Popularity Papers!

Back when I worked as a children's librarian, a publicist from Abrams (Jason Wells who is now with Magination Press) sent Amy Ignatow to our library to talk about her new series of books, The Popularity Papers.  The drawings are adorable and the books are funny!

This summer my 8 and 1/2 year old granddaughter discovered these books. She LOVES them. Although the books are about kids getting ready to enter middle school - and then in middle school - let's face it, our 4th graders are already worried about that inevitability. And if we can just dredge up those memories of our own childhoods, we will realize that concerns about popularity and the opposite sex are there all the time. They just aren't at the top of the things kids worry about - yet.

Yesterday, my granddaughter brought me Book 4, The Rocky Road Trip. I have no words to tell you how wonderful, warm, funny and wise that book was. Seriously. I will stop this post right here and just bask in the memories of that road trip to family members who are lovely and to family members who are NOT!  and the Fun Facts, and Bye Bye Miss American Pie and bears and ... ahhhhhhhh.

The family structures are not white picket fence. They reflect the times we live in. 'Nuff said.

I wonder if Amy Ignatow could be persuaded to do a reunion book. Maybe Julie and Roland could, I don't know, get Married and Lydia could be the Maid of Honor and Melody could be the wedding planner. Or is that too Hallmark channel for this series??

If you have a pre-teen, take a look at these books. Read them yourself. Amy Ignatow is a genius.