What do you think?
Rate this book
Stella Batts #1
Stella Batts Needs a New Name
Meet Stella Batts. She is eight-years old and she loves to write. She loves to write lists; like her favorite things and kids in her class. And she's writing her autobiography ("That means it's all about me"). Stella's favorite color is yellow and she LOVES fudge. As a matter of fact, there is a special fudge counter at her family's candy store because fudge is one of her favorite things to eat!
But Stella has just one problem----her name. A boy from her class keeps calling her "SMELLA" after she trips on their class nature walk ("I don't even want to say what I landed in, it was too gross, so I'm going to leave out that part
In this early chapter book series, the ups and downs of Stella's life are charmingly chronicled.
But Stella has just one problem----her name. A boy from her class keeps calling her "SMELLA" after she trips on their class nature walk ("I don't even want to say what I landed in, it was too gross, so I'm going to leave out that part
In this early chapter book series, the ups and downs of Stella's life are charmingly chronicled.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2012
270 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Sheinmel
41 books259 followersBorn in California. Raised in New York. Went to law school, now write full time. Love: long walks, fresh notebooks, the smell of brownies, pomegranate seeds. Don't love: yogurt, spam (the email kind, and the food kind), deep water, deserted city streets.
Newest book: THE SECRETS OF LOVELACE ACADEMY, co-written with Marie Benedict, available on April 22, 2025.
I love to hear from readers! Email me! Ask a question! I promise to reply.
Newest book: THE SECRETS OF LOVELACE ACADEMY, co-written with Marie Benedict, available on April 22, 2025.
I love to hear from readers! Email me! Ask a question! I promise to reply.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 18, 2017
This book is awesome. I love how there are great details. ❤️
January 16, 2023
I liked how penny and Stella tried to change their name
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2022
I'm 43 years old but I enjoyed this story, it was just really sweet
April 23, 2020
3.5 stars
January 27, 2016
Recently I read my first Stella Batts book to check them out before recommending them to my daughter. I loved the concept and the writing, so I showed them to my oldest who is 9. She loved the cover and description so we added book 1 Stella Batts Needs A New Name to our reading list. Shortly thereafter my daughter received a homework assignment, she had to pick a book, read it, and make a bookmark representing the story and a brief description. She choose this book and so we read it together. Currently when we read together we alternate pages. She loved the story and as soon as she was done her assignment we started book 2.
These are great fun reads. They are much more realistic than a lot of children's fiction. They are stories about a family, and revolve around family and school life. Each book begins with a series of facts about Stella Batts, in Stella Batts Needs a New Name the list is as follows:
A List by Stella Batts: Things You Should Know About this Book
1. It's an autobiography. That means I wrote it and it's all about me. I'm eight years old, I'm in third grade, and I live in Somers, California. My favorite place in Somers is Batts Confections - that's the candy store my family owns, and there's a lot about it in this book.
2. There's also stuff about some of my favorite people, like my best friend, Willa, my parents, and even my sister, Penny, who copies me a lot but she's still one of my favorites.
3. I even wrote about some people I don't like very much, like Joshua, the biggest meanie in my class. Joshua calls me Smella, because of something that happened on our class nature walk.
4. That's when I decided I had to change my name to something that does NOT rhyme with Smella.
5. You'll just have to read this book to find out what happened next!
My daughter and I both really enjoy these stories. My daughter who is a somewhat reluctant reader pounced on the start of reading another book in this series. As such I cannot give it a higher recommendation. My daughters summary of the book is:
"Stella Batts needs a new name because on a school field trip she fell in dog poop. A boy in her class started making fun of her and started calling her Smella. Stella started to want to change her name, because of the teasing.
On the next field trip to Batts Confections, her family's store, Stella shares her wish to change her name with her friends. They decide they want to change their names as well. For their new names they decide on candy names, Kit Kat, Caramel, Truffle, Candace. By Changing their names things get very complicated very quickly.
Reading this book opened my eyes to the power of words. It made me realize that something done in fun can really hurt someone. Words really can hurt so we need to be careful about what we say. It also made me appreciate my name and the importance of names."
And she even handed in her assignment a week early she was so excited to work on it. As you can see it is a pretty powerful book for you and for children in your life. Give it a try and you might just become hooked on Stella Batts also.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Courtney Sheinmel. As well as The final version of my daughters bookmark.
These are great fun reads. They are much more realistic than a lot of children's fiction. They are stories about a family, and revolve around family and school life. Each book begins with a series of facts about Stella Batts, in Stella Batts Needs a New Name the list is as follows:
A List by Stella Batts: Things You Should Know About this Book
1. It's an autobiography. That means I wrote it and it's all about me. I'm eight years old, I'm in third grade, and I live in Somers, California. My favorite place in Somers is Batts Confections - that's the candy store my family owns, and there's a lot about it in this book.
2. There's also stuff about some of my favorite people, like my best friend, Willa, my parents, and even my sister, Penny, who copies me a lot but she's still one of my favorites.
3. I even wrote about some people I don't like very much, like Joshua, the biggest meanie in my class. Joshua calls me Smella, because of something that happened on our class nature walk.
4. That's when I decided I had to change my name to something that does NOT rhyme with Smella.
5. You'll just have to read this book to find out what happened next!
My daughter and I both really enjoy these stories. My daughter who is a somewhat reluctant reader pounced on the start of reading another book in this series. As such I cannot give it a higher recommendation. My daughters summary of the book is:
"Stella Batts needs a new name because on a school field trip she fell in dog poop. A boy in her class started making fun of her and started calling her Smella. Stella started to want to change her name, because of the teasing.
On the next field trip to Batts Confections, her family's store, Stella shares her wish to change her name with her friends. They decide they want to change their names as well. For their new names they decide on candy names, Kit Kat, Caramel, Truffle, Candace. By Changing their names things get very complicated very quickly.
Reading this book opened my eyes to the power of words. It made me realize that something done in fun can really hurt someone. Words really can hurt so we need to be careful about what we say. It also made me appreciate my name and the importance of names."
And she even handed in her assignment a week early she was so excited to work on it. As you can see it is a pretty powerful book for you and for children in your life. Give it a try and you might just become hooked on Stella Batts also.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Courtney Sheinmel. As well as The final version of my daughters bookmark.
December 19, 2016
Stella Batts Needs a New Name is the first book in a new chapter book series from one of my favorite YA authors, Courtney Sheinmel. Stella is a third grader whose family owns a candy store in Somers, California. The story is written as her own autobiography, where she discusses one of her biggest problems - her name. After she accidentally steps in dog poop on a class trip, the other kids star calling her Smella, and Stella believes the solution is to simply change her name, preferably to something with a candy theme. Things get confusing, though, when her friends also want to change their names and suddenly no one can remember who is who.
Just like Sheinmel’s young adult novels, this chapter book focuses first and foremost on family. Stella’s parents and five-year-old sister are a very big part of her life, and of her story. I especially like the fact that Stella’s mom is expecting another baby right from the start of the series. It’s nice to see that storyline come into play without being used as a gimmick to keep a floundering series alive. I also really enjoyed reading dialogue between Stella and her dad. Those scenes reminded me a lot of similar tender moments in the Mallory and Clementine books. The most touching discussion they have is about how Stella was given her name.
I’m also impressed by the quality of writing in this book. The dialogue flows effortlessly and manages to sound like real conversation. Sheinmel also taps into the way kids look at the world, noting experiences like Stella’s first time going out at night with wet hair and pajamas, and the joy of being allowed to sit in the “way back” of a friend’s mom’s car. These subtle details make Stella a three-dimensional girl whose life kids recognize as similar to their own.
The design of the book, and the detailed black and white illustrations give it a fresh, contemporary feel. The pinkness of parts of the spine and cover do come together for kind of a girly look, but I think the focus on female friendship and candy-based names is likely to appeal more to eight-year-old girls than boys anyway. Recommend the Stella Batts series to girls who have enjoyed the Sophie books by Lara Bergen, the Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker, and the Cinderella Smith series by Stephanie Barden.
Just like Sheinmel’s young adult novels, this chapter book focuses first and foremost on family. Stella’s parents and five-year-old sister are a very big part of her life, and of her story. I especially like the fact that Stella’s mom is expecting another baby right from the start of the series. It’s nice to see that storyline come into play without being used as a gimmick to keep a floundering series alive. I also really enjoyed reading dialogue between Stella and her dad. Those scenes reminded me a lot of similar tender moments in the Mallory and Clementine books. The most touching discussion they have is about how Stella was given her name.
I’m also impressed by the quality of writing in this book. The dialogue flows effortlessly and manages to sound like real conversation. Sheinmel also taps into the way kids look at the world, noting experiences like Stella’s first time going out at night with wet hair and pajamas, and the joy of being allowed to sit in the “way back” of a friend’s mom’s car. These subtle details make Stella a three-dimensional girl whose life kids recognize as similar to their own.
The design of the book, and the detailed black and white illustrations give it a fresh, contemporary feel. The pinkness of parts of the spine and cover do come together for kind of a girly look, but I think the focus on female friendship and candy-based names is likely to appeal more to eight-year-old girls than boys anyway. Recommend the Stella Batts series to girls who have enjoyed the Sophie books by Lara Bergen, the Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker, and the Cinderella Smith series by Stephanie Barden.
July 22, 2013
Review at booksmykidsread.wordpress.com
We found this book on the new juvenile fiction shelf at our local library and decided to give it a try. This was actually the book that sparked this blog because J read it that very same day and I really had no concept of what the story was about or how it was written.
The book starts off fabulously. Stella is a third grader who wants to be a writer. In fact, the book is written as her autobiography. The book is very inviting to young readers with nice illustrations and a big, clean font.
J's synopsis of the story is that Stella's family owns a candy store. She is a big sister and her mom is going to have another baby. Stella wants to change her name because a boy in her class calls her "Smella." That's not a nice name. Her friends tried doing candy names. They all decided their own names were better because it was too hard to remember the new names.
That's about as deep as the story gets. Stella wants a new name because of the awful nickname and because she is jealous of her younger sister who gets to have a nickname. After she learns that her parents picked out her name for good reasons, she realizes that it isn't such a bad name after all.
I don't have anything negative to say about the book, but it also isn't one that I would necessarily run out to find additional books from the series. I think that J feels the same way. I think reading some good picture books is better then this one and we can save the longer books for something with a little more depth.
We found this book on the new juvenile fiction shelf at our local library and decided to give it a try. This was actually the book that sparked this blog because J read it that very same day and I really had no concept of what the story was about or how it was written.
The book starts off fabulously. Stella is a third grader who wants to be a writer. In fact, the book is written as her autobiography. The book is very inviting to young readers with nice illustrations and a big, clean font.
J's synopsis of the story is that Stella's family owns a candy store. She is a big sister and her mom is going to have another baby. Stella wants to change her name because a boy in her class calls her "Smella." That's not a nice name. Her friends tried doing candy names. They all decided their own names were better because it was too hard to remember the new names.
That's about as deep as the story gets. Stella wants a new name because of the awful nickname and because she is jealous of her younger sister who gets to have a nickname. After she learns that her parents picked out her name for good reasons, she realizes that it isn't such a bad name after all.
I don't have anything negative to say about the book, but it also isn't one that I would necessarily run out to find additional books from the series. I think that J feels the same way. I think reading some good picture books is better then this one and we can save the longer books for something with a little more depth.
August 8, 2015
When my littlest patrons recommend books, I listen. This series has been flying off the JF shelves, so I had to bring one home and read it. Sigh.
Here's the good: clearly the kids like this. It's encouraging them to read. The art is lovely
(although- what is UP with Stella's ankles?)
Here is what bothered me: super simple sentences that offer no challenge. Sentences that start with the word "But". Also missing is character development, an actual plot, and humor. Honestly this is the equivalent of the sarcastic saying "First World Problems!". My perfect family owns a candy store and my biggest problem in life is that I don't like my name. Seriously? What kid does not hate their name at one point or another in life? Fine. As a subplot or side topic in a book, a character disliking her name would work. When it is the main plot point, er...no. Book two does not look more promising as it appears there is gum in Stella's hair.
I don't think every book every kid reads needs to be War and Peace, but I feel that fiction is most powerful when it sets the reader in a world unlike their own to experience new emotions and situations. This series is the equivalent of iceberg lettuce: not harmful, but devoid of nutrients.
Here's the good: clearly the kids like this. It's encouraging them to read. The art is lovely
(although- what is UP with Stella's ankles?)
Here is what bothered me: super simple sentences that offer no challenge. Sentences that start with the word "But". Also missing is character development, an actual plot, and humor. Honestly this is the equivalent of the sarcastic saying "First World Problems!". My perfect family owns a candy store and my biggest problem in life is that I don't like my name. Seriously? What kid does not hate their name at one point or another in life? Fine. As a subplot or side topic in a book, a character disliking her name would work. When it is the main plot point, er...no. Book two does not look more promising as it appears there is gum in Stella's hair.
I don't think every book every kid reads needs to be War and Peace, but I feel that fiction is most powerful when it sets the reader in a world unlike their own to experience new emotions and situations. This series is the equivalent of iceberg lettuce: not harmful, but devoid of nutrients.
May 2, 2024
Stella Batts Needs to be Less Infuriating and Pesky
Read
April 14, 2021This book is about a girl named Stella. Stella has four friends: lucy, willa, Arielle, and Talisa. One day stella’s class went on a field trip to her parents’ candy store, called batts confections. There, the class bully called Stella, Smella. After that Stella wanted to change her name so that no one could call her smella anymore. Stella’s friends wanted to change their names too, just for fun. Talisa became Kit, Willa became Cara, Lucy became Truffle, and Stella became Sherry. Penny, sherry’s little sister, wanted to change names too. Penny took sherry’s old name, and of course she blamed penny for copying, but penny got to be stella anyway. After a few weeks or so, sherry and everyone else wanted their old names back. They found that it was confusing with all the new names, so they just changed back. That’s how stella learned her lesson about changing her name. the hard way. Afterwards, stella lived happily ever after. That is, until the beginning of book two!
I like this book because it really brings out the character in stella batts.
I like this book because it really brings out the character in stella batts.
November 23, 2020
This is a realistic fiction short chapter book that would be great for 2nd graders to read! In my classroom, I would read parts of this book with my students in a reading circle. My students would be instructed to pay attention to Stella's life and what she enjoys. She was called, "Smella" by one of her classmates, and she wants a new name. Instead of my students coming up with mean names for Stella, they will be asked to come up with nice things to say about Stella based off of what they had read through the text. These will be brainstormed as a class and then written down on a large poster board. Students will eventually do a group project about what it means to be kind to one another. This project will be a video where each student will say what their definition of being kind is and how they can do their part to be kind in their classroom. This book does not have issues of diversity or equity in it.
June 20, 2020
Miss 5 has loved listening to the entire Stella Batts series on Audible. She moved onto Stella (thankfully) after going through the entire Wimpy Kid series (who she called 'the moany kid'). The initial hook with the Stella book is that her family have a candy store and Stella often gets to help test the products. Mainly though the books are drama / fiction about her day to day life as she navigates friends, school, and a growing family. What we both like about these books is that Stella is a genuinely nice kid with a kind supportive mum who treats her children well.
Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
July 17, 2018
My mom read this out loud to me first, but now I read it all by myself! I like Stella Batts because they have a candy store and I love candy. It's called "Stella Batts Needs a New Name" because she doesn't like her name because it doesn't have a nickname. So Stella Batts had an idea that her and her friends could change their names to candies, but Stella didn't. She said they could pick whatever name they wanted, but one of her friends said it was supposed to be a candy name. But she didn't pick a candy name. She picked Scheherazade and her nickname was Sherry. But then at the end she went back to Stella because everyone got confused and Penny wanted Stella's name and it was really confusing.
December 28, 2019
150 pages. This is a fun girl series about an eight-year-old girl from California whose parents own a candy store. She has a little sister named Penny. She lives with her mom, dad, and sister. In this book, she and her school friends decide they all want new names. They want to select names relating to candy. It is a good series for girls in 2nd/3rd grade. It is realistic fiction for the modern girl. It has good dialogue and situations girls will relate to well. It can sometimes seem a bit long-winded but is a basic good series for those who like Junie B. Jones or Clementine. Highly recommended.
February 19, 2021
This was a very cute chapter book for children in about 4th grade and up. I enjoyed that there were some harder words in here that were defined because the main character likes using big words. This book is a great way to introduce students to new vocabulary. The storyline is cute and the book isn't too long where a student might be intimidated to read it. I would definitely recommend this book to students in a future classroom. Stella, the main character, and her friends go through situations that most younger kids face which makes this a great relatable book.
November 1, 2021
Even authors get stuck sometimes and need to find inspiration. Recently, while trying to find my mojo for a new chapter book series I'm working on, I decided to check out the Stella Batts books. What fun! Author Courtney Sheinnel does a very clever job of reminding us how kids' minds work. Thank you, Courtney. I'm almost finished with my manuscript. While our stories are very different, the sentiment and hopefully the fun and joy will be the same. A great addition for your young early reader of chapter books.
September 12, 2020
Eight year old Stella falls in dog poop, and a boy in her class starts calling her “Smella”. She decides she hates her name and wants to change it. Hijinks ensue. Also her family owns a candy shop which is fun. And surprised they don’t go full out and call her Smella Butts, which is where I thought it was going.
Realistic fiction easy chapter book. Longer than most, but large type means there’s only a paragraph per page. Plenty of illustrations.
Realistic fiction easy chapter book. Longer than most, but large type means there’s only a paragraph per page. Plenty of illustrations.
June 28, 2024
As a 43 year old mother reading this I can say without hesitation that I didn't enjoy Stella Batts. The target audience is probably 1-3rd graders. There's a surprising amount of poop humor with a person being called Poophead and Smella instead of Stella. An adult man who is a substitute lunch person is called a Meanie for enforcing the rules.
I'm glad I read it before sharing it with the young children in my life.
I'm glad I read it before sharing it with the young children in my life.
March 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
"I like my name"- Arielle
The story was cute and relatable , who hasn't wanted to change their name at one point?
The characters reminded me of my own siblings and friends I had at that age.
If I had children I would tell them Arielle is a good character to model after. She didn't cave to peer pressure, she gave her own opinion.
"I like my name"- Arielle
The story was cute and relatable , who hasn't wanted to change their name at one point?
The characters reminded me of my own siblings and friends I had at that age.
If I had children I would tell them Arielle is a good character to model after. She didn't cave to peer pressure, she gave her own opinion.
November 13, 2018
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade: 2nd-4th
Unique Feature: I liked how the book was written in the perspective of the main character, Stella. She wrote a diary throughout the book and the style of the writing was written the same way. I also liked how the images also contributed to story.
Grade: 2nd-4th
Unique Feature: I liked how the book was written in the perspective of the main character, Stella. She wrote a diary throughout the book and the style of the writing was written the same way. I also liked how the images also contributed to story.
April 21, 2020
This was our first audible audiobook. I like audible because I can listen with my sister. We like read alouds. Joshua is a boy in her class who called her Smella. He is mean. At the end, she didn't care what he said.
October 13, 2017
its good just needs a little more suspense between each chapter
November 26, 2017
I loved this book when I was in third grade. It was my reading level and my interest level because the main character is in third grade.
February 7, 2019
I absolutely loved this series when I was younger, it's a fantastic easy read about a young girl living life. I would recommend for ages 7-11
March 8, 2020
I love Stella's voice! Seems very realistic to me. I can see why this series is popular at the library.
April 23, 2020
I really liked this book! It had a lot of detail and a great voice.
December 1, 2020
Love Stella Batts
July 22, 2021
I was having fun reading this book!!!
November 18, 2021
A good book can't wait to read chapter 2 it well be fun I no I sound like some smart but I have all b± so bad I know but I love this book can't wait to read the next book
Read
January 29, 2022Charlotte and I liked it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews