clarice bean spells trouble

Our Book of the Month is...

Clarice Bean Spells Trouble

by Lauren Child

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Clarice Bean seems to be in nonstop trouble these days, almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, who is the naughtiest boy at school. If only she could be more like her favorite book character, Ruby Redfort, girl detective, who is very good at getting out of trouble. The problem is, Mrs. Wilberton is planning a spelling bee, and just thinking about it gives Clarice a stomachache. The good news is that there is also going to be a class performance of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and Clarice is exceptionordinarily keen on landing a starring role, so she can get discovered by someone who spots child talents and escape spelling-bee humiliation. But when Karl Wrenbury has a family problem and gets into really big trouble, Clarice does something utterly unexpected, altruistically proving Ruby Redfort's maxim "Never let a good pal down."

The superbly talented Lauren Child returns with another fast-paced, full-length adventure full of wacky wit, visual appeal, and a surprisingly heartwarming twist sure to reel in the most reluctant reader — and the most inventive speller.

What I think:  All three Clarice Bean books are terrific.  However, Clarice Bean Spells Trouble is my favorite because I love words and spelling bees make me happy.  When I shared this book with second graders, they were delighted with the story.  Clarice Bean Spells Trouble makes a great read aloud because Clarice has a very strong (and funny) point of view.  Plus, I love Lauren Child's illustrations and the way she plays with the way the words look on the page.  Very creative!