Missy's class is putting on a play and she's terribly excited until....she gets a small part, a boring part, a part that doesn't talk but sings. Plus, she has an ugly costume. With a graphic format, cartoon illustrations, and an oh-so-real scenario in kids' lives, this will have loads of appeal to beginning chapter book readers. ( )

Grade Level: LowerEl (1st – 3rd grade) Number of Pages: 72
VOYA Rating: 3Q 4P (with elementary readers)
Recommended

This is the 3rd book in the Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe series. Missy wants to be a star that is so famous she does not have to go to school when she doesn’t want to. Missy is mad that she did not get the lead part in the school play. She got the part of a silent peanut! Missy was so mad that she didn’t do her homework. To make things worse, Missy got meatloaf and brussels sprouts for lunch. Missy blamed it all on being a peanut in the school play. On the night of the play, something happened and Missy got her big break. Will Missy save the school play?

An adorable graphic novel for 1st – 3rd graders. This book will probably appeal more to girls. The author does her own illustrations. This book is part graphic novel, part diary and part text. The author captures Missy’s emotions perfectly in her illustrations. It’s a cute lesson in that your personality will sparkle, even if you don’t get the lead in the school play. You have to try your very best even in the little things in life.

This book is a nice addition to an elementary school library. Great for emerging readers who need the illustrations help decode the meaning of the text. It’s good for silent reading. It would be a good choice for struggling readers because it is a chapter book, so older elementary students will not feel like they are reading “baby” books. It’s fun, colorful, has lots of easy vocabulary words and students will laugh at the teacher’s names. Students will definitely want to find out how the school play turns out. ( )