Clara and the Bossy

Author: Ruth Ohi
Title: Clara and the Bossy
Book Genre: Fantasy
Publishing Info: Annick, 31 pp

Summary: Clara and Madison are best friends. Clara is a fun loving, outgoing, yet shy young gerbil. Madison is bossy. After taking orders and trying to be like Madison more than she could take it, Clara finally reverted back to herself. Madison realized that being bossy was not the way to be and tried to become friends with Clara again. Clara forgave her and they played happily ever after.

Personal rating: ****

Rationale: The illustrations in this book were great. There were conversation bubbles above most pictures which provided more detail to the story. The illustrations and story went together well. The animals act, walk, and talk just as humans do and the plot is very credible.

Reading level: 3.4 I
Interest level: K-3rd

Thematic Areas: friendship; love; manners; shapes; sorting

Content Areas: science; math

Potential Problems or Difficulties: No potential problems or difficulties

Possible use in classroom: This book would be a great book to use during a lesson on friendship and bullying. The children could tell their own stories of if they were bullied, or maybe if they were the bully. They could tell why these actions did not get them anywhere with their friends and what they learned from the situations. The children could talk about what they and their friends do together to have fun. Children could bring in their own favorite stuffed animals and do a sorting activity with the class stuffed animals.