Absolutely Alfie and the First Week Friends

August 1, 2017

Gr 2-5-Another charming installment starring Alfie Jakes, a seven-year-old girl worried about beginning second grade. Anxious about having a new "boy" teacher, and tasked with bringing together her two best friends, she has a lot on her plate. Lulu and Hanni, polar opposites with strong personalities, do not seem to gel as friends, although Alfie works hard to help the girls come together. When a group project is assigned, all goes awry and Alfie ends up on the outs. Warner crafts her characters with authenticity and purpose. The interactions between seven-year-old Alfie and her brother EllRay (who has his own series by the same author) are positive and reassuring. Her teacher, Mr. Havens, helps Alfie problem-solve and plan. His humble demeanor and appropriate dialogue is accessible and explained in context without being condescending. VERDICT The young African American protagonist, her diverse group of classmates, the realistic dialogue, and the simple black-and-white illustrations make this a strong purchase for any collection serving chapter book readers.-Meghan Busby, York City School District, PA

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