From School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-This delightful rhyming tale of one school's spelling bee not only shares new vocabulary with readers but also shows that no one wins at everything. The finals come down to just three students: Cornelius, dubbed the "genius," who is out of the competition first; Ruby, a musically inclined, avid reader; and one baseball player known as "The Slugger," who tells the story of how he does not win the contest. The whole school learns about a new word, "sesquipedalian," when Ruby spells the word correctly and also defines it in a tie-breaking round. A note from the author indicates that the words in this competition were compiled from hundreds of spelling lists from across the country. Colorful, expressive illustrations support the excitement and anticipation created through the text. This story will fill a need in school libraries for books about spelling, vocabulary, sportsmanship, and school community-building.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampaα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
A spelling bee might not sound like a dramatic topic for a picture book, but participants in any championship competition can work up a sweat under the spotlight. Here one student after another misses a spelling word, leaving only two on stage: Ruby, who has read “at least ten zillion books, maybe more,” and the narrator, “The Slugger,” who has memorized word lists. The text begins, “’Twas right before recess,” and using the familiar rhyme scheme and rhythm of “’Twas the Night before Christmas,” the story unfolds with ease, wit, and frequent baseball metaphors. The telling works exceptionally well until near the end, when the school librarian steps in with words of wisdom that change the story’s tone. The book’s potentially static topic yields some dynamic, imaginative illustrations, created using ink, gouache, and colored pencils in a quirky style that suits the story’s tone quite well. A lively picture book. Grades K-3. --Carolyn Phelan
About the Author
Deborah Lee Rose is an internationally published author whose award-winning books are among the New York Public Library’s 100 Books to Read and Share. She is the author of Abrams’ Twelve Days series, All the Seasons of the Year, and Someone’s Sleepy. She lives with her family in Walnut Creek, California. Visit her online at www.deborahleerose.com. Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis has illustrated Ten Creepy Monsters and the Twelve Days series. She lives with her family in Cape Neddick, Maine. Visit her online at slugworksrocks.com.
