For an Exceptionordinarily Good Time: Meet Clarice Bean

Picture this: Two girls, ages 7 and 9, sitting at the kitchen table eating ice cream (two different flavors, mind you, since these two girls have no food preferences in common). Then imagine Dad, filling the dishwasher with dinner dishes and Mom, sitting with the girls, an open book in her hands. Mom is reading, and her entire family is utterly cracking up. I'm talking about ice-cream-coming-out-of-nose laughter. Why?

Because Mom (who is me, by the way) is reading the latest Clarice Bean middle grade novel by the fabulous, creative and hilarious Lauren Child. Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now, released only a month ago, arrived at our house via Amazon a few weeks back. Since then, I've been reading the girls a few chapters a night -- chapters with titles like "Never Eat a Polar Bear's Liver -- No Matter How Hungry You Are".

The cast of characters in this book is fantastic, starting with Clarice herself, a British tween with lots of spunk, who is stuck in the middle of a pretty typical nutty family. Her parents are frustrated, her older brother is moody, sister Marcie is a diva and little brother Minal Cricket (you've got to love these names) is a pest. Add to that Granddad, family dog Cement, the fact that Clarice's best friend has moved away and Clarice is now forced to play tour guide to the new girl in class -- and you've got all the right ingredients for a memorable middle grade novel.

Here's a taste of Clarice Bean's life:

"When I go upstairs ... there is an actual live worm on my pillow. To get my revenge, I put Minal's pajamas in the toilet and flush it.

This causes another flood, which makes Mom utterly livid.

Then Dad calls and says he will not be coming home from work for the foreseeable next few hours due to his boss Mr. Thorncliff making him work too hard.

Mom says she is at her wits' end and has had enough of this house and she's not feeling too crazy about some of the people who live in it either."

This scene brought on a raging case of the giggles when I read it aloud to my girls. Why? Maybe because this kind of thing goes on in our house slightly more often than not? And I'm guessing we're not alone....

The best thing about the Clarice Bean books is that they take a look at real life as seen from the eyes of a kid -- and its not all gut-busting humor. Clarice's reaction to her best friend moving away was particularly poignant to our family, who recently faced a heart-wrenching relocation. She must deal with worries, difficult teachers, bullies, making new friends, and even a home renovation.

Although I love this latest book, you may want to start with the first book, Utterly Me, Clarice Bean and move on to Clarice Bean Spells Trouble, which will introduce you properly to this utterly unforgettable series

So, do your girls a favor, and read the Clarice Bean books with them -- because the greatest books for girls are the ones that can bring a family together -- and make ice cream come out of their nose!

As Clarice would say -- have a exceptionordinary weekend!

Realistic Fiction Book Pick: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Well, the carpets were clean ... for about two hours. Then the kids came home from school and I could almost see the fluffed-up off-white glow of the dirt-free carpet fibers begin to disappear.

Oh well. And the living room and dining room still look like Fred Sanford's junk shop -- but the good news is that I keep finding great books for girls that had been all but forgotten in the packed bookcases.

Today's Pick: One of my own childhood favorites -- Island of the Blue Dolphinsby Scott O'Dell. This 1961 winner of the Newbery Award for outstanding children's book is one of those timeless masterpieces that speaks volumes about human determination and survival -- and specifically sings to girls of their own ability to rise above their circumstances.

This is the story of Karana, a young Aleut girl whose entire village inadvertently leave her and her brother alone on their native island. When tragedy strikes and her brother is killed -- Karana must fend for herself and learn to survive.

I first read this book when I was ten, and vividly remember putting myself in Karana's shoes. She faces hunger, she needs shelter, she encounters danger and adventure throughout the book. I could picture in my mind her vibrant skirt made of comorant feathers and her hut with a pointed-spike fence surrounding it.

Most of all, I felt her loneliness -- it was real, and a little scary. O'Dell does a beautiful job of showing the reader Karana's interaction with the nature on the island, including her touching friendship with a wild dog.

I think that a main character like this shows girls the God-given strength that we all possess -- to survive when all odds are against us. Whether it be standing up to injustice or coping with divorce, dealing with insecurity or feelings of loneliness -- our girls need to be reminded that they are strong.

Any book that does that -- and is spectacularly written to boot -- is a book worth recommending. Enjoy reading Island of the Blue Dolphins-- a great book for girls!

If your girls are looking for specific genres for school reading programs, this is a great choice for realistic fiction.

Chapter Book Pick: Your Hooligans Will Love Roxie!

Full of adventure and suspense, Roxie and the Hooligans, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, is one of our family favorites.

It seems to me that this book is a tribute to every kind of girl -- girls who are self-conscious (Roxie has ears that stick out), girls who are teased (she is pestered by a group of bullies -- the Hooligans), girls who long for adventure (Roxie's uncle is a famous explorer), girls who are independent, and girls who are heroes.

Easy enough for an early independent reader (3rd grade), the story begins with a playground battle that ends with Roxie and the Hooligans trapped in a dumpster and stranded on a deserted island via a garbage barge. Roxie must use the knowledge she's acquired from Lord Thistlebottom's Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive Them, a favorite book which Roxie has all but memorized.

Perhaps the most important tip in the book, is Don't Panic, a concept that is put to the test when the desert island ends up being inhabited not only by Roxie and the Hooligans, but by two bumbling thieves as well.

Although this is a book that can be enjoyed independently, we've had so much fun reading it aloud! I highly recommend sitting down with the kiddos and giving it a try -- the most fun is when the kids begin to recognize the cues and step in with the "Don't Panic" warning that is prevalent throughout the book.

This sweet story of courage, triumph and friendship is filled with humor and captivating illustrations by Alexandra Boiger. Enjoy this book by prolific author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, it's great family time reading -- and let me know what you think when you are done!

Enjoy your Tuesday,

Christina