[CALIBK12] CALIBK12 Digest, Vol 12, Issue 20

[Emily Milla]

Regarding Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice series, I would compare the series to Harry Potter, in a way. The series begins with a younger character who ages throughout the series and, as she gets older, begins to deal with more mature themes (which may be less age appropriate for elementary students.) On the publisher's website for the series, http://www.alicemckinley.com, the author writes "I plan to write 28 books in all, and there will be 3 books for every year of Alice's life up to age 18. And in the final book, Alice goes from 18 to 60."
 
Right now (if you consult "Books in Order" on the website), there are 20 books. The first four books listed there, the three "prequels" and the 1st book in the regular series, deal with Alice in 3rd - 6th grade. I think they would be age appropriate for elementary age students, although I have only read the 2nd prequel, where she is in 4th grade, and one of the later ones, where she was in 8th or 9th grade. Past the first four, you would probably need to preview more closely to make a decision. But just getting those 3 or 4 might satisfy their clamoring a bit. And if you don't already have her "Boys vs. Girls" series, you might get several of those as well and talk them up, too, pointing out that they are another series by the author of the Alice books. I read several of those years ago, and there is a run on them every time a new group rediscovers them. And often both boys and girls get excited about it, which is a plus. I think it really hits a chord with kids around 3rd -5th grade. 
 
Good luck!
Emily Milla

>>> calibk12-request at lists.sjsu.edu> 3/11/2008 12:00 PM >> ( mailto:calibk12-request at lists.sjsu.edu> )

Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:50:43 -0700
From: "Nancy Tobin" <ntobin at sbsdk12.org>
Subject: [CALIBK12] Query Elementary
To: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu 
Message-ID:
<d2ebb3690803101350w42c77860wd03abbbcff7f2263 at mail.gmail.com>
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Many of our elementary students are clamoring for the *Alice *series by
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.  I have read one and it seems to be more
appropriate for junior high and high school.  If you know the series and
have an opinion, please weigh in.

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom.
Nancy

-- 
Nancy Bailey Tobin
Elementary District Librarian
Santa Barbara School Districts

805.963.4338 ext. 249
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