Module 6: Clementine

Pennypacker, S. (2006). Clementine. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Summary

Clementine is a little girl with reddish orange hair who keeps finding herself in trouble without trying to do anything wrong. She means well, and her mischievous ways really are the result of her trying to do what she thinks is the right thing. This book is about one particularly bad week when she cuts her friend Margaret's hair, draws on her head with permanent marker (to replace the cut hair), continuously gets sent to the principal's office, etc. She lives in the basement of a New York City apartment building with her artist mom and building handy-man dad and little brother.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Yes, the Clementine series of books are fun, quick reads that make me smile. I like her spunky attitude and somewhat clueless nature. She always thinks she's doing the right thing but always manages to get in trouble. In today's world, Clementine would be labeled ADD and prescribed medicine. I like how she gets to float through life leaving mischief in her wake in these stories.

Reviews

Gr 2-4-In Sara Pennypacker's beginning chapter book (Hyperion, 2006), Clementine is always being told that she doesn't pay attention to her teachers, but she does focus on details that are important to her. These observations get Clementine into trouble, but often help her save the day, such as dealing with a pigeon problem in the front of her apartment building. Pennypacker shows empathy for the third-grade experience as Clementine describes the ups and downs of a week in her life via a series of very humorous scenarios. Jessica Almasy's childish tone is completely believable in her first-person narration. Have the book available so listeners can read along and see Marla Frazee's wonderful pen-and-ink illustrations that perfectly capture Clementine's spirit. An entertaining listen for classes or individual students.-Cynthia Grabke, Halifax Elementary School, MA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.--School Library Journal, November, 2007

As Clementine says, Spectacularful ideas are always sproinging up in my brain. All the better for readers who like to laugh. Reminiscent of both Ramona and Junie B. Jones, Clementine is an ingenuous third-grader with a talent for trouble and a good heart. Her best friend is her neighbor Margaret, a fourth-grader who experiences both qualities firsthand. After all, plenty of kids may have had their hair chopped off by a helpful friend in an effort to get the glue out, but how many of those friends would think to improve matters by drawing hair back on the scalp, forehead, and neck with a Flaming Sunset permanent marker? It looked beautiful, like a giant tattoo of tangled worms, Clementine observes in the fresh, funny, first-person narrative. Frazee's expressive ink drawings capture every nuance of the characters' emotions, from bemusement to anger to dejection. Sometimes touching and frequently amusing, this engaging chapter book is well suited to reading alone or reading aloud to a roomful of children.--Carolyn Phelan, Booklist, October, 2006

In The Library

This is a fun book to recommend to mid-late elementary age students. I think that even boys would like it because Clementine is always getting into trouble and feels that it is unfair.