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Emma Dilemma #1
Emma Dilemma and the New Nanny
Marmaduke is missing! Once again, Emma has forgotten to put her ferret back in his cage. And with four brothers and sisters and a poodle who chases Marmaduke around the house, Emma finds herself in the middle of this and other family dilemmas. If only she can prove to her parents that she's responsible, then maybe they'll let her join the traveling soccer team. When Annie, the new nanny, arrives, Emma feels she's found someone who's on her side. Annie's the coolest nanny ever, but will Mom and Daddy let her stay? Or will they fire her, as they have so many of the other nannies?
112 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2006
30 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 21, 2010
In the tradition of Ramona, Junie B., Clementine and Judy Moody, comes Emma O’Fallon, better known as Emma Dilemma. Emma Dilemma and The New Nanny centers around Emma’s struggles to be more responsible.
When Emma is around mishaps abound. Most often they center on Marmaduke, her pet ferret. Marmaduke tends to escape from his cage (ok, Emma frequently forgets to put him there.) One night Emma’s mom finds Marmaduke in her mattress and threatens to return him to the pet store unless Emma shows more responsibility. Not only is Emma worried that this will happen she’s afraid her parents will not think she’s responsible enough to be on the Under Nine Traveling Soccer Team.
On top of all this, the family gets a new nanny, Annie O’Reilly. Emma and her brothers and sister take to Annie right away, but Emma is worried her mom will think Annie is not responsible enough to be their nanny. A burned passport, an adventure with a locked door and a near fall from a tree add to the mayhem. Things work out as Emma learns to be more responsible and her mom learns that no one, including parents, is perfect. With a reading level of 3.1 this is an enjoyable early chapter book and good read-aloud.
When Emma is around mishaps abound. Most often they center on Marmaduke, her pet ferret. Marmaduke tends to escape from his cage (ok, Emma frequently forgets to put him there.) One night Emma’s mom finds Marmaduke in her mattress and threatens to return him to the pet store unless Emma shows more responsibility. Not only is Emma worried that this will happen she’s afraid her parents will not think she’s responsible enough to be on the Under Nine Traveling Soccer Team.
On top of all this, the family gets a new nanny, Annie O’Reilly. Emma and her brothers and sister take to Annie right away, but Emma is worried her mom will think Annie is not responsible enough to be their nanny. A burned passport, an adventure with a locked door and a near fall from a tree add to the mayhem. Things work out as Emma learns to be more responsible and her mom learns that no one, including parents, is perfect. With a reading level of 3.1 this is an enjoyable early chapter book and good read-aloud.
April 16, 2018
It was really good and I really like how the animals go along the story and the animals and the mother got along
On a scale to 1-10 would give it a 10 I like how it is a ferret and a dog
On a scale to 1-10 would give it a 10 I like how it is a ferret and a dog
August 22, 2017
Great book! I think that both boys and girls ages 8-12 will love this book!
April 25, 2013
Emma Dilemma and the New Nanny is the first book in the series and we are introduced to Emma and her family. Five children, a pilot father, a mother that works from home and a brand new nanny.
Emma is working on her responsibility skills. Marmaduke the ferret has once again gone missing. The last time, Emma's mother swore that the critter would go back to the pet store if it happened again, so Emma is trying to stealth-ily find the troublemakers before her parents do. Easier said than done when her mother wakes up screaming because something is in her mattress.
Marmaduke cannot be sent away, Emma has a report due for school and the ferret is the main attraction. Not only does she have the report riding on this, but also if Emma does not start showing more responsibility, she will not be able to join the soccer team.
Oh, what is she to do? In steps Annie the new nanny, and hopefully, Emma will learn her lessons and Annie will be able to survive the upheavals of this family and not be sent away like all the previous nannies.
As I said, I am not sure if I liked this book or not. I have to put my mind back into secondary type reading books and think like an advancing reader. For a third plus grade reader, this book was good. There were challenges and tricky sentences, but that is what is needed for budding readers. The message - still not so sure.
The story was a bit jumbled and erratic, but then again, maybe that is the feeling that Patricia Hermes was trying to put across. Raising a houseful of children can be crazy and sometimes the calming influence of an outsider is what is needed. Other than one conversation between Emma and her father, I did not see Emma's parents playing a very instrumental role in their children's lives and I think that is what is bothering me the most after finishing this book.
Maybe the future books will put the family in a different light, but for now, I am on the fence about this series.
Emma is working on her responsibility skills. Marmaduke the ferret has once again gone missing. The last time, Emma's mother swore that the critter would go back to the pet store if it happened again, so Emma is trying to stealth-ily find the troublemakers before her parents do. Easier said than done when her mother wakes up screaming because something is in her mattress.
Marmaduke cannot be sent away, Emma has a report due for school and the ferret is the main attraction. Not only does she have the report riding on this, but also if Emma does not start showing more responsibility, she will not be able to join the soccer team.
Oh, what is she to do? In steps Annie the new nanny, and hopefully, Emma will learn her lessons and Annie will be able to survive the upheavals of this family and not be sent away like all the previous nannies.
As I said, I am not sure if I liked this book or not. I have to put my mind back into secondary type reading books and think like an advancing reader. For a third plus grade reader, this book was good. There were challenges and tricky sentences, but that is what is needed for budding readers. The message - still not so sure.
The story was a bit jumbled and erratic, but then again, maybe that is the feeling that Patricia Hermes was trying to put across. Raising a houseful of children can be crazy and sometimes the calming influence of an outsider is what is needed. Other than one conversation between Emma and her father, I did not see Emma's parents playing a very instrumental role in their children's lives and I think that is what is bothering me the most after finishing this book.
Maybe the future books will put the family in a different light, but for now, I am on the fence about this series.
May 14, 2013
Emma's family has 5 children. The father is a pilot and the mom works a lot. They can't seem to keep nannies, due to the mom firing them all. Annie, the new Irish nanny, comes along, and the kids fall in love with her.
It's obvious that lessons are to be taken away from these books. I just didn't like the lessons I took away from them. (I am an adult, though!) I'll let you know now that while I had hesitations with this book, it's the next one in the series that caused me more alarm.
SPOILERS!!!!
Emma lies a lot! At the start of the book, she wants to take her pet ferret to school. She comes up with a plan to sneak him out of the house, so she's not technically lying to her mom. When her mom starts asking questions, though, she flat out lies to her. THEN, Annie helps her sneak the ferret out anyway! When the ferret ends up biting a boy at school, the mom finds out anyway. Emma gets grounded for a week, but according to her, it's not so bad. Great lesson learned, huh?!
Although sweet, Annie is a very irresponsible nanny. I couldn't imagine keeping her as a nanny to my precious children after everything she hides from the mom. But they do keep her, despite all the other nannies not being good enough.
END SPOILERS
While this particular one isn't horrible, there's better reading options, in my opinion.
It's obvious that lessons are to be taken away from these books. I just didn't like the lessons I took away from them. (I am an adult, though!) I'll let you know now that while I had hesitations with this book, it's the next one in the series that caused me more alarm.
SPOILERS!!!!
Emma lies a lot! At the start of the book, she wants to take her pet ferret to school. She comes up with a plan to sneak him out of the house, so she's not technically lying to her mom. When her mom starts asking questions, though, she flat out lies to her. THEN, Annie helps her sneak the ferret out anyway! When the ferret ends up biting a boy at school, the mom finds out anyway. Emma gets grounded for a week, but according to her, it's not so bad. Great lesson learned, huh?!
Although sweet, Annie is a very irresponsible nanny. I couldn't imagine keeping her as a nanny to my precious children after everything she hides from the mom. But they do keep her, despite all the other nannies not being good enough.
END SPOILERS
While this particular one isn't horrible, there's better reading options, in my opinion.
August 30, 2012
This is the first book in the Emma Dilemma series by Patricia Hermes. I thought it was a well-written tale and entertaining and sincere enough for elementary school-age children. Many who read this won't understand the concept of a nanny, but our girls still really liked the story.
I liked the fact that it was important to tell the truth, but that Emma also learned that there's an appropriate time and place to do so. Our girls loved that Emma has a pet ferret, and they could sympathize with her worries and problems. Overall, we thought this was a fun book to read aloud together and I am sure that we'll borrow more books from this series from our local library.
I liked the fact that it was important to tell the truth, but that Emma also learned that there's an appropriate time and place to do so. Our girls loved that Emma has a pet ferret, and they could sympathize with her worries and problems. Overall, we thought this was a fun book to read aloud together and I am sure that we'll borrow more books from this series from our local library.
January 25, 2010
fun and cute. a good recommendation for 3rd-4th graders.
August 16, 2011
Cute book
August 24, 2012
This is the first chapter book that I have read to the kids. its kinds cute. my oldest loves it more just because Emma is her name and she thinks the story she be about her. She even loves soccer!
June 7, 2013
I am curious about if Emma is going to travel with soccer.
July 16, 2013
My daughter did not care for it. She said it was pretty boring and stuck only to the Emma and dog characters. Sorry!
January 10, 2016
Read this to some of my baby cousins. It was a cute little read. It's a great middle grade book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews