Reviews

Ellen Tebbits by Tracy Dockray, Louis Darling, Beverly Cleary

coollibrarian's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

marzipan951's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

labunnywtf's review against another edition

4.0

I haven't read this in a few years. Still adorable, though the characters are still fairly unlikeable.

Beverly Cleary is actually really good with not so likeable characters. It's people kids actually grew up with. Heh.

I'm on a Cleary kick, btw.

shelikesbig_books2's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

the_enobee's review against another edition

3.0

We gave my daughter a set of Beverly Cleary books for Christmas, and this is the first one she picked to read. I would have sworn I had never read this book before, but I had strong memories of the story coming back to me from the very start. It's a tribute to Beverly Cleary that this book she wrote and published in 1951 still keeps kids interested.

My 11-year old son noted that Beverly Cleary books are often realistic fiction wherein it takes forever for anything much to happen, and most of the happenings are dull, everyday occurrences. Yet, guess who was eavesdropping every chance and requesting updates when he missed our reading sessions? I love how irresistible Ms. Cleary's work is to this day.

Granted, Ellen Tebbits is not her best work or my favorite, but we enjoyed every minute of reading this and will gladly read the remainder of the set, which features all the Ramona, Henry Huggins, and Ralph S. Mouse books.

littleroseygirl's review against another edition

4.0

Beverly Cleary always manages to accurately capture the thoughts and antics of young children!

smallafterall's review against another edition

Here are some thoughts on reading this book to my kids:

http://www.smallafterall.com/2016/02/of-giant-beets-and-monkey-print-dresses.html

dianametzger's review against another edition

3.0

Read to Isabel. Isabel liked it a lot but we read it after all the Ramona books and it just feels lesser than.

anneofgreenplaces's review against another edition

4.0

Simple but such an effective evocation of what friendship and school and emotional/social insecurity is like as a kid. And I appreciate how she strikes a subtle balance between childlike perspective/simplicity and literary craft--skillful or even poetic description, convincing dialogue, and deliberate framing and pacing.

doublearegee's review against another edition

4.0

Charlotte really liked this book. I mean, Ellen takes ballet, she takes ballet. Ellen wishes for a best friend to go play at their house, so does Charlotte. I feel like we lost steam on this one, though.