Clementine and the Family Meeting

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Clementine and the Family Meeting

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Overview

Critics and fans alike delight in the antics of rambunctious third grader Clementine. In Clementine and the Family Meeting, this fiery youngster takes on the age-old problem of sibling rivalry. A family meeting has been called, and Clementine figures she must be in trouble for something, but she¿s not sure what. Her fears of punishment are replaced by new ones, however, when her parents reveal they are trying to have another baby. Clementine¿s sure that four is the perfect family size¿can she be convinced to make room for number five?

Product Details
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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature - Peg Glisson

Clementine's day is off to a bad start: the family meeting sign is posted on the fridge. Those meetings are often about something she has done that she should not have, so she is worried. In science class she discovers her science project rat has disappeared somewhere in the school's walls and she and her partner will probably have to come up with a new project. Then, back home at the end of the school day, she cannot find her favorite hat—the one knitted by her grandmother. Can the day get any worse? There is some relief when her parents tell her the meeting is not because she is in trouble, but the news that there is a baby on the way is hardly comforting. A baby means there will be five in the family and that just does not work! A table has four sides, as do puzzles. To Clementine, four is a perfect number since the family can easily break into twos—two children, two parents, or one child paired with a parent. Her parents are surprised by her reaction but give her time and space to work her way through her feelings, which seem to stem from concerns about where she will fit in more than jealousy. Clementine is finding it difficult to deal with change, both at home and at school. Clementine's father wisely gives her some special attention. That attention, and his wacky humor, helps her begin to feel more at ease as her parents help her realize that she is a wonderful big sister. Gram sends a new hat and the rat situation resolves itself with a predictable scenario. As in the other books about Clementine, Frazee's pen and ink drawings bring Clementine, her family, and friends to life and add to the humor as well. It is not necessary to have read the preceding books; each can stand-alone. This will be a popular read aloud at home and at school. It would be useful in discussions about character traits, character development, and story elements. Reviewer: Peg Glisson

School Library Journal

Gr 2–4—The irrepressible third grader, Clementine, is back in this installment (Hyperion, 2011) of Sara Pennypacker's series. Clementine sees the ominous "Family Meeting" sign on the refrigerator, she thinks that she is going to be in big trouble. The actual reason for the meeting is far worse than anything she could have imagined: her parents are expecting a baby, and they didn't even ask her if it was okay! To make matters worse, a key element in Clementine's science project has gone missing, her best friend Margaret is turning into a makeup fiend, and she lost her favorite winter hat. Dismayed at first, Clementine realizes that her worries have a solution: mostly, the love and warmth of her family, but having her own tool belt doesn't hurt, either. Jessica Almasy brings Clementine to life with a performance that is chock-full of sparkle and verve. The girlish pitch of her voice is perfectly suited to the character, and her enthusiastic delivery is spot-on. The slightly different voices she gives the adult characters serviceable but not memorable. But this isn't really a drawback, as it allows Clementine to be the star. A sweet story with pitch-perfect narration makes this audiobook a must-have.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

Kirkus Reviews

Clementine has had many not-so-good days. But this one just might be the worst.

She loses her favorite hat, her science project is ruined and the "family meeting!" sign is up on the refrigerator—that's never a good thing. Even though family meetings are supposed to be about family issues, Clementine usually ends up getting in trouble. But this one is different. Clementine's dad announces that their family is going to grow. Are they are getting a gorilla, like Clementine has always wanted?! No. It's a new baby. Clementine is N-O-T, not happy. They are a family of four. Four is a perfect number. In infallible Clementine reasoning: "Four can be two and two sometimes, and nobody is lonely. Two kids and two grown-ups. Two boys and two girls. There are four sides to the kitchen table, so we each get one." Five just doesn't work. Pennypacker tackles the oft-written new-baby theme from a refreshing, older perspective; jealousy is not the foremost emotion, it's vulnerability. Everything is changing too fast. Clementine and her dad have always had a unique bond, but in this venture, he especially shines. He picks up on unspoken feelings and knows just how to give the right amount of comfort.

Filled with familiar Clementine charm but, more importantly, a whole lot of heart, too. (Fiction. 7-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170963225
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	12/16/2021
Series:	Clementine , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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Editorial Reviews

Clementine's day is off to a bad start: the family meeting sign is posted on the fridge. Those meetings are often about something she has done that she should not have, so she is worried. In science class she discovers her science project rat has disappeared somewhere in the school's walls and she and her partner will probably have to come up with a new project. Then, back home at the end of the school day, she cannot find her favorite hat—the one knitted by her grandmother. Can the day get any worse? There is some relief when her parents tell her the meeting is not because she is in trouble, but the news that there is a baby on the way is hardly comforting. A baby means there will be five in the family and that just does not work! A table has four sides, as do puzzles. To Clementine, four is a perfect number since the family can easily break into twos—two children, two parents, or one child paired with a parent. Her parents are surprised by her reaction but give her time and space to work her way through her feelings, which seem to stem from concerns about where she will fit in more than jealousy. Clementine is finding it difficult to deal with change, both at home and at school. Clementine's father wisely gives her some special attention. That attention, and his wacky humor, helps her begin to feel more at ease as her parents help her realize that she is a wonderful big sister. Gram sends a new hat and the rat situation resolves itself with a predictable scenario. As in the other books about Clementine, Frazee's pen and ink drawings bring Clementine, her family, and friends to life and add to the humor as well. It is not necessary to have read the preceding books; each can stand-alone. This will be a popular read aloud at home and at school. It would be useful in discussions about character traits, character development, and story elements. Reviewer: Peg Glisson

Children's Literature - Peg Glisson

Gr 2–4—The irrepressible third grader, Clementine, is back in this installment (Hyperion, 2011) of Sara Pennypacker's series. Clementine sees the ominous "Family Meeting" sign on the refrigerator, she thinks that she is going to be in big trouble. The actual reason for the meeting is far worse than anything she could have imagined: her parents are expecting a baby, and they didn't even ask her if it was okay! To make matters worse, a key element in Clementine's science project has gone missing, her best friend Margaret is turning into a makeup fiend, and she lost her favorite winter hat. Dismayed at first, Clementine realizes that her worries have a solution: mostly, the love and warmth of her family, but having her own tool belt doesn't hurt, either. Jessica Almasy brings Clementine to life with a performance that is chock-full of sparkle and verve. The girlish pitch of her voice is perfectly suited to the character, and her enthusiastic delivery is spot-on. The slightly different voices she gives the adult characters serviceable but not memorable. But this isn't really a drawback, as it allows Clementine to be the star. A sweet story with pitch-perfect narration makes this audiobook a must-have.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

Clementine has had many not-so-good days. But this one just might be the worst.
She loses her favorite hat, her science project is ruined and the "family meeting!" sign is up on the refrigerator—that's never a good thing. Even though family meetings are supposed to be about family issues, Clementine usually ends up getting in trouble. But this one is different. Clementine's dad announces that their family is going to grow. Are they are getting a gorilla, like Clementine has always wanted?! No. It's a new baby. Clementine is N-O-T, not happy. They are a family of four. Four is a perfect number. In infallible Clementine reasoning: "Four can be two and two sometimes, and nobody is lonely. Two kids and two grown-ups. Two boys and two girls. There are four sides to the kitchen table, so we each get one." Five just doesn't work. Pennypacker tackles the oft-written new-baby theme from a refreshing, older perspective; jealousy is not the foremost emotion, it's vulnerability. Everything is changing too fast. Clementine and her dad have always had a unique bond, but in this venture, he especially shines. He picks up on unspoken feelings and knows just how to give the right amount of comfort.
Filled with familiar Clementine charm but, more importantly, a whole lot of heart, too. (Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews