I am not sure what drew my attention to the series by Patricia Reilly Giff. I remember wanting to find something different in the school library the day that my second grade class walked in to look that Friday. All I know is that when I began reading “The Kids of the Polk Street School” books, I was hooked! The quirky characters and all of the situations they get into are quite a hoot. Because of my wonderful job here at Families.com, I decided to read them again so I could tell all of you loyal readers just how great they are.
From Richard “Beast” Best to Emily Arrow, each character has his or her own personality flaws. Although Beast is older than everyone in the class, he feels like a baby because he was held back a year in school. Emily tries to do the right thing most of the time, but she finds that it’s not so easy. Dawn Bosco becomes the new girl in class and quickly makes an enemy, and then a friend, of Emily Arrow. Jill Simon always wears braids in her hair and cries at the slightest thing. Matthew Jackson is a friendly kid, but no one wants to sit near him because his classmates think that he has a problem wetting the bed.
“The Kids of the Polk Street School” books teach children important lessons in addition to being fun to read. Some books teach that it is okay to be friends with someone even though they are different, while other books teach children how to deal with their fears. Regardless of whether or not your child realizes s/he is learning a lesson, s/he will definitely enjoy reading these books.
“The Kids of the Polk Street School” series is recommended for grades/reading levels 1-4. For more information about “The Kids of the Polk Street School” series and Patricia Reilly Giff, please visit Random House.
To purchase “The Kids of the Polk Street School” books, please feel free to browse Amazon.
“The Kids of the Polk Street School” Books
1. The Beast in Ms. Rooney’s Room
2. Fish Face
3. The Candy Corn Contest
4. December Secrets
5. In the Dinosaur’s Paw
6. The Valentine Star
7. Lazy Lions, Lucky Lambs
8. Snaggle Doodles
9. Purple Climbing Days
10. Say Cheese
11. Sunny-Side Up
12. Pickle Puss
13. Best and the Halloween Horror
14. Emily Arrow Promises to Do Better This Year
15. Monster Rabbit Runs Amuck!
16. Wake Up, Emily, It’s Mother’s Day!
“The New Kids at the Polk Street School” Books
1. Watch Out! Man-Eating Snake
2. Fancy Feet
3. All About Stacy
4. B-E-S-T Friends
5. Spectacular Stone Soup
6. Stacy Says Good-Bye
“The Kids of the Polk Street School” Specials
1. Write Up a Storm with the Polk Street School
2. Count Your Money with the Polk Street School
3. The Postcard Pest
4. Turkey Trouble
5. Show Time at the Polk Street School
6. Look Out, Washington, D.C.!
7. Green Thumbs, Everyone
8. Pet Parade
9. Next Stop, New York City
10. Oh Boy, Boston!
11. Let’s Go, Philadelphia!