Synopses & Reviews
The quirky Clarice Bean is in for a spell of trouble — and shares a lesson about kindness — in this hilarious, full-length follow-up to UTTERLY ME, CLARICE BEAN.Clarice Bean seems to be in nonstop trouble these days, almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, who is the naughtiest boy at school. If only she could be more like her favorite book character, Ruby Redfort, girl detective, who is very good at getting out of trouble. The problem is, Mrs. Wilberton is planning a spelling bee, and just thinking about it gives Clarice a stomachache. The good news is that there is also going to be a class performance of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and Clarice is exceptionordinarily keen on landing a starring role, so she can get discovered by someone who spots child talents and escape spelling-bee humiliation. But when Karl Wrenbury has a family problem and gets into really big trouble, Clarice does something utterly unexpected, altruistically proving Ruby Redfort's maxim "Never let a good pal down."
The superbly talented Lauren Child returns with another fast-paced, full-length adventure full of wacky wit, visual appeal, and a surprisingly heartwarming twist sure to reel in the most reluctant reader — and the most inventive speller.
Synopsis
Penelope Crumb's best friend Patsy Cline Roberta Watson is becoming best friends with another girl in class, so Penelope decides she needs to win her back. Compliments and presents fail—and Penelope is afraid she'll lose Patsy Cline forever, so she decides to swipe Patsy's necklace and start a secret museum to remember all the people she cares about, in case they leave her too. But stealing turns out not to be the best plan, when Grandpa Felix calls the police about his missing camera, forcing Penelope to confess. Now she's lost both Patsy Cline AND her museum. But in the end she makes a huge personal sacrifice to repair her friendship with Patsy and finds out that drawing pictures—what she likes to do best!—is a way to make a personal museum that doesn't involve any sort of stealing.
About the Author
Lauren Child was absolutely utterly never in trouble when she was at school. Ever. And if she was, it was usually for a very good reason. And nearly always not her fault. The author-illustrator of the acclaimed UTTERLY ME, CLARICE BEAN, the first full-length fiction adventure starring Clarice Bean, Lauren Child has also created several picture books about this popular character. In addition, Lauren Child is the creator of a series of picture books about the lovable sibling pair Charlie and Lola, including I WILL NEVER NOT EVER EAT A TOMATO, which was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. Lauren Child lives and works in London.