This book is about Amber Brown and her best friend Justin. Justin’s parents are trying to sell their house so they can move for Justin’s dad’s new job. Amber doesn’t want him to leave and Justin won’t talk about it. Amber is also dealing with her parent’s recent divorce. The two begin to fight and soon decide that the only way to deal with these issues is to deal with it together. Students will be able to relate to Amber. ( )

Amber Brown and her best friend Justin are in the third grade. Justin's parents have been trying to sell their house and move to Alabama for Justin's dad's new job, but Amber hopes it will never sell so that Justin doesn't have to leave. When the worst happens and the house is sold, Amber decides that Justin doesn't seem sorry enough to be leaving her and gets mad at him. Justin gets mad back. When they finally reconcile, they realise that they only have each other to help them through leaving their best friends. Cute and sweet, if slightly out of date. Recommended. ( )

Danziger, P. (1994). Amber Brown is Not a Crayon. New York: Puffin Books.

0142406198

Third grader, Amber Brown has fun in class on a pretend trip to China with her best friend, Justin. But as Justin and his family prepare to move to another state, Amber begins to worry. Making matters worse, Justin refuses to talk about his approaching departure. She, Amber Brown is also dealing with the underlying tension of her parents’ recent divorce.

Amber’s voice feels authentic. Although her character is in the third grade in this book, the story could be shared with a younger reader who is slowly transitioning to longer chapter novels.

And if a student loves it, there's a whole series they can enjoy.


Activities to do with the book:

This is a good series to help transition young readers to chapter books. If a student liked Junie B. Jones (reviewed previously here), this would be a good follow up for slightly older readers since this series has fewer pictures and Amber is a little older. Although, this book would be great for first and second graders. From there, a student could graduate to Ramona Quimby and on.

A teacher could base lessons off of the way Amber’s teacher conducts his lessons. A teacher could have pretend trips to other countries to introduce lessons.


Favorite Quotes:

“In just ten minutes, our entire class is getting on a plane for our flight to China.
I, Amber Brown, am one very excited third grader” (p. 5).

“When my parents got a divorce, my dad moved far away, to another country, so I never get to see him and he hardly ever calls” (p. 17).

“Fractions are not my favorite thing.
In fact, they are one of my least favorite things. The only things I hate more are 1) Brussels sprouts, 2) watching kids pick their noses and eat the snot and 3) having people I love leave” (p. 47).

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.

Amber's best friend Justin is moving away.
A good kid's book about how it feels when someone you love leaves. Amber is an engaging character. ( )

Two best friends living in New Jersey are forced to deal with separation as one friend prepares to move to Alabama. Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are now in third grade, but have been friends since preschool. Their class takes “trips” to different countries to learn about the life and culture of various parts of the world. On a trip to china, Justin gets a fortune cookie that reads “soon you will be going on a new journey and beginning a new life”. Suddenly, neither Amber nor Justin feel well because it makes them realize that they have to face the fact the Justin will soon be moving and Amber will be losing her best friend at school. Their friendship takes a toll as they be try to deal with the array of emotions tied to their looming separation. Painterly illustrations are scattered throughout the book and complement the text, providing younger readers with black and white visuals of the characters tied to the story. The themes of friendship and separation as seen through the eyes of third graders will connect with the elementary school age readers. ( )

Amber is very sad because her best friend is moving away. This is a common occurance in a child's life, that a friend they make may move away or they may need to move away themselves. This is a very good book to recommend to a fluent reader going through this kind of experience, or to use as a read aloud, because Danziger is able to paint vivid characters who feel authentic. Danziger's story is not all sad, there's fun along the way too, especially in the behavior of the 3rd graders in Mr. Cohen's Class. ( )

Lexile: 720
Reading Recovery: 24
DRA: 38
Fountas Pinnel Guided Reading: Q

Third grader, Amber Brown, is sad when she finds her best friend is moving away. This book is a good alternative to Junie B. Jones for parents who object to Junie B's language and ways. ( )