Week Four: Clementine

Clementine

by Sara Pennypacker

illustrated by Marla Frazee

Summary

    Clementine is the first in a series about 8-year-old Clementine. Clementine continuously gets in trouble, for cutting off her best friends Margaret's hair, coloring it red with a marker, and for daydreaming at school. To make Margaret feel better, she cuts off her own hair, and once again gets in trouble. 

APA Reference

Pennypacker, S. (2006). Clementine. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

My Impressions

   I enjoyed reading Clementine's first person narration; she is an endearing little girl despite her flaws. Her commentary on what happening around her is humorous. I would like to reread this aloud with my young niece, and can imagine her laughing at Clementine's "hijinks" and "misadventures." 

Review

    Booklist describes Pennypacker's narrative as "fresh" and "funny." She praises Frazee's illustrations, calling them "expressive" and able to "capture every nuance of the character's emotions." 

Phelan, C. (2006, October 15). Clementine [Review of the book Clementine]. Booklist. Available from http://www.booklistonline.com/Clementine-Sara-Pennypacker/pid=1779664?pid=1779664

Library Use
    Use this book to encourage kids to keep a journal, like Clementine, and write about what happens during the day and their feelings. 

Week Four: The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks

by Jeanne Birdsall

Summary

    The Penderwick sisters- Rosalind, 12; Skye, 11; Jane, 10; and Batty, 4- travel to the Berkshire Mountains for their summer vacations. Along with their father, Martin, and dog, Hound, they rent a cottage on the grounds of the beautiful Arundel Estate. 

    Soon after their arrival, the girls meet Jeffrey Tifton who lives in the estate's mansion. During their three week stay, the girls and Jeffrey have adventures and try to stay out of trouble. They spend their time playing soccer, exploring the attics and roaming the grounds. 

    Mrs. Tifton, Jeffrey's mother, is strict and seemingly unsympathetic to anything her son wants. She does not like the Penderwicks, the potential havoc they can cause in her garden, or the influence they have on Jeffrey. When she decides to send Jeffrey away to military school, the Penderwicks must find a way to save him from such a horrible fate. 

APA Reference

Birdsall, J. (2005). The penderwicks. New York, NY: Yearling. 

My Impressions

     I really enjoyed reading The Penderwicks. It reminded of books I liked as a kid- Little Women, the Moffat books, and Ginger Pye. It has an old-fashioned quality, and except for a few references to cell phones and computers, I think it could be set in a different generation. I appreciated the time spent on character development, allowing the reader to get to know each Penderwick. 

Review

    Booklist contributor Ilene Cooper praises The Penderwick's "old-fashioned charm" and Birdsall's "marvelously appealing" characters. Despite criticizing "minor elements that don't ring true," she states its display "true childhood behavior" and "will draw readers close."

Cooper, I. (2005, April 1). The penderwicks [Review of the book The penderwicks]. Booklist. Available from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Penderwicks-A-Summer-Tale-of-Four-Sisters-Two-Rabbits-and-a-Very-Interesting-Boy-Jeanne-Birdsall/pid=237403

Library Use

    With The Penderwicks, you could set up a Reader's Theater. Each character has a certain personality and kids could try to channel their character and behave like she does.