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Reptiles Are My Life
Amanda's interest in insects is complimented by Maggie's love of reptiles, but when Maggie finds a new companion in fellow reptile-lover Emily, Amanda begins to feel left out of the picture.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2001
11 people want to read
About the author
Megan McDonald
312 books746 followers"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2017
This book not only accesses children to many reptile and insect names, but tells a story that informs us about making friendships, how they can become complex, and what we can do to be a good friend. Overall a good story about how to be a good friend in the end.
Topics: reptiles, insects, bugs, nature, exploring, curiosity, friendships, making new friends, being a new student, being a good friend, bullying, defending others.
Topics: reptiles, insects, bugs, nature, exploring, curiosity, friendships, making new friends, being a new student, being a good friend, bullying, defending others.
May 10, 2022
This is a realistic story about young friendship and the sometimes obsessive interests kids develop. A girl who loves insects befriends a girl who loves reptiles...but what happens when another young reptile aficionado joins their class? Can this friendship be saved? This book both celebrates the enthusiasm of the girls for their preferred subjects and points a way for young readers who may be experiencing similar friendship woes to make things work.
May 8, 2013
We've enjoyed reading Megan McDonald's Judy Moody and Stink books, so I was excited to discover another book by her. We haven't read Insects Are My Life yet, and I'm not sure if we'll be able to find it at our local library, but I think we have a good idea what the story is like.
This book combines factual information about reptiles and insects with an all-too-real tale about friendship. The narrative is entertaining to read aloud and the illustrations are colorful and help children to learn more about the creatures mentioned in the story. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
This book combines factual information about reptiles and insects with an all-too-real tale about friendship. The narrative is entertaining to read aloud and the illustrations are colorful and help children to learn more about the creatures mentioned in the story. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
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January 20, 2011A book that mixes fact and fiction! A great model for writing about factual information in different formats. A good story that is combined with interesting bits of information about reptiles in a funny and true life way. Blending of genres
June 22, 2011
This book weaves facts about insects, amphibians, and reptiles into a neat little story about friendship.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews