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ali_enza's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a cute beginning chapter book. I read it for one of my 3rd graders. It's an easy read, great for a middle child!
sducharme's review against another edition
3.0
The middle child in this family seems like the precursor of Blume's more famous character, The Pain. This youngster is tired of getting the short end of the stick every time: sharing a room, wearing hand-me-downs, and always being second (or third) to experience new things. What can he do that will be special and get him 100% of everyone's attention? A part in the school play is just the answer.
Blume is a master of family dynamics and those scenes involving sibling bickering and the craziness of family dinner time are the most charming scenes in this transitional reader.
Realistic pencil illustrations.
Blume is a master of family dynamics and those scenes involving sibling bickering and the craziness of family dinner time are the most charming scenes in this transitional reader.
Realistic pencil illustrations.
jbolwerk8's review against another edition
2.0
Freddy does not like being a middle child and does not see it getting any better. He decides to try out for the play because it is something his siblings haven’t claimed. Freddy gets to be the green kangaroo in the 5th and 6th grade play (even though he is a 2nd grader), and he recovers from a bit of stage fright to give a great performance.
This book was much smaller than I anticipated, but it was very cute. I thought it was very relatable for any middle children, in addition to kids that just want something of their own. The stage fright was a good addition and was treated well. A simple, focused plot and black & white images made this a great read for a beginning reader’s chapter book.
This book was much smaller than I anticipated, but it was very cute. I thought it was very relatable for any middle children, in addition to kids that just want something of their own. The stage fright was a good addition and was treated well. A simple, focused plot and black & white images made this a great read for a beginning reader’s chapter book.
erinmp's review against another edition
4.0
Freddy Dissel is having a hard time. His older brother, Mike, gets all new clothes and Freddy only gets Mike's old ones. Mike won't let him play with him. Freddy's younger sister, Ellen, is just a baby. She got Freddy's old room, and Freddy was forced to move into Mike's. Plus, Ellen is just a baby, and can't play the games that Freddy wants to play. Freddy feels like no one notices him. But then he sees that a play is going to be performed at school. If he was in the play, then someone might notice him!
This is the first chapter book of Blume's that I've read, and it's very cute. Blume accurately gets the middle-child syndrome and does a good job with getting into a second-grader's head. I think that she does a better job with her juvenile fiction and YA books, but this is a good book that I'd recommend to any young child--especially a middle child!
This is the first chapter book of Blume's that I've read, and it's very cute. Blume accurately gets the middle-child syndrome and does a good job with getting into a second-grader's head. I think that she does a better job with her juvenile fiction and YA books, but this is a good book that I'd recommend to any young child--especially a middle child!
ninij's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Second grader Freddy Dissel has that left-out feeling until he gets the chance to show everyone--including himself--how special he is." (From Amazon)
Recommended to every kid before they attend school.
"Second grader Freddy Dissel has that left-out feeling until he gets the chance to show everyone--including himself--how special he is." (From Amazon)
Recommended to every kid before they attend school.
colleenvb3's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
thatjamiea's review against another edition
4.0
I suddenly got this wild idea that I would read Judy Blume's entire bibliography this summer. I realized that while there were many of Blume's titles that I loved, there were many I had never read and decided to just do it. I've been in a monstrous reading slump and figured Blume's short, easy reads would be what the doctor ordered.
I'm reading the books in chronological order of release date because I can and "The One in the Middle is a Green Kangaroo" came first. Published first in 1969, it is the story of a boy named Freddy who feels the weight of being his family's middle child. He is neither big and important or young and cute. All of his clothes are hand-me-down and when his baby sister is born he must share a room.
Freddy decides to do something to set himself apart and becomes the star of the school play and then he doesn't mind being in the middle so much anymore.
This book is nearly 40 years old, but I read it aloud to the girls and it didn't feel dated or old fashioned. It was just the right book for kids who may feel overshadowed by their older or younger siblings.
This book would be a great transitional book for early readers. My middle daughter is going into third grade but reads above her grade level. She liked this story, but at only 50 pages this book really wouldn't be a challenge for her at all. I'm thinking first grade students would get the most out of this book, but it would also be a great read aloud choice as it can be read, in totality, in about 20-25 minutes.
I'm reading the books in chronological order of release date because I can and "The One in the Middle is a Green Kangaroo" came first. Published first in 1969, it is the story of a boy named Freddy who feels the weight of being his family's middle child. He is neither big and important or young and cute. All of his clothes are hand-me-down and when his baby sister is born he must share a room.
Freddy decides to do something to set himself apart and becomes the star of the school play and then he doesn't mind being in the middle so much anymore.
This book is nearly 40 years old, but I read it aloud to the girls and it didn't feel dated or old fashioned. It was just the right book for kids who may feel overshadowed by their older or younger siblings.
This book would be a great transitional book for early readers. My middle daughter is going into third grade but reads above her grade level. She liked this story, but at only 50 pages this book really wouldn't be a challenge for her at all. I'm thinking first grade students would get the most out of this book, but it would also be a great read aloud choice as it can be read, in totality, in about 20-25 minutes.
editrix's review against another edition
Extremely short, but in that sweet spot for a kid who reads better than he thinks he can.