Susan Nees

Scholastic has debuted a new series of beginning chapter books called "Branches". They're intended to be a bridge between easy readers and beginning chapter books. They're illustrated, small format chapter books under 100 pages.

Missy loves unique outfits, but her mom doesn't always agree with her sense of style. When her mom takes away her carefully selected picture-day outfit and replaces it with the most boring outfit ever, Missy goes to school in an awful mood. However, a new friend and show more some clever last-minute thinking save the day and she gets to be a little fancy after all.

This is the easiest of the new series titles in this collection. It's only 72 pages long and heavily illustrated in full color. It's more of a graphic blend chapter book, with panels, speech bubbles, and only short paragraphs of separate text. The illustrations are very colorful (those that were finished in my galley) and there's lots of cuteness. The hardest thing with this book is figuring out exactly where it would go. It's a little long for an easy reader, too short for a chapter book and not quite a graphic novel. I'd probably put it in easy readers, which is where I put my Toon books.

Verdict: This is a cute idea, but there are already so many picture books/chapter books out there about girls who like glitter and pizzaz it's hard to see what this book adds. It also vibes rather young, say kindergarten level, but not many kindergarteners can read at this level. Unless you have a section that's just beginning chapter books, I'd recommend buying extra copies of Fancy Nancy and skipping this one.

ISBN: 9780545496094; Published May 2013 by Scholastic; ARC provided by the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2013 show less

This series is great for beginner readers. The characters are retable and well-developed. Some of the characters include a not so nice classmate, a teacher that enforces the rules, and a little girl (the main character) who is extremely anxious about bringing home one of the class pets. On page 53, the main character was trying to talk to the mean girl, Tiffany, while she was hanging upside down on the monkey bars. The text bubble for Tiffany was also upside down, so the reader would have to show more turn the book upside down to read what the character was saying. I thought this minor detail was clever. It was hard to identify the big idea in the story. The illustrations enhanced the text. The illustrations were simply drawn with light colors. I believe this book was written for entertainment purposes. show less

Grade Level: LowerEl (1st – 3rd grade) Number of Pages: 72
VOYA Rating: 3Q 4P (with elementary readers)
Recommended

This is the 3rd book in the Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe series. Missy wants to be a star that is so famous she does not have to go to school when she doesn’t want to. Missy is mad that she did not get the lead part in the school play. She got the part of a silent peanut! Missy was so mad that she didn’t do her homework. To make things worse, Missy got meatloaf and show more brussels sprouts for lunch. Missy blamed it all on being a peanut in the school play. On the night of the play, something happened and Missy got her big break. Will Missy save the school play?

An adorable graphic novel for 1st – 3rd graders. This book will probably appeal more to girls. The author does her own illustrations. This book is part graphic novel, part diary and part text. The author captures Missy’s emotions perfectly in her illustrations. It’s a cute lesson in that your personality will sparkle, even if you don’t get the lead in the school play. You have to try your very best even in the little things in life.

This book is a nice addition to an elementary school library. Great for emerging readers who need the illustrations help decode the meaning of the text. It’s good for silent reading. It would be a good choice for struggling readers because it is a chapter book, so older elementary students will not feel like they are reading “baby” books. It’s fun, colorful, has lots of easy vocabulary words and students will laugh at the teacher’s names. Students will definitely want to find out how the school play turns out. show less

Grade Level: LowerEl (1st – 3rd grade) Number of Pages: 72
VOYA Rating: 3Q 4P (with elementary readers)
Recommended

Melissa Abigail Rose is back for her 4th adventure. Missy is excited for the class field trip to the state capitol because it means they are going on a bus ride, get special snacks and no have to do any schoolwork. As they were touring the state capitol, Missy learns that there is no gift shop. She can’t believe it. In fact, she was is so upset about it, that she demanded to show more see the governor and tell him what she thought of the state capitol! Will Missy get in trouble or will she change the governor’s mind?

This is a nice book for emerging readers, with colorful and exciting illustrations. Readers will learn words like “rotunda” and state birds, mottos, flags and what the governor does. The dialogue will make readers laugh and want to find out what happens by the end of the field trip.

This can be a stand alone book or as part of the four book series. Great for emerging readers who need the illustrations help decode the meaning of the text. It’s good for silent reading. The chapters will make younger readers excited to read a chapter book. There are some laugh out loud parts in the text and the illustrations make it even funnier. This book would make a great addition to a government or state capitol book display. There is no AR quiz for this book (yet) but there are for the first 3 books. Students will learn about the importance of becoming involved in the government. Even little changes can be important. show less