Available:*
Library | Item Barcode | Shelf Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Royalton-Hartland Community Library | 34105000476967 | J WOHL | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
"An exceedingly gentle, optimistic story" -- BOOKLIST
The Raccoon River Kids are back with a new community project! Critics are calling this new chapter book for young activists "an exceedingly gentle, optimistic story"--perfect for readers learning about the power of young people.
The kids of Raccoon River are up to their ears in a brand new project: saving the town's old abandoned Plaza Theater. But first, they have to get a look inside. It's spooky--spider webs and creaky floors, and one slowly-swaying stage curtain. Lots of repairs and donations will be needed. Can the Plaza be saved?
Lauren L. Wohl tells a story of determination, cooperation, and more than little bit of luck where the kids of a small town make a real difference in their community, the first sequel to Blueberry Bonanza in the Raccoon River Kids Adventures series. Mark Tuchman illustrates the action with characterful drawings that enrich the tale.
About the Raccoon Rive Kids Adventure Series
No matter what your size, substantial change starts with a bit of courage, a good idea, and a little help from your friends. The RACCOON RIVER kids introduce early readers to the impact kids can have in their own communities. Whether it's uniting a town to save a building or just finding a home for a lost pup, the pint-sized pack always go big. The creative crew jump into action when they see a problem, inspiring young optimists to do likewise-or to just unwind with a light-hearted story.
Author Notes
Lauren L. Wohl has had a long career in children's book publishing. She has a degree in Library Science and has been an elementary school librarian. She served as Director of James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead program, taught writing at the college level, and now consults with several publishers and literary agencies. Stories she's been reading in newspapers and seeing on television news programs about children stepping up to make kind, generous, and important contributions to their communities inspired her chapter books about the Raccoon River Kids: Blueberry Bonanza and now Extravaganza at the Plaza. She is also the author of a picture book, A Teeny Tiny Halloween, illustrated by Henry Cole. A native New Yorker, Lauren enjoys life in her new hometowns of Lenox, Massachusetts and Miami Beach, Florida.
Mark Tuchman, a native New Yorker, is the long-time creative director for a venerable publication known for its reviews of children's books. Earlier in his career, he created cartoon illustrations that appeared in national magazines and big city newspapers. Mark is raising three awesome children with his wife Michelle, and splits his time between Brooklyn and Facebook.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-In this second book in the "Raccoon River Kids Adventures" series, friends Hannah and Nico decide to save the old theatre, which has been closed for years. The two friends work together with the mayor and the town to clean it up and get it ready to reopen. This early chapter book is full of wholesome fun. The story and the solutions to the problems are very simple, but likely to be enjoyed young children getting comfortable reading on their own. The chapters are short with minor cliffhangers that will encourage youngsters. VERDICT An ideal selection for readers who enjoy Junie B. Jones and Judy Moody.--Patrick Tierney, Pascoag Public Library, RI © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Third-grader Hannah Levin hatches up an idea to restore Raccoon River's crumbling theater.Hannah, on a bike ride in town with her friend Nico, remarks on the closed, dilapidated state of the Plaza Theater and how wonderful it would be to have a place where the town could show movies, hold concerts, and even have its high school graduation. A go-getter, Hannah decides that they, the kids, will spearhead a project to restore the building. Wohl's lively, often dryly funny narrative reads like an upbeat how-to manual, and that's not a bad thing. Hannah thinks up ideas, engages others, works hard, and confronts her fears as she makes her dream happen. Even Brandon Big Mouth can't get her down. As it turns out, Brandon has a reason for being so negativeand when Hannah finds out what it is, she extends the hand of friendship and support. This is a great story for our fractured times, highlighting how inclusiveness, cooperation, and respect can accomplish good in a community. Tuchman's black-and-white spot illustrations show many shades of skin tone and one child who uses a wheelchair. Hannah and Nico are shown as white; the (male) librarian and mayor have darker skin and hair.With its energetic writing and can-do attitude, this is sure to be a hit with readers who have ideas and want the motivation and encouragement to carry them out. (Fiction. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Wohl improves upon her first Raccoon River Kids Adventures (Blueberry Bonanza, 2017) with this latest look at motivated, small-town kids who get things done. After third-graders Hannah and Nico notice the local, rundown Plaza Theater, a bit of research leads them to a meeting with the mayor, where they explain their plan to him. Why should the folks of Raccoon River have to drive so far to see movies and concerts when a beautiful old theater is right there? The speed with which the mayor and the town council approve the project and get to restoring the joint might stretch belief, but like Wohl's first book in the series, this is an exceedingly gentle, optimistic story with little in the way of conflict or even significant hurdles. Because of that, it may be too low stakes for some. What it excels at is being a narrative procedural of how big projects happen. Wohl leads readers step by step, detailing the week-by-week progress of fundraising and building, usually with specific dollar amounts. Good for budding entrepreneurs.--Daniel Kraus Copyright 2018 Booklist