Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle, relatable tale of first grader's adventures, trials.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Russell, the appealing protagonist of Rip-Roaring Russell and Russell Rides Again, is a first grader now, and he's becoming more aware of the contradictions and curiosities the world presents. Some words are bad, so what would happen if he made up his own instead? What if parents got report cards, too? What if instead of hand-me-downs there were hand-me-ups? Follow Russell as he faces his expanding world with amazement (and the occasional tantrum).
Is It Any Good?
RUSSELL SPROUTS offers first-grade adventures without the flourish. Here, 6-year-old Russell's frustrations are not particularly dramatic, but they're poignant nonetheless: What happens when dads get mad, when you say bad words, when you wander into the wrong (scary, grown-up) movie at the theater? How do you endure the particular torture of waiting for a plant to grow for a science project?
The book's appeal is in those quiet, low-key resolutions. Given the space and time to work out his feelings and think things over, Russell comes to reasonable conclusions at his own pace, especially thanks to a highly engaged family and school setting that treats this age as a necessary one for explorer types. For first graders, these are extremely relatable scenarios, and for parents, these tales paired with their delicate pencil drawings are reminders that this phase, like any other, comes with its own unique challenges and should simply be aided along patiently as it runs its inevitable course.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about making up words. Have you ever made up words? Do your parents or teachers let you use them? Why, or why not? What's fun about making up words? When might making up words cause problems?
Have you ever had a hand-me-down or hand-me-up like Russell does? What was it? Did you like wearing or using it? Why is it good to give or donate our old things to others?
What grade would you give your parents if you gave them a report card? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Debbie Tilley
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Riverside Kids
- Publication date : August 16, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
- Number of pages : 80
- Available on : Paperback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate