Review: Katie Woo Rules the School by Fran Manushkin

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Katie Woo is a spunky, sassy, and stylish schoolgirl that readers will fall in love with. These early chapter books are perfect for explaining life changes, family celebrations and growing up. Award-winning author Fran Manushkin outdoes herself with these fun, lighthearted stories.
Focused around school activities
4 stories in 1 book
Katie Woo is an Asian American girl in first grade
Katie Woo has 24 individual titles published in this series
From the Katie Woo series. For ages 5-7.
Also from Katie Woo, publishing August 2012: Katie Woo and Friends (978-1-4048-7909-6).
Also available: Look At You, Katie Woo (978-1-4048-6596-9), and 24 individual titles published in the series.
About the Author
Fran Manushkin is the author of many popular picture books, including How Mama Brought the Spring; Baby, Come Out!; Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story; and The Tushy Book. There is a real Katie Woo - she's Fran's great-niece - but she never gets in half the trouble of the Katie Woo in the books.  Fran writes on her beloved Mac computer in New York City, without the help of her two naughty cats, Miss Chippie and Goldy.
About the Illustrator
Tammie Lyon began her love for drawing at a young age while sitting at the kitchen table with her dad. She continued her love of art and eventually attended the Columbus College of Art and Design, where she earned a bachelors degree in fine art. After a brief career as a professional ballet dancer, she decided to devote herself full time to illustration. Today she lives with her husband, Lee, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her dogs, Gus and Dudley, keep her company as she works in her studio.

MY TAKE:

There aren't a lot of Asian-American girls in children's books these days. Even in YA, there aren't a lot of Asian-Americans that aren't stereotypes.

In Katie Woo Rules the School, Asian-American Katie Woo has all sorts of adventures that you would expect any normal kid to have.

There are four short stories in this book. My favorite is Katie and the Class Pet. It reminds me of one of the first books in the Sweet Valley Kids series.

The entire book is in color. The illustrations are beautiful. They appear to be watercolor sketches. You don't see a lot of books with illustrations this pretty.

Thanks to NetGalley and Picture Window Books for the e-ARC. Publication date of Katie Woo Rules the School is on August 1, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. The illustrations are gorgeous.
2. The stories impart lessons.
3. There's an activity part at the back.

THE BAD:

1. The stories are short.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"Stop that!" hissed the tree. "I'm swaying in the wind! I'm not falling down!"

READ IT IF:

1. You like beautifully illustrated children's books.
2. You are looking for a book with an Asian-American main character.
3. You like books that have more than one story in them.

RATING:



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