All About Ellie

The Critter Club #2

by Callie Barkley, Marsha Riti (Illustrator)

The Critter Club has baby bunnies to care for—but is Ellie too busy aiming for showstopper status to help out her friends?

The Critter Club is up and running, and so are the girls—especially Ellie! She’s wanted to perform her entire life, so when she lands the lead role in Santa Vista Elementary School’s Spring Spectacular, it’s her big chance to show her stuff! But as Ellie’s big performance draws near, will she let the play and her determination to succeed get in the way of being a good friend? What about caring for the baby rabbits that were just brought to The Critter Club? Some very helpful advice from an unexpected source reminds Ellie that being a good friend is just as important as doing what you love.

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Critter Club chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Animals, 2nd Grade, Middle Grade, 1st Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2012

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 STARS A little too much "drama" (friendship drama, not the thespian) for my taste. I appreciate that Ellie learns she needs to still consider her friends' interests and feelings and not get too wrapped up in her own world with the play in which she is participating. But, let's face it, it is hugely exciting to have your dream role in a play. Ellie wasn't egotistical or mean-spirited, IMO, she was just starry-eyed with happiness and got a little too focused on the performance. Her friends should have been more understanding and supportive since it was for a short period of time, not get all bent out of shape because she had to miss a (weekly) sleep-over to practice her role or because she talked about her part a little too much. Yes, Ellie shouldn't have forgotten her shift at the animal shelter... but IMO the parents (not the friends) needed to be the ones to address this with her. (Weren't the parents paying attention to where their kid was or what she was doing? I don't mean to sound helicopter here but this is an eight year old girl -- wouldn't someone at the shelter have phoned the parents if she hadn't shown up for her shift? How did it not come up until that night when Ellie's friend calls and is mad Ellie wasn't there for the shift?) In the end, it all turns out okay with feelings healed and friendships mended but I didn't like it overmuch.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story about Ellie, one of the Critter Club. She gets a part in the school play and starts blowing off her friends and every other responsibility because of it. Her friends get mad, she realizes she was being selfish, and all is well in the end.

[ann phillips jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was cute! (I read it with my 6 year old sister 😂)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

-This is an intermediate chapter book recommended for grades 1-3. This would be independent reading for Paige.

-I chose this book because Paige said she liked books about animals and also that she had 2 pet rabbits. This book is about a girl who rescues 3 rabbits and helps them find new homes. Also, the girl in the book gets the lead part in her school play and has dreams of becoming a movie star. In Paige's interest inventory she also mentions that she likes movies and would like to be in a movie.

-This book is about a girl who dreams of being a movie star. I thought you might like to read about her adventures in her school play and taking care of some little rabbits with her friends.

[Jennifer Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maidie: I liked the bunnies. I didn't like how Ellie treated her friends because she was just talking and talking and wouldn't let her friends talk. But in the end, she learned a lesson. She learned not to talk all about herself when her friends want to tell her something.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie signs up for this play called miss ladybug saves spring. And Ellie gets the main roll: miss ladybug!🐞

Ellie focuses on the play too much and her friends, Liz, Mairion , and Amy, get mad at Ellie from talking about the play too much.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie has the lead in the school play, which is very exciting. So exciting in fact that it's all she talks about - forgetting something important in the process - how to be a friend. With the other members of the Critter Club mad, it's hard to concentrate on what's important - helping to find homes for the bunnies at the shelter.

This is a cute story, and the issue of friendship is discussed very well. This is an easy book for a child to identify with. My problem with it, is that this is the Critter Club - as in animals. And while this story would be one that fits in with ANY series of kids books, there was very little animal action, and in fact the fact that the bunnies needed to be adopted is NEVER resolved, making this a dissatisfying read overall.

I'm giving this three stars because the friendship issue is handled well. But I can't give it any higher with such a problem in overall resolution.

[Sarahs Reads ToKids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our family read this together as a read aloud. My second grade daughter really enjoys this series but we all enjoyed this story.

What happens when one of your best friends gets the opportunity they have coveted so badly? You celebrate and support them. And Ellie’s friends do just that for her. But Ellie gets so caught up in her part in the play that she forgets about her other responsibilities and doesn’t act like a good friend. Can Ellie juggle it all? Can she fix her friendships with her best friends.

This was a really cute story and I am glad we read this aloud together to talk about what went wrong and how the characters could fix it and how my kids would try and fix it.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favirot character was Ellie because it was mostly all about Ellie.
what surprised me was here friends got mad at her and at the end the friends were happy again.
I would not change the ending because the ending is were the friends get back together and are happy again!this was pretty challanging because it was the critter club book and they have a series of it
it had a little bit more hard words
it was a little bit more interesting because there was a face and it was cool
it was more complex because the ending was really cool and there was a event
it required more time and work and focus because it is very inertaning because there it really fun stuff to learn!

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom is starting to read chapter books to me (I'm five). I got this book from my great-aunt who is a veterinarian and likes to pick out animal books for me. This book was really cute. I think I liked it because Ellie is a lot like me: she likes to dress up, and sing and perform. Ellie gets a part in the school play and can't stop thinking about it or talking about it. It annoys her friends because she ignores everything that happens to them. Ellie learns how to balance her own pride and achievements while being a good friend.

[mamma.needsabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie has always wanted to be a star, and when she gets the lead role in her school play, she’s super excited! But as she practices her lines and dreams of shining on stage, she forgets about her friends- and the adorable baby bunnies at The Critter Club! 

The book explores themes of friendship, responsibility, and balancing personal ambitions with being a good friend.

Such an adorable read and perfect for beginner readers or a read outloud! I do recommend reading book number 1  "Amy and the Missing Puppy" to understand the characters and the backstory. 

[Linn J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man får inte vara egotrippad eller självcentrerad för då går det nedför en. Haft såna vänner och de förstår inte hur själviska de är, man vill inte vara vän med såna helt enkelt. För världen är så mycket större än dem och deras själviska dilemman.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appropriate for: all ages!

My 3.5 year old daughter really likes Critter Club. I like it too, but I felt that this book could've used more Critter Club business and less about Ellie. It was a good lesson about how Ellie shouldn't be so self-centered, but it mostly went over my daughter's head.

[Candice Conner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read this with my daughter. I thought it was a really cute story, it kept my daughter’s interest too. She loved the baby bunnies and Ellie’s costume for the play. I like that it helps kids think about friendship and how we treat others.

[Boyles Kids Book Tracker · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is about how Ellie gets the lead in the school play, Miss Ladybug Saves Spring, but then she only thinks about the play, and not about her friends. in the end, they all make up and Ellie does a great job in the play.

[Fia Rapson · Rating 5 out of 5]

She didn't do very good helping her friends. All she did was not doing very good helping her friends out. Ellie danced on a stage.

[Nora Horihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think she deserves a telegram because she and her whole club is helping animals in need. and she singes to raise money for animals.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like this series

[Abigail Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is very exited for a new play coming up. she hopes she can be the main actress, the lady bug.
one day, there is a chart of all the roles. ELLIE is the LADY BUG! that means

[Norah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was pretty good because it would help people with friendship.

[Melynne (mels_booknook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like reading these to my 4 year old. This one has a great message on friendship.

[Lydia Darais · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for six year olds I can not believe I'm reading it!

[Sarah]

with Josie

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it and i love ellie she is my favorite

[Alana Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good, just like the first book. For me, I could probably read four books in at least four hours. Plus, there is illustrations on every page!

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book and a great theme

[Hikari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is having show on Sunday… But she is busy about it that she almost forget her best friends!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my 7 year old daughter, who loved it.

[Emma Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing
Book
Loved it soso much

[Ally · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter gives this book 2 stars, she did not enjoy it. I thought the story was nice, a good lesson