Book Review: Clementine

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker posted on barnesandnoble.com

Summary:
Clementine is in the third grade and she is having the worst week ever. Everytime she tries to do something helpful it gets her in trouble. In this book, CLementine spends most of the week getting trouble for helping Margaret cut her hair, then cutting her own hair to match Margarets. Clementine then helps her dad with the great pigeon war, and her parents throw her a party to celebrate her achievment and even Margaret comes to the party!

I thought this book was wonderful. I think children can easily relate to Clementine, because the story is told from a childlike perspective. I loved how in Clementine's world she was just trying to help, but from an adult perspective it seemed like she was causing trouble. I think this book is a good book for educators to use because it can help us remember that children see things very differently than we do, and also because like I said before children relate to Clementine.

Pennypacker, Sara(2006). Clementine. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.

Journal: Ruby Lu, Brave and True

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

I thought this book was cute. It took me a little while to get into it, but overall it was an enjoyable reading experience. I thought it was interesting how there were so many little stories within the main story, but felt that Look did a good job on keeping them all connected and flowing. I think that kids would enjoy this because, like Clementine they would relate to Ruby and her adventures! I also think this would be a good multicultural book, because it deals with people immigrating to a new country, and also trying to keep their cultural influences alive while living in a different culture.