Readers will appreciate watching Sylvie determinedly working toward her goals.
An opportunity to participate in an ice hockey league soon leads to drama for fourth-grader Sylvie.
In this second lively adventure (The Best Friend Battle, 2015), Sylvie returns with another dilemma. This time, a sports rivalry carries over onto the ice when Sylvie discovers that Jamie, a formidable pitcher from the winning championship baseball team, is on Sylvie’s new hockey team. With pluck and determination, Sylvie sets her sights on becoming the team captain. While Sylvie’s attempts to impress her coach with her captainlike behavior result in some comical moments, Eyre reveals how Sylvie’s bid for leadership is intertwined with her yearning to spend more time with her dad. She poignantly conveys Sylvie’s efforts to claim some of her father’s time amid the bustle of their expanding family. Eyre also captures Sylvie’s boisterous, confident personality as she resolutely refuses to be daunted by Jamie and her perseverance as she strives to improve her hockey skills. Throughout the text, Hanson’s illustrations depict Sylvie’s escapades and occasional mishaps. Readers will sympathize with Sylvie as she becomes the victim of a series of pranks during practice, and they will understand her desire to retaliate. Though some will probably also understand that not all is as it seems, readers as well as Sylvie will benefit from the message that it’s all too easy to make unwarranted assumptions.
Readers will appreciate watching Sylvie determinedly working toward her goals. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-62029-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 5, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading.
When Franklin School principal Mr. Boone announces a pet-show fundraiser, white third-grader Cody—whose lack of skill and interest in academics is matched by keen enthusiasm for and knowledge of animals—discovers his time to shine.
As with other books in this series, the children and adults are believable and well-rounded. Even the dialogue is natural—no small feat for a text easily accessible to intermediate readers. Character growth occurs, organically and believably. Students occasionally, humorously, show annoyance with teachers: “He made mad squinty eyes at Mrs. Molina, which fortunately she didn’t see.” Readers will be kept entertained by Cody’s various problems and the eventual solutions. His problems include needing to raise $10 to enter one of his nine pets in the show (he really wants to enter all of them), his troublesome dog Angus—“a dog who ate homework—actually, who ate everything and then threw up afterward”—struggles with homework, and grappling with his best friend’s apparently uncaring behavior toward a squirrel. Serious values and issues are explored with a light touch. The cheery pencil illustrations show the school’s racially diverse population as well as the memorable image of Mr. Boone wearing an elephant costume. A minor oddity: why does a child so immersed in animal facts call his male chicken a rooster but his female chickens chickens?
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-374-30223-8
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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