Sara Pennypacker Q & A

There is a new Kids Q & A at Powells and it is Sara Pennypacker! How fun! Only part I didn't love was the question "If you could pick anyone to illustrate one of your books, who would it be and why?" Love her answer, but I really think Marla Frazee is the perfect illustrator for ANY AND ALL Clementine books. JMO

Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker

It all started way back when, reading this post by Mary Lee at A Year of Reading. I was so new to blogs, I don't even know how I stumbled upon this one. I believe I searched Google for the words "Fifth Grade Read Aloud" and a whole new world opened up for me. Not only the world of blogs, but the world of Clementine!
The third book in the Clementine series is Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee. This might possibly be my favorite of the three books.
The plot is that Clementine's teacher has been nominated for a award which will afford him the privilege to work outside the classroom on a project. (Lucky him) But Clementine feels very betrayed by his leaving. Clementine is also again trying desperately to please her mother and father which turns into a very cute subplot.
The reason I love this book so much, or even dare I say, more than the other two, is the fact that so much of it centers on Clementine and her relationship with her teacher. I hope everyday that I mean that much to one of my students. If just one student would feel betrayed by me not being at school, I would be thrilled! I also really like the way she talks about the substitute teacher. My favorite line (not quoting because someone has already snagged my book) is where Clementine talks about how she didn't know the substitute teacher's rules before hand. (That is before she had done wrong.) And haven't we all felt like that at some point?
I could probably go on and on about this book, but my suggestion is, just read it! It will only take you a very small slice of time and you will feel so happy you did!
Other Reviews:
Literate Lives
A Year of Reading

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

I promise I am not getting lax on my blogging, but I have been having severe computer problems and so I am only able to blog when the problems are at bay.
As soon as I finished Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, I knew there was a sequel waiting for me out there, but I could not get my hands on it. (Not surprisingly) The other day I was in my old trusty favorite book store Books & Co. (the old one in Town & Country, not the new one at the Greene... You can't teach an old dog new tricks) and they had a copy of The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. Even though I had not purchased the first book, I decided to purchase this one in case I never found it again. (See how I talk myself into shopping)
I found it to be quite funny and entertaining, just like the first Clementine story. I can so relate to Clementine's problem in this story, which is to find something she is good at, her "talent" for the talent show. I always felt and still do, that I did not have a talent. Or at least one that could be performed for all to see. Some people might say Clementine is too similar to Junie B. Jones and the like, but I think there is something much more special with Clementine. Or possibly it is just that the writing seems better. I would compare Clementine to more of a Ramona Quimby.
I do think some of my students might like this book, but I think I would just stick to the first book to read aloud. One thing I didn't understand is why Pennypacker didn't do something with Clementine's talent for art? Why didn't she use that as a talent for the show? That is a talent I would love to have any day.