Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown

by Paula Danziger, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

Overview

Amber Brown is excited to be starting second grade—and a little nervous, too. But Amber Brown decides she's ready for whatever happens, and second grade had better be ready for Amber Brown!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142500811
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	07/28/2003
Series:	Penguin Young Readers Level 3 Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.22(d)
Lexile:	300L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular Amber Brown books as well as Remember Me To Harold Square, The Divorce Express, and Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice?

Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards.

Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always.

In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children’s Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Tony Ross lives in London, England.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The feisty series inaugurated in Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon is not just for middle readers anymore." -Publishers Weekly

"Readers will adore the irrepressible Amber and appreciate her love/hate relationship with Justin...The author's ability to capture the essence of childhood and deliver it without condescension is unparalleled." -School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

"The feisty series inaugurated in Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon is not just for middle readers anymore." -Publishers Weekly

"Readers will adore the irrepressible Amber and appreciate her love/hate relationship with Justin...The author's ability to capture the essence of childhood and deliver it without condescension is unparalleled." -School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Together Again Beginning readers will welcome the return of several favorite characters. Amber Brown stars in two titles by Paula Danziger, illus. by Tony Ross. In It's a Fair Day, Amber Brown, the heroine and her best friend, Justin, enjoy a vacation with their families. Unfortunately, things turn sour when Amber's parents start arguing and she gets lost at the county fair. Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown focuses on first-day jitters that are quickly quelled. (July) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Danziger has created a series of early readers that take us back in time, specifically in the life of the star of her middle grade books—Amber Brown. In this story, Amber is getting ready for second grade; she is a bit concerned because the teacher that everyone raved about has moved away, and who knows what the new one will be like. It turns out that Ms. Light is a real star. She seems to have things in control and even manages to impart some very interesting information on the very first day of school. The students learn a little about electricity and that Amber's name is the Greek word for electron. The kids are typical, with Amber delighted to be with her best friend Justin and determined not to let her nemesis Hannah Burton ruin her day. Tony Ross has done a fabulous job making the kids look age appropriate and his teacher Ms. Light is a sight to behold. Danziger manages to keep the story moving at a good clip, build a bit of suspense, throw in a few groaners and end it all with a light touch. The book is part of the "A is for Amber" series. 2002, Putnam,
— Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature

Gr 1-3-Get ready for almost 15 minutes of pure fun as listeners become engrossed in this delightful production of Paula Danziger's beginning reader (Putnam, 2002), part of the A is for Amber series. Danziger capitalizes on every child's fear of the unknown-in this case, the anxiety of having a new teacher. Amber lives all the uncertainties of a new grade and a new school year on the first morning of second grade. Both her parents are reassuring, and she can count on her friend Justin's jokes to lighten the mood. When she arrives on the playground, she finds that her classmates are predictably the same as ever, and as she spends the morning in the classroom, she is enchanted by her new second grade teacher, Ms. Light. Narrator Dana Lubotsky's rnedition of Amber rings true, and she delivers a genuinely convincing performance as the precocious second grader. One side of the tape includes a turn-page signal and the other does not. Lubotsky's light-hearted style makes it easy to read along with the tape, and the background music and sound effects complete the mood. Youngsters will identify with Amber and her woes, and will want to listen again and again. A useful purchase for primary grade audiobook beginning reader collections in school and public libraries.-Maura Martin Smith, Somerset Elementary School, Shawnee Mission, KS Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

First- and second-grade teachers (and their students) will be especially interested in this laugh-out-loud, first-person story of Amber's first days in second grade. Ross continues his significant contribution to the A Is for Amber easy reader series with his expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations that always set a cheerful, humorous tone. Danziger (It's a Fair Day, Amber Brown, below, etc.), with her pitch-perfect view of a child's emotions, zeroes in on all the anxieties of a new school year: an unknown new teacher, uncertainty about friends, a snotty queen bee, and a teddy bear backpack that invites teasing comments. Amber's new teacher is a delight: Ms. Light, a denim-clad, hip lady with light-up lightbulb earrings and lots of information about light and electricity. (Move over, Ms. Frizzle!) The members of the second-grade class are introduced with Danziger's deadpan, punny humor: Freddie, who can do armpit music; Fredrich, who picks his nose; and Hannah, who clearly has her claws out for Amber. Before long, Amber stands up to Hannah Burton ("Look, Hannah BURPton. Stop it") and, in a satisfying conclusion, vows with confidence that she'll be reading chapter books before long because she is indeed ready for second grade. The stage is set for more tales about Ms. Light's Bright Lights, and Amber's adoring fans will be ready for more second-grade fun. (Easy reader. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews