Thursday, January 9, 2014

Jakubowski, Michele. Dodgeball, Drama, and Other Dilemmas.


Jakubowski, Michele.    Dodgeball, Drama, and Other Dilemmas.  Capstone/Picture window    2014  128p  ISBN 978-1-4048-8061-0      elem  E     Conflict   

This book would be a book of note except that our committee gives that designation only to books suitable for grades 5-12.  Sidney (a boy) and Sydney (a girl) are back for a second book in this wonderful series about friendship and friendly competition.  The book provides an upbeat feeling that stays with the reader even after the last page is finished. The two share a love of video games. When the prize for a spelling contest is a new video game, they both try their best to win. Dodge ball becomes the second arena of competition, but it is the school play that tests them both as they learn more about their own abilities as well as the strengths of each other.  This is a chapter book for children of both sexes in grades 2-4 that provides laughs as well as moments to contemplate.  It is the second book in an engaging new series that hopefully will include many more books about the friendship between the two young people. It would be great if the characters could grow up and mature at a rate similar to that of their readers, so readers would be able to continue reading the series in 5th and 6th grades and learn how Sidney and Sydney handle classroom and family issues when they are 11 and 12 years old.             

Summary: When Sidney (boy) and Sydney (girl) get together, they exhibit a competitive nature that leads them into friendly jousting.  This time it is dodgeball, a spelling bee and the school play.  A chapter book for grades 2-4. This series (Sidney and Sydney) appeals to both genders. 

Friendship-Fiction, Rivalry-Fiction                         --Lois McNicol

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