owen Foote books." —Horn Book Guide
Review
"Girls undergoing the same growing-up trials will be happy to have Sophie make them laugh."--Kirkus Reviews "A lively chapter book full of humor, believable family dynamics, and characters who think and talk like real people. . . . Greene explores her themes of identity, ambivalence about growing up, and friendship with an unusual naturalness and depth, yet the themes never trump story or character."--The Horn Book, starred review "[Readers will] want to unwrap this gem of a story and savor the delicious conclusions."--School Library Journal
Synopsis
Grace loves cats. She also loves taking pictures of cats and drawing comics. When her neighbor's cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Grace finds herself in a bit of trouble.
Grace loves cats. She also loves taking pictures of cats and drawing Not-So Super comics. She doesn't like Sammy Stringer, a boy in her class. She's got lots and lots of ideas, and when her neighbor's cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Grace's well-intentioned plan backfires, and she finds herself in a bit of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, Sammy Stringer will help her through.
Synopsis
Tts not easy being a nine-year-old kid in the middle of a busy, gifted family. Especially when the list of things youre good at includes only two items—“Crying” and “Stopping crying”—and the list of things youre not good at seems to be getting longer every day.
When Sophies mom suggests that shes good at being kind and just needs a little more practice, Sophie feels hopeful. But being kind to a grouchy old lady or her big sister, Nora, or the weird new girl at school isnt as easy as it sounds. If only Sophie were a queen, she could practice being kind to commoners instead. It would be much more dignified and elegant. And she would finally get to wear her very own diamond tiara. . . .
From the author of the popular Owen Foote books, here is a funny, observant novel about an irrepressible girl, as quirky and original in her own way as Owen is in his, in search of her own special talent.
Synopsis
Sophie Hartley is almost sure that her dad said okay when she asked for a baby gorilla for her birthday. Soon the kids at school want to know every detail about the gorilla, and dealing with her enthusiastic classmates gets harder as the big day approaches. When teenage sister Nora leaves their shared bedroom for her own space in the attic, and close friend Jenna shows signs of becoming a shrieker, Sophie finds it hard to remain optimistic. Maybe painting her windowsills purple will help. And maybe shell get the perfect present! Funny and believable, the story of a big birthday will please old and new Sophie fans.
Synopsis
Sophie is supposed to help out around the house, and thats bad enough. But then her mother comes up with a job chart, and all of a sudden Sophie has a whole list of new chores to do. Some of them, like cleaning the downstairs toilet, are gross! “Menial,” says big brother Thad, who somehow manages to avoid doing any of his own new jobs. “No fair!” says Sophie.
Sophies father went on strike when his beliefs were on the line. Now Sophie sees no alternative but to stand up for what she believes in.
The ensuing battle of wills threatens to defeat even the indomitable Sophie. Will the Hartleys have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for every meal from now on? Will they ever have happy family times together again?
Synopsis
I had a bad August.
A very bad August.
As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
As bad as a spider web on your leg.
As bad as the black parts on a banana.
I hope your August was better.
I really do.
When Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away to take care of her ailing father, Eleanor must try to bear the summer without Bibi and prepare for the upcoming school year. Her new, less-than-perfect babysitter just isn't up to snuff, and she doesn't take care of things like Bibi used to. But as the school year looms, it's time for new beginnings. Eleanor soon realizes that she will always have Bibi, no matter how far away she is.
Written in a lyrical style with thoughtful and charming illustrations throughout, this remarkable debut novel tells a poignant story of friendship and the bittersweet feelings of growing up.
Praise for Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
“Eleanors ingenuous free-verse monologue should strike a chord with readers, especially those who may have had to cope with the loss of a loved one. Cordells halftone cartoons convey the storys pathos and humor, as well as Eleanors changeable moods.” –Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Grace loves cats. She also loves taking pictures of cats and drawing Not-So Super comics. She doesnand#8217;t like Sammy Stringer, a boy in her class. Sheand#8217;s got lots and lots of ideas, and when her neighborand#8217;s cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Graceand#8217;s well-intentioned plan backfires, and she finds herself in a bit of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, Sammy Stringer will help her through.
Synopsis
The third-grader Grace Stewart gets stuck with the name “Just Grace” when she tries to distinguish herself from the three other Graces in her class. Grace is plenty different, though. She has a “teeny-tiny superpower,” for instance—she can tell if someone is unhappy and often tries to fix it. When she concocts an elaborate scheme to help her neighbor Mrs. Luther feel less lonely, however, her good intentions backfire rather dramatically. Headlines such as “What Happened At Home That Was Completely Surprising” and “Spying For A Good Reason Is Not Bad” keep things lively, as do various lists (“Boy Things,” “Rooms You Can Jump In”), comic strips, and the authors cartoonish spot art. A funny glimpse into a third-graders madcap world of dashed hopes, perceived enemies, possible friends, cats, and sandwiches. Dont miss the Just Grace website www.justgracebooks.com with its superpower quiz, podcasts, excerpts, and downloads . . . or the other books in the Just Grace series:
Still Just Grace,
Just Grace Goes Green,
Just Grace Walks the Dog,
Just Grace and the Snack Attack,
Just Grace and the Terrible Tutu, and
Just Grace and the Double Surprise!
Synopsis
Gooney Bird Greene returns for another rollicking classroom adventure in this fifth installment of two-time Newbery Award Winner Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird series.
Synopsis
Gooney Bird Greene returns for more adventures in this chapter-book series from two-time Newbery Medaland#8211;winner Lois Lowry, with Middy Thomasand#8217;s black-and-white illustrations bringing the classroom to life throughout. Mrs. Pidgeonand#8217;s second grade class has a lot to celebrate in February: presidentsand#8217; birthdays, Valentineand#8217;s Day, and school vacation. Of course, the students are talking about their awesome vacation plans every chance they get. It can be hard to focus on subtraction problems when youand#8217;re heading to Hawaii or Florida in seventeen minus seven days! But most of the class (twelve minus three of them, in fact) will be staying home during vacation. Can Gooney Bird Greene keep spirits up while everyone is feeling down? Gooney Bird has a great idea that sends her classmates and her on a snowy spin through U.S. history and geography!
Synopsis
The third novel about indomitable, quirky, passionate Sophie. For her double-digit (tenth) birthday, Sophie wants a baby gorilla and convinces herself and most of her friends that shes getting one. This birthday has many surprises in store for Sophie—and not just the kind you unwrap.
About the Author
Charise Mericle Harper is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including the Just Grace series. In a starred review, Booklist called Just Grace “Hilarious,” and said, “The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to . . . anyone looking for a funny book.” Charise lives in New York City.