Parents' Guide to

Judy Moody and the Bucket List

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Laughs, lessons enrich tale of what to do before 4th grade.

Book Megan McDonald Humor 2016
Judy Moody and the Bucket List Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In JUDY MOODY AND THE BUCKET LIST, Judy's going through Grandma Lou's purse when she finds a mysterious list. When Grandma Lou explains to Judy that it's her bucket list, Judy decides to make a list of her own: things she has to do before she goes to fourth grade. With the help of her brother, Stink, her parents, and yes, her feisty Grandma Lou, Judy manages to cross off more than a few things on her list -- and learn some lessons at the same time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Humorous and educational, this 13th addition to the Judy Moody series is bound to satisfy fans of the quirky narrator. Judy's cheeky voice really shines through as she scratches off items such as "Learn to Do a Cartwheel" and "Invent Something." Some deeper lessons about mortality are given some attention but are handled gracefully and with care.

This is a good choice for early chapter book readers because of the variety of adventures that Judy has in her own neighborhood. She's a dreamer who doesn't need to wander too far from her house to find interesting things to do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Judy's bucket list helps her explore new things that she wouldn't have done otherwise. What does she do to reach her goals?

  • What are the things that you want to do in your lifetime? What's on your bucket list? How can you research those things to make them real?

  • Judy's brother helps her learn contractions with the help of a song. Which songs do you use to help you remember things?

Book Details

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