Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore
Now Available on Amazon.com - To Order Your Copy Today - http://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Dodgeball-Bully-Story/dp/1599903164
For complete tour information and the complete schedule, visit her tour home page at: http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/04/freckleface-strawberry-by-julianne.html
Title: Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully
Author: Julianne Moore
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Review Copy Provided by: Bloomsbury
About the Book: Freckleface Strawberry loves the Early Bird program at school because it means extra time on the playground–except when it rains. Rain means indoor playtime...and facing the school bully Windy Pants Patrick in a bruising game of dodgeball. Ignoring him seems the safest thing, but what's our freckled heroine to do when she's forced to confront the bully alone? Beat him at his own game, of course.
About the Author: Julianne Moore is U. S. Ambassador for Save the Children working with children and families in rural areas, focusing on literacy and early childhood education. She successfully launched the Save the Children Valentine program in 2008 whereby children’s book illustrators donated art work for cards, with the proceeds benefiting poverty in the United States. She is also a member of Reach Out and Read, a children’s literacy organization dedicated to educating parents on the importance of reading to their children, as well as an acclaimed actress who has appeared in such movies as: The Hours, Far from Heaven, The End of the Affair, and Boogie Nights.
Ms Moore was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Boston University’s School of the Performing Arts. She now lives with her husband and children in New York City.
My Review: This is just a cute book for kids. The bonus is that it deals with a very serious issue, in a fun way, bullying. Every kid, at some time in their life, has dealt or will deal with bullying in school. As a teacher, I see it every day, and there aren't alot of books out there, to show kids that bullies can be dealt with, and usually very easily. Ms. Moore has done a great job of telling a story of a little girl that loves school, but is scared of one of the boys there. When she embraces the monster inside her imagination, and plays her own game, she finds out that the bully isn't such a bad person. You have to give kids something to relate to in children's books and Ms. Moore has done exactly that. All children have imagined/pretended playing monster, so they get this. Now, not many of the kids today have played dodgeball because most schools don't allow it. I know, it's sad. But kids can relate to playing some game in PE or at daycare where they were hurt. The author's use of onomatopoeia, sound words, really add to the feel of this story. I love when these are used in a book, because children love sounds.
The illustrator, LeUyen Pham, has given this book a retro look, and I think it's perfect since this book is about dodgeball, a retro game. Even the pages have an old feel to them. The expressions on the children's faces are just priceless! It reminds me alot of the look and feel of Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss. Bright, vivid colors are used, which I think are best to capture young reader's attention.
I recommend this book for classroom teachers at the elementary level and parents of young children. Bullying is an issue that does not need to be ignored. Children need to be aware of it and how to deal with it. What better way to get them talking about it than with a fun book?
Download Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully Acivity Kit
Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Being a Writer - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFcob8mRtec
Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About Reading - www.youtube.com/watch?v=rboRF5ipxPU
Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About being a Redhead with Freckles - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZYtwEpdbs
Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Writing Children's Books - www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NlGFJW7AbQ
Julianne Moore on the Name "Freckleface Strawberry" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFlqKdaogs
Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Balancing Family and Career - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4koJKpoNxc
5 comments:
This looks like a great book! I remember dodgeball. My twins played it up until a couple of years ago.
Sheri
Our kids still have it they just it Poison Ball now. I think this sounds like a great way to introduce bullying and how to handle it. Cute illustrations too!
Thank you so much for hosting Freckleface Strawberry and Julianne Moore today :) I love the message of bullying and accepting people who are different is being shared through a great book for kids. Also - thank you so much for sharing the link to the activity book.
Nikki Leigh
I thoroughly enjoyed your review of this great book. I love the "old feel" to the pages, too! I noticed that right away!
Kelly
What a terrific review! I need to order a copy of this book. I have been a huge fan of Julianne Moore, since my nephew was in Far from Heaven with her, years ago (terrific movie, by the way!)Ryan's family has always talked about how terrific she was; she was always concerned about the kids who were working on the set. Wonderful actress, and great human being. Glad to see her in the KidLit world!
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