Judy Moody

Judy Moody starts the third grade in something of a mood in this first entry in Megan McDonald's acclaimed beginning chapter-book series chronicling her adventures, keenly aware that she alone will have no snappy T-shirt proclaiming her summer activities, sad that she is leaving behind the class turtle of the previous year, and worried that she will be made to sit with the pesky Frank "Eats Paste" Pearl, rather than with her best friend, Rocky. When the latter proves to be the case, her fears seem justified, but slowly, through the patience of her new teacher, Mr. Todd, through her friendship with Rocky, and through her discovery that Frank isn't so bad after all, things start to look up, and by the time Judy presents her "All About Me" show more collage a few weeks later, third grade is off to a fabulous start!

With a moody but essentially goodhearted heroine, a number of humorous incidents that had me chuckling, and a sibling relationship that seemed both realistic and loving, Judy Moody was an immensely appealing read. I particularly appreciated the latter, as it is something I think was missing from the Ivy and Bean chapter-book series, which I have recently been reading. It's clear that there is plenty of sibling tension here - Judy finds her younger brother (or "bother," as she calls him) a bit of a pest, going so far as to label him "Stink," because he doesn't like to bathe, and playing some amusing practical jokes on him - but it never goes too far, and he is included in some of her activities with her friends, like the TP (not toilet paper) Club. The balance struck, between sibling conflict and friendship, seemed just right.

All in all, I really enjoyed this first foray into Judy's world, and will definitely be picking up subsequent entries in the series. Recommended to young chapter-book readers, particularly those looking for stories with engaging, spunky girl heroines! show less

Judy Moody is not in the mood for summer break to be over, and her mood doesn't improve when given her first project of the school year: creating a collage representing herself. This first installment in the popular Judy Moody series is an excellent introduction to the funny and predictably moody Judy. I enjoyed Judy's refreshingly cynical viewpoint. Often it seems early chapter books tend to paint their characters with an overly positive viewpoint, but Judy's attitude feels much more realistic. Readers who have experienced their own misgivings and jealousies can relate to Judy and learn from her often misguided prejudices just as she does.

Judy Moody was in a Mood starts with the first day of school. Judy Moody is in a terrible mood and she knows nothing is going to go right. Third grade does not turn out to be as bad as she expected, however, and she finds herself struggling not to be impressed. Throughout the book, Judy’s moods shift constantly from frustrated to thrilled and everything in between. Regardless of her mood, Judy is always funny, creative and not nearly as grouchy as she first seems. Megan McDonald has created a wonderfully imaginative character. Even though each chapter is a separate event, Judy’s developing friendship with a boy from class and her progress on her Me Collage provide just the right amount of continuity. Peter Reynolds’ illustrations show more are cute in funny. He does a wonderful job capturing the emotions and expressions of the characters. Judy Moody is a great series for children in first through third grade. It is highly recommended for elementary school libraries and the children’s section of public libraries. show less

At first I thought this was going to be one of those books with a girl protagonist who is supposedly “spunky” or something like that but just comes across as bratty. I was pleasantly surprised then with Judy Moody. Likewise, Judy’s expectations when starting third grade are low (to say the least), but she ends up being pleasantly surprised with challenging and interesting work (a “Me collage” is her first major assignment) and new friends. The story is realistic with many vignettes that will resonate with many children, and the book’s illustrations are fun to boot.

Judy Mood Was in a Mood by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds is a realistic fiction chapter book about a girl who was in a very strong “bad mood,” especially when school and things did not go her way. The main focus is dealing with emotions and learning how to handle them in your life. Judys reactions are big and dramatic so it feels real for kids her age, and shows that she iis a well-developed character. The author uses humor, dialoque, and hyperbole to show Judy’s personality, which makes the story fun to read. The illustrations add to the tone of the story and show Judy’s emotions. In the end of the book Judy shows character growth by turning her bad situations into something more creative like her class show more presentation. This book is relatable for kids because it shows kids bad situations in a funny way like school problems, friendship moments, and bad days. show less

Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. But she does have an abundance of individuality and attitude, and when Mr. Todd assigns the class a special Me Project, she really gets a chance to express herself! Megan McDonald's spirited text and Peter Reynolds's wry illustrations will delight any kid who's known a bad mood or a bad day - and managed to laugh anyway.

This is a perfect book for young readers. It's a early chapter book and can be used in many different way in the classroom. I could see myself asking students to make a ME collage just like Judy did. I think kids can have fun exploring their own interests and hobbies. I also think it's a great way to start having children talk about their moods. It's important for children to know that feelings and emotions are real and should be talked about. Just like Judy, bad moods don't last forever. This can bring about a greater self-awareness. I can see this book being used for a free choice book or as a welcome back to school book.