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    The More the Merrier
    The More the Merrier
    The More the Merrier
    Ebook130 pages1 hour

    The More the Merrier

    By Stephanie Barden and Diane Goode

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    In Stephanie Barden’s The More the Merrier, middle-grade readers will root for Cinderella Smith the same way they do for Junie B. Jones, Judy Moody, and Clementine.
     
    Cinderella takes on mean girls in the second book in the Cinderella Smith series. A clique has formed in her third-grade class, and they don’t want Cinderella in the group. Cinderella and her best friend, Erin, try to figure out what to do about the popular girls while making time to study for the big spelling bee.
     
    Parents will appreciate the way the chapter book takes on the serious subject of bullying with a light touch, while emphasizing the importance of having true friends. The book also shows that studying pays off.
     
    Engaging illustrations by Caldecott Honor Award winner Diane Goode bring Cinderella to life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 24, 2012
    ISBN9780062114310
    The More the Merrier
    Author

    Stephanie Barden

    In between tripping over abandoned shoes, chasing after escaped pets, and searching for lost belongings, Stephanie Barden wrote her first book, Cinderella Smith, which was followed by Cinderella Smith: The More the Merrier. The author teaches classes at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, where she lives with her husband, Tom; son, Joe; and eighty-pound lapdog, Otis.

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    Reviews for The More the Merrier

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      Book Title: "Cinderella Smith: The More the Merrier”Author: Stephanie BardenPublished By: Harper CollinsAge Recommended: 8 - 12Reviewed By: Kitty BullardRaven Rating: 5Review: Based on one of the cutest, quirkiest little girls ever, Cinderella Smith, the More the Merrier, is a wonderful read for children from 8 to 12 years of age. This cute book sends a great message about bullying and how it’s not nice to say bad things about or be mean and thoughtless to others. Teaching a valuable lesson such as this in a sweet and sensible way is what Cinderella Smith is all about. Children and parents are sure to enjoy her uniqueness and her wonderful penchant for making up interesting new words! This is a wonderful series for children!
    • 4/5
      I have such a soft-spot for all things Cinderella. And although her name is Cinderella, she only has a few shoe mishaps in this particular book. Mostly it is all about the characters and interactions this go-round.Cinderella and her class-mates are going to participate in a spelling bee. The third, fourth and fifth graders are all able to participate. Each class has their own spelling bee and the 3 class winners will all go on to compete in the school bee. The winner of the school bee will be able to plan a special class party to celebrate. Both of the Rosemarys are just as obnoxious as ever. They form clubs and tell everyone who can and can't be in them. Also they get upset and angry when everyone doesn't agree with their idea of what a perfect class party theme would be (unicorns). When Cinderella decides that she will ignore Rosemary T. (who used to be her best friend until she got too mean) Rosemary retaliates by telling mean lies about Cinderella's aunt. Cinderella must learn to not only juggle practicing for the big spelling bee, she must figure out how to handle an ever-increasing distance between her used-to-be best friend.This book proves that this series will become a good staple for young chapter book readers. The situation and struggles are spot on for the age and interests of the characters. Cinderella is a solid character that many will like. (Even though she has a very princessy name, she has loads of interests that aren't super girly. For example in her classroom she sits at a table with three boys and they enjoy making up words and talking about bugs and dinosaurs.) If the tomboys and boys in school are okay reading a book with a pink cover, they will really enjoy learning about Cinderella Smith's antics.
    • 5/5
      If you love Ramona or Junie B. Jones, Cinderella is going to become a fast favorite too. Both my 3rd grader and I enjoyed Cinderella's story. She is creative, spunky and has heart."The More The Merrier" is a wonderful, subtle way to encourage children to be themselves, to stand up for themselves and how to have a "what's what" with someone that is being mean or bullying them. We can't wait for more Cinderella books in this house!
    • 3/5
      This is a cute book, written in the first person by a third grader, Cinderella Smith. Cinderella is a free spirit sort of child, prone to wearing two different colored shoes, and making up words that explain how she feels, such as 'vexcellent' for 'very excellent'. The descriptions of school and home life ring true, as if the author knows children well. One of my favorite expressions from the book comes from a part where her ex-friend makes 'stinky eyes' at her. The illustrations are wonderful, simple and flowing and are perfectly matched to the text.I would recommend this book to young and old, it was a fun read.

    Book preview

    The More the Merrier - Stephanie Barden

    Chapter 1

    A Turquoise Converse Sneaker

    It’s time to leave for school! I yelled to my mom and my little sister, Tess. And I knew this not because of the clock or because a show ended on TV. I knew it because I could hear the bounce-bounce-bounce of my next-door neighbor Charlie’s basketball coming up our walkway.

    Hi, Tarlie! Tess raced out the door first. She had a big, huge crush on Charlie and just couldn’t wait to see him every morning.

    Hi, Tess! said Charlie. Hi, Tinder!

    I did a big sigh on account of the name he called me. When we were little, we couldn’t say each other’s names just right, so we called each other Tinder and Tarles. Now we can say the s and the ch sounds just fine, but Charlie keeps calling me Tinder to bug me.

    Tess grabbed hold of my hand, and we followed Charlie, who was jogging and dribbling his basketball down the block. Every day we walk to school together, along with a kindergartner named Louie, who lives at the end of our block. Most times our moms come too because they’re all friends. My mom brings Tess, and Louie’s mom brings his little sister, Maggie. Charlie’s mom just brings Charlie, though, because his big brother goes to another school on a bus.

    We’re picking up Rosemary T.! my mom called.

    Charlie stopped where he was and waited for us to catch up.

    Rosemary T. is another kid who lives on Blackberry Lane and goes to our school. She almost never walks, though. Her mom drives her big sisters to their school first, then drops Rosemary T. off at the end. Also, Rosemary T. does not like fresh air and exercise too much.

    Since Rosemary T. didn’t know that the dribbling sound was the signal to come outside, Tess and I went up to the front door and knocked.

    Is it raining? Rosemary T. didn’t look too happy.

    Nope, I said.

    I can’t believe my mother is making me walk.

    My mom said she was sick, I said.

    "Well then, I can’t believe my father is making me walk."

    She said father very loud because right then he was heading out the door with Rosemary T.’s sisters.

    I’m sorry, honey, said Mr. Taylor. I don’t have time to get all of us where we need to be this morning.

    Rosemary T. made a big harrumph noise.

    Don’t be such a baby, said her oldest sister.

    Her middle sister rolled her eyes. You only have to walk a few blocks.

    Rosemary T. rolled her eyes right back. Whatever.

    Mr. Taylor waved hello to everyone, and he and Rosemary T.’s sisters all got in their car.

    Louie and his mom and Maggie crossed the street to join us, and we started off again to school. Maggie grabbed my hand and Rosemary T.’s hand and Louie grabbed Tess’s hand, and we walked in a big, long chain down the block.

    Skipping! yelled Tess, so we started skipping.

    Singing! yelled Maggie.

    Right then the Taylors’ car drove by and honked. Rosemary T. let go of Maggie’s hand superquick, and our chain wobbled a little bit but then straightened out.

    Grab back on, Rosemary T.! I yelled. Don’t get left in the dust!

    Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Louie sang.

    Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Maggie and Tess and I joined in.

    Eyes and ears and mouth and nose, Charlie yelled, bouncing his ball all around us.

    Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, we sang all the way to school, except for Rosemary T.

    When we got to the playground, she raced off to find her best friend, Rosemary W. I said good-bye to Tess and my mom and went to get in my class line because the start-of-school bell rang.

    My best friend, Erin, was already in line behind the Rosemarys, so I went to stand by her.

    "I had to walk to school today with Cinderella," Rosemary T. said to Rosemary W. The way she said it made it sound terrible.

    I’m right behind you, Rosemary T., I said.

    She turned around. "I can’t believe you were skipping and singing and holding hands on the way to school."

    I can’t believe you let go, I said.

    I would never want to look as babyish as you, she said.

    I would have skipped and sung and held hands, said Erin.

    I know you would, I said, because the more the merrier!

    I was so embarrassed, Rosemary T. told Rosemary W. I walked way back with her mom and pretended I didn’t know her.

    I would have done the same thing, said Rosemary W.

    You missed out, I said. It was funderful! I was very into making up new words lately, and this one was a combination of fun and wonderful all together.

    I hate all those dumb words you keep making up, said Rosemary T.

    It’s very immature, said Rosemary W.

    It is not, said Erin.

    It is so, said Rosemary W.

    It’s just another one of the childish things that Cinderella is always doing lately, said Rosemary T., like hanging out with little kids and losing shoes.

    My feelings started hurting like the dickens, and I felt tears filling up my eyes. Luckily our line started moving and the Rosemarys went ahead, so they didn’t see.

    Didn’t your moms ever teach you, Erin called after them, that if you can’t say something nice, you shouldn’t say anything at all?

    I blink, blink, blinked at the tears walking to class and was good to go by the time we got there.

    Find your seats, class. Our teacher, Mr. Harrison, waited for us to get all settled. As you know, our all-school spelling bee is a week from today. Now that you’re in the third grade, the three best spellers among you will get to participate.

    There were some hoorays from the good spellers and some groans from the not-so-good spellers. I myself didn’t say anything because I’m somewhere in the middle.

    On Monday we’ll have our in-class spelling bee to determine who those three are, said Mr. Harrison. To encourage you to study hard, whoever does the best in the all-school spelling bee will get to plan a class party.

    Everyone hoorayed

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