Common Sense Note
Parents need to know this book is about best friends in elementary school. They share, they disagree, they get mad at each other. The children are honest with themselves and how they feel.
Families can talk about friendship. Why can cliques send the wrong message about friendship? What is the difference between friendship and cliques? What does it mean to be a good friend.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Terreece Clarke
This is a wonderful book on the ups and downs of friendship that will keep the interest of early readers, especially girls who have a BFF like Nikki or Deja that they do absolutely everything with and know everything about.
Like all kids learning how to be friends, Nikki and Deja have their moments of bossiness, selfishness, and envy -- one of the girls is just too good at jacks. And when a new girl moves into the neighborhood they both decide they don't like her and form a club to exclude her.
Author Karen English does a great job of showing these tricky friendship dynamics, and throws in good messages about the dangers of cliques and the importance of saying you're sorry -- all in an easy-to-read format with expressive illustrations that help ease new readers into the chapter book format.
From The Book
The next day Nikki and Deja manage not to walk to school together again. When Nikki hears Deja's front door slam and her footsteps clomping down the porch steps, she counts to fifty. Then she eases out of her own front door and starts for school. She can see Deja almost at the end of the block. When she sees Deja look back, Nikki walks extra slowly so she won't catch up with her. Nikki's glad she isn't in the Drill Team Club. Who needs Deja? she tells herself as she walks a safe distance behind, all the way to school.
Plot Summary:
Nikki and Deja are best friends, but when a new girl moves in they start a club to keep her out. Things don't go as planned and their friendship is put to the test.
Related Books:
Other Great Friendship Books:
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes
Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Reviewed: 01/09/2008
Rate It!
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Language"Stupid" and "stuck-up" is as bad as it gets. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorNikki and Deja are good friends to each other and when there is some naughty behavior typical of the age, they understand that it's wrong and hurtful. |
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