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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Penelope is seriously over-scheduled. Her mother controls every minute of her day and most of it is for things that Penelope has no interest in. She would really like to spend time coming up with ideas for stories and visiting Ms. Maddie. Her mother doesn't think writing is a valid career option. Penelope tries to do everything her mother wants her to do, but finds the more she follows the schedule the fewer ideas she comes up with. Then one day she finds a blank calendar page. There is nothing on her schedule! Before he mother can fill it in she takes off to Ms. Maddie's. Then she falls into the calendar page and finds herself in a whole new world.
The Realm of Possibility used to be a wonderful place to live. The Great Moodler would moodle up endless possibilities and everyone was happy and never worried about time. Then Chronus came to the Realm and started limiting the number of possible possibilities. He installed clocks everywhere and his Clockworkers made sure no one wasted time again. When Penelope arrives, the Realm of Possibilities is under the dark shadow of Chronus and all the joy and possibilities are disappearing. Penelope teams up with Dill to try and find the Great Moodler and set everything right.
This was an enchanting book that I would have loved as a kid. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland or the Phantom Tollbooth. There is a definite message about overscheduling kids and making them give up what makes them happy. I really enjoyed the clever word-play. The Realm of Possibilities was wonderfully creative and imaginative. This seems like a hidden gem, just waiting to be discovered by some lucky kid.
The Realm of Possibility used to be a wonderful place to live. The Great Moodler would moodle up endless possibilities and everyone was happy and never worried about time. Then Chronus came to the Realm and started limiting the number of possible possibilities. He installed clocks everywhere and his Clockworkers made sure no one wasted time again. When Penelope arrives, the Realm of Possibilities is under the dark shadow of Chronus and all the joy and possibilities are disappearing. Penelope teams up with Dill to try and find the Great Moodler and set everything right.
This was an enchanting book that I would have loved as a kid. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland or the Phantom Tollbooth. There is a definite message about overscheduling kids and making them give up what makes them happy. I really enjoyed the clever word-play. The Realm of Possibilities was wonderfully creative and imaginative. This seems like a hidden gem, just waiting to be discovered by some lucky kid.
A mash-up of Wizard of Oz and (mostly) Alice in Wonderland in a predictable way...
Rating: 4.5 Stars
For some time, I have been looking for a book to read from cover to cover and, surprisingly, this book was the one. Even though this book was meant for young readers, I still found myself relating to Penelope (the main character) and her dilemma.
The book follows Penelope, a young girl who aspires to be a writer one day. However, that dream is challenged by her mother who organizes and plans every minute of Penelope’s life to the point where she has no time for herself. One day, Penelope finds an entire day that her mother forgot to plan. A hole in the schedule full of endless possibilities. From there, Penelope launches into an adventure that teaches her about the possible and the impossible and gives her the courage to finally face her parents and gain back her time.
From the loveable main character, the wonderfully whimsical characters, the imaginative world of time and no-time at all, to the puns about time this book was absolutely delightful! I loved how time and sayings about time were personified in this book and became actual, possible actions.
My only complaint was the ending. Even though the ending was appropriate for the book and completely valid, I still wished that the writer would have written at least one chapter to tell us how the conversation between Penelope and her parents went. Or an epilogue to tell us about Penelope as an adult and what kinds of possibilities she has found along the way.
This was a great book and a wonderful recommendation for young readers.
For some time, I have been looking for a book to read from cover to cover and, surprisingly, this book was the one. Even though this book was meant for young readers, I still found myself relating to Penelope (the main character) and her dilemma.
The book follows Penelope, a young girl who aspires to be a writer one day. However, that dream is challenged by her mother who organizes and plans every minute of Penelope’s life to the point where she has no time for herself. One day, Penelope finds an entire day that her mother forgot to plan. A hole in the schedule full of endless possibilities. From there, Penelope launches into an adventure that teaches her about the possible and the impossible and gives her the courage to finally face her parents and gain back her time.
From the loveable main character, the wonderfully whimsical characters, the imaginative world of time and no-time at all, to the puns about time this book was absolutely delightful! I loved how time and sayings about time were personified in this book and became actual, possible actions.
My only complaint was the ending. Even though the ending was appropriate for the book and completely valid, I still wished that the writer would have written at least one chapter to tell us how the conversation between Penelope and her parents went. Or an epilogue to tell us about Penelope as an adult and what kinds of possibilities she has found along the way.
This was a great book and a wonderful recommendation for young readers.
Deceptively sophisticated homage to The Phantom Tollbooth, with a lovely message about creativity and the forces that impede it.
Lots of word play, beautiful illustrations, and just about every proverb/slogan/cliche/turn of phrase about time that exists. I could see a teacher using this for a very fun Language Arts unit that would help kids enjoy words. Oh wait, they can't do that because states are impeding creativity with testing, testing, testing. Bummer.
Thanks to Scholastic for providing a fully published copy of this wonderful book at their brunch during the Texas Library Association. I was honored to hear Britt, Martha Brockenbrough, and Spencer Quinn present part of the story, and I dove right in when I got home.
#scholastic
Lots of word play, beautiful illustrations, and just about every proverb/slogan/cliche/turn of phrase about time that exists. I could see a teacher using this for a very fun Language Arts unit that would help kids enjoy words. Oh wait, they can't do that because states are impeding creativity with testing, testing, testing. Bummer.
Thanks to Scholastic for providing a fully published copy of this wonderful book at their brunch during the Texas Library Association. I was honored to hear Britt, Martha Brockenbrough, and Spencer Quinn present part of the story, and I dove right in when I got home.
#scholastic
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
An excellent book with a spin on words to remind us of the possibilities therein. What might we see, hear, think, explore, and more if we were open to possibilities? Such a cute book and a great read for kids and the adults in their lives.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book as a read aloud book to my 4th and 5th graders who really enjoyed it, as did I. It is reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth, in that the narration and plot rely heavily on wordplay and that the main character ends up in a very different world with what often seem to be nonsensical rules. The story was very creative, though dragged at points. I think upper elementary is the perfect audience for this novel, and any child who is growing up with an overpacked schedule will truly appreciate the messages about imagination and creativity that this story has to share.
Feeling like Alice down the rabbit hole a bit after reading this one. My mind is still whirling with this adventure in wordplay.
Another book that I'd give another half star to if I could...
I really enjoyed the word play, and the interesting way all of the euphemisms and allegorical references to time were integrated into the story. I knocked a star (half star) for the oddly extended battle with Chronos that dragged at times, and another star for my feeling that the story didn't quite close the circle between Penelope's real life and the fantasy world she entered to escape her real-life complaints.
I would have liked to have seen closure with Mom, the complicit and ineffectual father, and the Almanac's rule over Mom's realm. As it was, closure within the fantasy realm was cinched up tight, but back in the real world we had only a sense of who the Great Moodler might represent and how each portion of the fantasy was reflected in "the real world". So a battle was won, but nothing of how that affected the next day where no hole existed in Penelope's schedule... What about returning to the mushroom camp -- how did her moodling experience assist her with that? Did she develop a better appreciation for the study of mushrooms? There was more that could have been done at the end, perhaps trimming off some of the laborious parts around working in Chronos-land to accommodate the closure.
I really enjoyed the word play, and the interesting way all of the euphemisms and allegorical references to time were integrated into the story. I knocked a star (half star) for the oddly extended battle with Chronos that dragged at times, and another star for my feeling that the story didn't quite close the circle between Penelope's real life and the fantasy world she entered to escape her real-life complaints.
I would have liked to have seen closure with Mom, the complicit and ineffectual father, and the Almanac's rule over Mom's realm. As it was, closure within the fantasy realm was cinched up tight, but back in the real world we had only a sense of who the Great Moodler might represent and how each portion of the fantasy was reflected in "the real world". So a battle was won, but nothing of how that affected the next day where no hole existed in Penelope's schedule... What about returning to the mushroom camp -- how did her moodling experience assist her with that? Did she develop a better appreciation for the study of mushrooms? There was more that could have been done at the end, perhaps trimming off some of the laborious parts around working in Chronos-land to accommodate the closure.