Review by Booklist Review
Something is always up with third-grader Clementine. Here, it's her worries about a family meeting and the disappearance of the rat she and her friend Waylon are using in a science experiment. The mystery of the family meeting is solved early on there's a new baby on the way. Unraveling her feelings about this event takes up most of the book. The whereabouts of the rat is also resolved, though in a way some readers might see coming. This entry in the popular, ongoing series is once again illustrated by Frazee's delightful pictures.--Cooper, Ilen. Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-The irrepressible third grader, Clementine, is back in this installment (Hyperion, 2011) of Sara Pennypacker's series. Clementine sees the ominous "Family Meeting" sign on the refrigerator, she thinks that she is going to be in big trouble. The actual reason for the meeting is far worse than anything she could have imagined: her parents are expecting a baby, and they didn't even ask her if it was okay! To make matters worse, a key element in Clementine's science project has gone missing, her best friend Margaret is turning into a makeup fiend, and she lost her favorite winter hat. Dismayed at first, Clementine realizes that her worries have a solution: mostly, the love and warmth of her family, but having her own tool belt doesn't hurt, either.ÅJessica Almasy brings Clementine to life with a performance that is chock-full of sparkle and verve. The girlish pitch of her voice is perfectly suited to the character, and her enthusiastic delivery is spot-on. The slightly different voices she gives the adult characters serviceable but not memorable. But this isn't really a drawback, as it allows Clementine to be the star. A sweet story with pitch-perfect narration makes this audiobook a must-have.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Clementine knows that a family meeting means trouble, and when her mother won't give her an advance peek at the agenda, Clementine is really worried. Is she smiling enough? Being nice to her brother? Using her best manners? Nothing can prepare our heroine for the bombshell her parents drop: there will be a new baby in the house. Clementine's reaction is less than enthusiastic. "Our family is four. There are four sides to a puzzle so we can all work on it at once...Four is the perfect number for a family!" Clementine's friends are changing, too. Margaret has become a "makeup fiend," and Waylon, her science class buddy, is suddenly obsessed with his self-professed superpowers. Even Eighteen, the rat who was supposed to be the star of their science project, has run away. Clementine's father reassures her by admitting that he understands her ambivalence about the new baby. And when Clementine calls a family meeting of her own, readers will see how much she has matured in just a few years...and can imagine what a great big sister she will make. Clementine is becoming a more complex character, and fans of this fine series will enjoy the nuanced way she has become more trustworthy and grown-up while staying true to herself. robin l. smith (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Clementine has had many not-so-good days. But this one just might be the worst.She loses her favorite hat, her science project is ruined and the "family meeting!" sign is up on the refrigeratorthat's never a good thing. Even though family meetings are supposed to be about family issues, Clementine usually ends up getting in trouble. But this one is different. Clementine's dad announces that their family is going to grow. Are they are getting a gorilla, like Clementine has always wanted?! No. It's a new baby. Clementine is N-O-T, not happy. They are a family of four. Four is a perfect number. In infallible Clementine reasoning: "Four can be two and two sometimes, and nobody is lonely. Two kids and two grown-ups. Two boys and two girls. There are four sides to the kitchen table, so we each get one." Five just doesn't work. Pennypacker tackles the oft-written new-baby theme from a refreshing, older perspective; jealousy is not the foremost emotion, it's vulnerability. Everything is changing too fast. Clementine and her dad have always had a unique bond, but in this venture, he especially shines. He picks up on unspoken feelings and knows just how to give the right amount of comfort.Filled with familiar Clementine charm but, more importantly, a whole lot of heart, too. (Fiction. 7-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
