Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things (2008)

Went on for too long. Alvin is a second grader. ( )

Alvin Ho is a Chinese-American second grader who is endearingly matter of fact about all the things he's afraid of... er, allergic to. This chapter book introduces readers to his family (older brother, younger sister, grandparents who do not fit the stereotypical roles, parents), to the kids with whom he would like to be friends, and to Flea, with whom he can CERTAINLY not be friends because she's a girl (Sophie, actually). A highly-readable addition to the Judy Moody/ Stink/ Oggie Cooder genre, and one that will make a great read-aloud. ( )

This was a REALLY cute little book about a little 2nd grade Chinese-American boy who is afraid of and/or "allergic" to pretty much everything other than explosives.

I bring up the Chinese part because he references his family/ancestors quite frequently—how he comes from a long line of very brave people, and talks about how he is not brave himself (he gets so nervous at school that he can't talk when he's there), except when he is at home, being Firecracker Man. And I bring up the American part because he was born and raised in Concord, Massachusetts (which is very hard to spell, as Alvin would say—good thing Chrome has spell check built into text boxes like this one...), which is the place the American Revolutionary War started... which obviously had a lot of explosions, and so he's very excited and proud of that fact.

And so this book is about Alvin starting the 2nd grade, wanting things to be different from last year, wanting to make friends, but not really knowing how to do that. Through the aid of his family, especially the wise guidance of his dad, he is able to overcome a LITTLE of his fear, although he is by NO means cured! (Hence the sequels!) ( )

Alvin Ho is afraid. Of everything. Girls, substitute teachers, talking in school, you name it. But he's learned how to deal with his fears: he's built a Personal Disaster Kit, with emergency supplies (like band-aids and a magnifying glass) and disaster plans (How to Survive Show-and-Tell and How to Meet Your New Teacher). But there's one disaster he's not prepared for: making friends. His brother's advice to trade baseball cards looks like it might work... but will it help Alvin make the kind of friends he wants?

This is a cute story about the anxiety a young boy faces, trying to face his fears and make friends. The events surrounding Alvin, like accidentally breaking his father's treasured childhood toy, being afraid of a new piano teacher, or getting bullied, are mostly realistic. Younger readers might not have a lot of context for Alvin's visit to a psychotherapist, making that scene hard to relate to, but it's a brief scene with a lot of comedic potential. Alvin is only in the second grade, but his trials will appeal to mid-elementary aged readers, 2nd-4th grade.
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Funny book for boys! Especially good for 2nd and 3rd graders. ( )