Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen

Overview:
Self-assured, chatty Kylie Jean declares, “I’m going to be a beauty queen. Just you wait and see!” Yet the eight-year-old Texan sets her sights on another title after dreaming that she’s been named rodeo queen. Ruling out rope tricks and bull riding, she opts to enter the barrel-racing competition in the upcoming Wild West Rodeo, and she is tickled when her grandfather gives her a pony, one grandmother agrees to train her, and her other grandmother buys her a shirt and boots—pink to match her favorite cowboy hat. Kylie Jean’s success at the rodeo is predictable, but her good nature, as well as that of her family (“If you promise to never get on a bull again, I promise to figure out a better plan for you,” Kylie Jean’s uncle says after her disastrous stint on a mechanical bull) offset the slightness of the story.
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Another super cute story about Kylie Jean and her dream of being a queen! I loved this story due to Kylie Jean’s perseverance.

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Summer Reading Club

So I’ve been researching for a great summer reading club/challenge for Addyson for this summer and I’ve come across quite a few:

Junie B. Jones

Barnes and Noble

Book Adventure

American Girl

Half Price Books

Scholastic Summer Challenge

I’m PUMPED to get her started 🙂

Kylie Jean Dancing Queen

Overview:
Kylie Jean plans to be a beauty queen. When she hears that Madame is opening up auditions for Swan Lake, she can hardly wait. She just knows she will snag the lead role of Odette, queen of the swans. After all, Kylie Jean has the wave of a queen down pat—side to side, nice and slow. Her initial disappointment about not getting the lead role quickly turns to understanding that she should be the best swan maiden possible. When Odette’s partner breaks his ankle, Kylie Jean makes it her mission to come up with a plan because the show must go on. The story deals with going after one’s dreams, dealing with disappointment, and thinking up creative solutions to unforeseen problems. A mother still often chooses books for her daughter within this age category. If she is looking for a sugar-and-spice series with a strong girl figure, this one could work—unless she shrinks from the idea of a beauty queen being a satisfactory goal.
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This one was sooo cute. Addyson has been wanting to do ballet for a while and this was a good break. I’m loving these books!!! In this book Kylie Jean learned that even though she didn’t get the part she wanted she was still able to do her best and stay in the show.

Kylie Jean Singing Queen

Overview:
When Kylie Jean learns there will be a talent show at the Fourth of July Jubilee, she can hardly wait to enter. After listing her talents and eliminating doggie tricks (she is afraid Ugly Brother, her bulldog, might not cooperate), she decides to sing the first verse of The Star Spangled Banner three times. With the help of her family, neighbor, friend, and, of course, her dog, she masters the words of the song and creates a red, white, and blue glitter-and-stars costume. Well prepared for her performance, she helps her mother cook the family’s favorite picnic fare and manages to drop a boiled egg Ugly Brother’s way. The Fourth of July dawns bright and beautiful; it is a perfect day for her Texas town to gather for food and fun. Kylie Jean is assigned number twenty-three and is able to watch all the talent show participants who come before her. She sings with confidence and even has the crowd join her for the last verse. Number twenty-four, the last performer, is Mandy Howard. Mandy sings so sweetly that Kyle Jean realizes that she should win. The judges announce third place for Dan the Juggling Man, second to Kylie Jean, and, to Kylie’s delight, the first prize goes to Mandy. The evening ends with a blazing fireworks show and a duet with Kylie Jean and Mandy singing America the Beautiful.
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Another great Kylie Jean book!

Kylie Jean – Spelling Queen

Kylie Jean Spelling Queen by Marci Peschke

Overview: Second grader Kylie Jean is a busy little lady. Readers have followed her singing, dancing, rodeo and acting experiences. Kylie approaches everything in her life as a possible step toward becoming a real life beauty queen. She has the perfect blue eyes, she loves glitter and glamour and she has learned the wave. So when she is presented with an opportunity to become the Spelling Bee Queen of her class and maybe even her school, she can’t wait to get her name on the list. Kylie’s family helps her to practice her words and even her dog, Ugly Brother, gets in the act. When Kylie and her cousin Lucy rescue a stray kitten and decide to share responsibility for it, the kitten becomes a distraction from her commitment to the Spelling Bee. However, in true beauty queen style, Kylie studies and wins her class bee and goes on to win the School Bee. She is now truly the Spelling Bee Queen. These adventures for second grade Kylie will be entertaining to the targeted audience and will offer vocabulary challenges.
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Another great story about Kylie Jean and how to properly handle stress and make good choices (even as an 8 year-old).

Kylie Jean – Blueberry Queen

Kylie Jean Blueberry Queen by Marci Peschke

Overview: Kylie Jean Carter is from Jacksonville Texas. According to her Momma, she is considered “pretty” on both the outside and the inside. Ever since she was a little girl, actually a bitty baby, Kylie wanted nothing more than to be a beauty queen. It is time for the Blueberry Festival and everyone in town is busy getting ready. Momma’s baking pies and Pa is picking blueberries but Kylie is thinking about becoming a queen. Every year they pick one girl to be the Blueberry Queen and Kylie knows that that tiara would look very pretty on her head. Will she be able to capture the crown of Blueberry Queen? When the registration process becomes confusing for Kylie Jean, she enlists the help of her cheerleader cousin, her grandparents, her girlfriends, and even her dog (Ugly Brother). This story delivers the message to young readers that with a blend of perseverance, family support, and belief in yourself, you can achieve your goals. ********************************************************************
Wow, we’ve now officially made the switch from Junie B. Jones to Kylie Jean. I love this series for many reasons but first and foremost that it constantly seems to reenforce the fact that you are MADE to beautiful on the inside AND the outside. Kylie Jean’s momma always says, “Pretty is as pretty does.” and that is perfect for Addyson right now as she seems to have already started the phase where she thinks about her clothes, her hairstyle and her body and how “beautiful” she is.

Stallion by Starlight

Stallion by Starlight by Mary Pope Osborne

Overview:

Magic Tree House #49 features Jack and Annie heading back to ancient Greece and an adventure with Alexander the Great when he was a child and his famous stallion: Bucephalus.

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So Addyson and I have been awaiting the release of this book and I went out and purchased it as soon as I heard it was on the shelves. It was a great story of history, friendship and humility.

Has a Monster under her bed

Junie B. Jones has a monster under her bed by Barbara Park

Overview:
In the 8th Junie B. Jones book, Junie B. knows there’s no such thing as monsters. Mother and Daddy even said so. But then why is there monster drool on Junie B.’s pillow? Oh, no! What if Paulie Allen Puffer is right—what if she really does have a monster under her bed? If Junie B. goes to sleep, the monster might see her feet hanging down. And he might think her piggy toes are yummy little wiener sausages!

Loves Handsome Warren

Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren by Barbara Park

Overview:
In the 7th Junie B. Jones book, there’s a new boy in kindergarten, and guess what? He’s the handsomest guy Junie B. has ever seen. She and Lucille and that Grace all want him for a boyfriend. Only, he thinks Junie B. is a nutball. Just ’cause she couldn’t stop laughing and rolling. So how is she supposed to get that boy to love her?
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This was a good book that helped me teach a lesson that I’ve been working on for a while, friends should NOT be based on outward but on inward.

Meanie Jim’s Birthday

Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday

Overview:
Guess who’s not invited? In the 6th Junie B. Jones book, that meanie Jim has invited everyone in Room Nine to his birthday party on Saturday—except Junie B.! Should she have her own birthday party six months early and not invite Jim? Or should she move to It’s a Small World After All in Disneyland?
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This was a cute book about how to treat others when they have hurt you. I don’t necessarily like the fact that she continuously calls him, “That Jim I hate!” throughout the books but it has also allowed me to make a point to Addyson that the words you use towards others DO hurt them.