Rutabaga's Reads 2014: Part 6

It has been awhile since I’ve had a post centering solely on books for young readers, so here one is! Please enjoy, and please also let me know of any stories for young readers that have caught your eye. With so many books on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to read next with your young child/niece or nephew/grandchild.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Field Trip (June 28, 2011) by Herman Parish.
   Lynne Avril, illustrator.

Older readers may remember Amelia Bedelia as the literal-minded housekeeper of Peggy Parish’s original series. This story is another in the Amelia Bedelia Picture Book series by the series creator’s nephew, Herman Parish. In this story, Amelia Bedelia is on her first field trip, and it is to the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Dinkins. She’s about to learn many new things; some are actual facts, while others are sayings that she misinterprets for the literal.

            Herman Parish has as great a handle on a young Amelia Bedelia as his aunt had with her original Amelia Bedelia as a housekeeper. I appreciated that the author put in many facts to balance the humor that stemmed from Amelia misconstruing something another person said. For example, when Mrs. Dinkins asks her to toss the salad, she quite literally tosses the salad to the horse, a goat, a cow and the pigs. Lynne Avril’s illustrations capture the entertainment that is Amelia with lively pictures of the written words. I especially enjoyed Amelia picturing a chicken laying a candy cane-striped egg after “eating” a peppermint candy cane. Or the illustration where Amelia’s thinking of potatoes with eyes (“potatoes sprout eyes”), corn with ears (“corn has ears”) and lettuce with heads (“lettuce grows a head”). Between the factual knowledge this story brings and the goofiness of Amelia’s antics, this delightful story will likely be popular with youngsters.

Nancy Clancy: Book One: Super Sleuth (Apr. 3, 2012) by Jane O’Connor.

   Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator.

Fancy Nancy is growing up! Inspired by her favorite detective, Nancy Drew, this Nancy is ready to be a sleuth. She’s got everything she needs: a rhinestone-studded magnifying glass, a notepad, a flashlight, a hat with a floppy brim and a pink trench coat. Her clubhouse is now Sleuth Headquarters. Most importantly, she’s good at snooping. (“Investigating was the professional word for snooping.”) Now all she needs is a case! Her first case is solved before it ever opens, and she’s disappointed in the lack of criminals running about their town. When crime strikes her third grade classroom, will Nancy and her best friend, Bree, crack the case?

            For anyone who has enjoyed the Fancy Nancy books, you’re not going to want to miss these chapter books. Nancy is still at her best, expressing things vividly and being her general fancy self. O’Connor makes writing mysteries for the chapter-book set look easy, throwing in clever clues and red herrings, and Glasser’s illustrations will help young readers connect this series to her first one. I like how even the secondary characters are fully fleshed out, from Nancy’s family to her teacher, Mr. Dudeny. The relationship between Nancy and her sister, JoJo, is very realistic as well. Just like siblings can be affectionate, so can they also point fingers and issue blame (often in an instant). Readers familiar with Nancy will want to grow up with her. And how can one resist? After all, Nancy Clancy is the fanciest, most stylish gumshoe of all!

Nancy Clancy: Book Two: Secret Admirer (Jan. 2, 1013) by Jane O’Connor.

   Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator.

This detective is now playing matchmaker. Nancy is in love with the idea of being in love. Not for herself, but for her guitar teacher, Andy. When she learns that he broke up with his girlfriend, Nancy is devastated, even though Andy doesn’t appear fussed about it. Nancy and Bree then learn that their favorite babysitter, Annie, has broken up with her boyfriend. With Valentine’s Day approaching, what would be better than having Annie and Andy fall madly in love? Operation Eternal Love is under way! Is love in the air?

            Don’t worry. Despite its title, this chapter book geared for ages 6-10 is not a mushy book. In fact, there’s no romance in it. Nancy and Bree want to set two people up that they think are great people; therefore, a good portion of the story is about plotting and accomplishing secret things without getting caught. The idea of matchmaking may be a bit advanced for six-year-olds, but O’Connor’s writing makes it an easy read for young readers with the hope that the story will extend their vocabulary, along with be a source of literary enjoyment. Glasser’s illustrations continue to complement O’Connor’s wonderful text. And if you read this story, you might encounter the first fancy word that Nancy doesn’t like!

Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter (Jan. 28, 2014) by Victoria Kann.

In this picture book from the Pinkalicious series, Pinkalicious Pinkerton is excited for Easter. She anticipates that Edgar Easter Bunny, who’s “a close, personal friend of mine,” has dropped by her family’s home after vacationing in Egguador. Being the Easter Bunny, Edgar is a fan of scavenger hunts, for that’s eggsactly what he sends them off on in the story. It’s bound to be an eggstraordinary day, but will Pinkalicious find herself stumped before the end?

            It’s true there’s a lot of pink involved, but “Eggstraordinary Easter” is a cute Pinkalicious story. Of the few titles I own in Kann’s series, this one is my new favorite of hers. The inclusion of short poems to denote scavenger hunt clues was not only fun, but also a thinking tool to see if young readers might figure out the clue before Pinkalicious and her family. It’s a great little picture book for young kids and isn’t just for those who like pink. With youthful adventure and lively, colorful illustrations, it’s an aural and visual treat for girls and boys alike!