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Eleanor #3
Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake
I did a mean thing.
A very mean thing.
I HATE that I did it.
But I did.
This is worse than
carrot juice on a cupcake
or a wasp on my pillow
or a dress that’s too tight at the neck.
In the third installment from the team who created Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and Like Bug Juice on a Burger, Eleanor’s relationship with her best friend, Pearl, experiences its first growing pains. When a glamorous new student transfers to school, at first Eleanor’s excited about the possibility of a new friend. But when Pearl is assigned to be the new girl’s buddy, Eleanor fears she can’t compete. To make matters worse, Eleanor’s been chosen for the lead role in the springtime musical, which means she has to sing a solo in front of the entire school!
From overcoming stage fright to having a secret crush, young readers will relate to Eleanor as she navigates the bittersweet waters of growing up.
A very mean thing.
I HATE that I did it.
But I did.
This is worse than
carrot juice on a cupcake
or a wasp on my pillow
or a dress that’s too tight at the neck.
In the third installment from the team who created Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and Like Bug Juice on a Burger, Eleanor’s relationship with her best friend, Pearl, experiences its first growing pains. When a glamorous new student transfers to school, at first Eleanor’s excited about the possibility of a new friend. But when Pearl is assigned to be the new girl’s buddy, Eleanor fears she can’t compete. To make matters worse, Eleanor’s been chosen for the lead role in the springtime musical, which means she has to sing a solo in front of the entire school!
From overcoming stage fright to having a secret crush, young readers will relate to Eleanor as she navigates the bittersweet waters of growing up.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2014
29 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 5, 2014
Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake is another fun look at the perils of growing up and an apt reminder that while adults don't consider kid-sized worries much to worry about, kids themselves do. Eleanor's life takes a turn for the worse when her best friend, Pearl, is assigned to be the new girl's buddy and has to spend her Monday and Wednesday afternoons tutoring her, days that used to belong to Eleanor and Pearl. Things get worse when her dog has to be sent to doggie camp and she learns she gets to sing a solo in the upcoming bunny musical. And then she does something mean. Can she find a way to repair the damage AND get her dog back, AND survive performing a solo in front of an audience?
While written in free verse poetry, it doesn't really read that way. To me it reads pretty much like regular prose divided up, which makes it more child-friendly in my opinion. The short sections make it much less intimidating for reluctant readers and the illustrations are appealing and expressive. All in all a really nice addition to the series.
While written in free verse poetry, it doesn't really read that way. To me it reads pretty much like regular prose divided up, which makes it more child-friendly in my opinion. The short sections make it much less intimidating for reluctant readers and the illustrations are appealing and expressive. All in all a really nice addition to the series.
November 24, 2017
Awww, this was just too cute and adorable. A book filled with friendship, dogs, sweet drawings, and much much more. I was happy how Eleanor apologised. Plus the ending was just so adorable, awww, I wish her luck with figuring out that.
Sweet drawings!
Longer review to come soon.
Sweet drawings!
Longer review to come soon.
April 1, 2017
Wonderful friendship dynamics here. Ideal for Gr 2 - 4 readers. Really popular with my Grade 4 girls (this series)
April 20, 2015
This reads like an intermediate chapter book, although it is designed like a novel-in-verse. I admire authors that take risks and try different techniques, but this doesn't quite work. Writing an intermediate chapter book is extremely difficult. The vocabulary is for readers that are working toward fluency and the vocabulary and sentence structure tends to be simpler than middle grade novels. I can see how this format might lend itself to the target audience, but most of the text reads more like short sentences instead of poems. It took me about 45 minutes to hop through this plot. Even though this is book #3 in the series, it is fine as a stand alone.
Fourth graders Eleanor and her best friend, Pearl, spend every Monday and Wednesday together since Pearl's mom works after-school. When a new girl, Ainsley, transfers to their school, Pearl ends up being her after-school tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays. Not only does Eleanor feel threatened and sad over the loss of time with her friend, but her puppy is so disobedient that he has to spend two weeks at dog-training camp. To add to her stress, Pearl volunteers Eleanor to be in the school play. Eleanor gets a main role that requires singing a solo. She's terrified, but worse than having a bunch of cheesy lines, she has to hug a boy. When Ainsley starts to tell Eleanor some not so flattering things that Pearl has said about her family, Eleanor gets back at her causing a big fight between the three of them.
Elementary students struggle with friendships and have to deal with issues like this all the time. I'm not sure if this book is going to appeal more to teachers, parents, and counselors than kids. I wondered if it was a bit didactic. Nicholas works as a counter to Pearl and Ainsley becoming friends. He too, is Eleanor's friend, but because he is a boy they don't hang out together. Once the girls resolve their issues, they are able to all be friends.
The subplot of girls having crushes on boys seemed off. Maybe I've been overseas too long. Or maybe its unique to this school that I have been at for eight years; either way, most of the students start their crushes later in school, grade 5. The kids I deal with are interested in friendships more than boyfriends or crushes, but I do think it might be the culture I'm living in. So depending on the reader or where you live, this might or might not be an issue for you. I also don't know of 4th graders tutoring peers. I've only seen peer tutors in high school. But these were questions that crossed my mind. The story is cute and fills a slot where there are not enough books for kids working toward reading fluency.
Fourth graders Eleanor and her best friend, Pearl, spend every Monday and Wednesday together since Pearl's mom works after-school. When a new girl, Ainsley, transfers to their school, Pearl ends up being her after-school tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays. Not only does Eleanor feel threatened and sad over the loss of time with her friend, but her puppy is so disobedient that he has to spend two weeks at dog-training camp. To add to her stress, Pearl volunteers Eleanor to be in the school play. Eleanor gets a main role that requires singing a solo. She's terrified, but worse than having a bunch of cheesy lines, she has to hug a boy. When Ainsley starts to tell Eleanor some not so flattering things that Pearl has said about her family, Eleanor gets back at her causing a big fight between the three of them.
Elementary students struggle with friendships and have to deal with issues like this all the time. I'm not sure if this book is going to appeal more to teachers, parents, and counselors than kids. I wondered if it was a bit didactic. Nicholas works as a counter to Pearl and Ainsley becoming friends. He too, is Eleanor's friend, but because he is a boy they don't hang out together. Once the girls resolve their issues, they are able to all be friends.
The subplot of girls having crushes on boys seemed off. Maybe I've been overseas too long. Or maybe its unique to this school that I have been at for eight years; either way, most of the students start their crushes later in school, grade 5. The kids I deal with are interested in friendships more than boyfriends or crushes, but I do think it might be the culture I'm living in. So depending on the reader or where you live, this might or might not be an issue for you. I also don't know of 4th graders tutoring peers. I've only seen peer tutors in high school. But these were questions that crossed my mind. The story is cute and fills a slot where there are not enough books for kids working toward reading fluency.
March 27, 2014
This is the third book in the series, and probably my favorite. I love Eleanor. She is spunky, yet kind. She speaks her mind, but thinks of others. Sternberg has done an excellent job making Eleanor real. She deals with real problems that kids face everyday. Matthew Cordell's illustrations add to the story without being distracting for young chapter book readers.
This third installment made me love Eleanor more. Eleanor's best friend is Pearl. We've seen her in the other 2 books and know they have a close relationship. In this book Ainsley moves in, and the best friends have to face the test so many friendships go through - can a best friend of 2 go to best friends of 3? Amongst this test, Eleanor's dog is sent away to doggie training camp and Eleanor has to get over stage fright to perform in her class play. As if that's not enough for a fourth grader to deal with, Eleanor gets her first tasting of kids teasing her about a potential crush.
This series is great for teachers to use when teaching writing. Eleanor and Pearl are prone to using similes, especially at the beginning of each book. And what a great hook in each book. Here's this book's - "I did a mean thing. A very mean thing. To a new girl AND to my best friend. I HATE that I did it. But I did. This is worse than carrot juice on a cupcake or a wasp on my pillow or a dress that's too tight at the neck. I hope you never do anything that mean. I really do." Love these hooks!
And this part is funny, because it's soooo true. "And then the boy who sits behind me, Nicholas Rigby, started humming the Disney song "It's a Small World." He hummed and hummed, just loud enough for me to hear. "Shh!" I told him. I turned and glared at him, too. Because Nicholas Rigby is always getting us in trouble. Plus, I knew I'd never get that song out of my head."
This third installment made me love Eleanor more. Eleanor's best friend is Pearl. We've seen her in the other 2 books and know they have a close relationship. In this book Ainsley moves in, and the best friends have to face the test so many friendships go through - can a best friend of 2 go to best friends of 3? Amongst this test, Eleanor's dog is sent away to doggie training camp and Eleanor has to get over stage fright to perform in her class play. As if that's not enough for a fourth grader to deal with, Eleanor gets her first tasting of kids teasing her about a potential crush.
This series is great for teachers to use when teaching writing. Eleanor and Pearl are prone to using similes, especially at the beginning of each book. And what a great hook in each book. Here's this book's - "I did a mean thing. A very mean thing. To a new girl AND to my best friend. I HATE that I did it. But I did. This is worse than carrot juice on a cupcake or a wasp on my pillow or a dress that's too tight at the neck. I hope you never do anything that mean. I really do." Love these hooks!
And this part is funny, because it's soooo true. "And then the boy who sits behind me, Nicholas Rigby, started humming the Disney song "It's a Small World." He hummed and hummed, just loud enough for me to hear. "Shh!" I told him. I turned and glared at him, too. Because Nicholas Rigby is always getting us in trouble. Plus, I knew I'd never get that song out of my head."
July 10, 2016
This book gave a flash back about my own experience which more and less the same with Eleanor did :D
Di buku ketiga ini, tahap pendewasaan Eleanor bisa dibilang pernah dialami hampir semua gadis. Ada murid baru dari Orlando yg bernama Ainsley (I love her name) yg ternyata membuat Eleanor agak tersisihkan dari sahabat baiknya, Pearl, karena Mrs.Ramji menyuruh Pearl menjadi teman belajar Ainsley. Keakraban dan kedekatan Pearl-Ainsley membuat Eleanor agak cemburu, namun di sisi lain dia juga harus menghadapi pementasan musikal The Tales of Two Bunnies yg merupakan adaptasi karya Dickens. Di pentas itu, Eleanor harus berperan sebagai Mama Bunny dan Nicholas Rigby menjadi anaknya. Dialog-dialog dari drama menyebabkan Eleanor dijodoh-jodohkan dengan Nicholas dan jadi bahan ejekan teman-temannya (ya kayak jaman SD dulu, kalo ada cowok-cewek deket udah dibilang pacirun aja). Suasana hati Eleanor semakin memburuk karena ternyata Pearl dan Ainsley diam-diam "bergosip" tentang dia (dan yah..mungkin pake embel-embel "jangan bilang siapa-siapa" yg ternyata akhirnya jadi rahasia umum). Puncaknya, Eleanor melakukan suatu hal yg fatal yg menyakiti kepercayaan kedua temannya itu.
Khas masalah jaman-jaman kita kecil sih. Makanya agak sedikit personal buat gw. Tapi gw suka endingnya. Dimana keputusan Eleanor menyiratkan bahwa dia makin dan makin dewasa dalam berpikir dan bertindak. Buku yg bagus buat jadi junior novel.
Tambahan: Entah kenapa, gw punya feeling mungkin gedenya Eleanor bakalan nikah sama Nicholas. Soalnya di buku ini juga disentil dikit soal Beatles. Yeah...Eleanor Rigby :D
Di buku ketiga ini, tahap pendewasaan Eleanor bisa dibilang pernah dialami hampir semua gadis. Ada murid baru dari Orlando yg bernama Ainsley (I love her name) yg ternyata membuat Eleanor agak tersisihkan dari sahabat baiknya, Pearl, karena Mrs.Ramji menyuruh Pearl menjadi teman belajar Ainsley. Keakraban dan kedekatan Pearl-Ainsley membuat Eleanor agak cemburu, namun di sisi lain dia juga harus menghadapi pementasan musikal The Tales of Two Bunnies yg merupakan adaptasi karya Dickens. Di pentas itu, Eleanor harus berperan sebagai Mama Bunny dan Nicholas Rigby menjadi anaknya. Dialog-dialog dari drama menyebabkan Eleanor dijodoh-jodohkan dengan Nicholas dan jadi bahan ejekan teman-temannya (ya kayak jaman SD dulu, kalo ada cowok-cewek deket udah dibilang pacirun aja). Suasana hati Eleanor semakin memburuk karena ternyata Pearl dan Ainsley diam-diam "bergosip" tentang dia (dan yah..mungkin pake embel-embel "jangan bilang siapa-siapa" yg ternyata akhirnya jadi rahasia umum). Puncaknya, Eleanor melakukan suatu hal yg fatal yg menyakiti kepercayaan kedua temannya itu.
Khas masalah jaman-jaman kita kecil sih. Makanya agak sedikit personal buat gw. Tapi gw suka endingnya. Dimana keputusan Eleanor menyiratkan bahwa dia makin dan makin dewasa dalam berpikir dan bertindak. Buku yg bagus buat jadi junior novel.
Tambahan: Entah kenapa, gw punya feeling mungkin gedenya Eleanor bakalan nikah sama Nicholas. Soalnya di buku ini juga disentil dikit soal Beatles. Yeah...Eleanor Rigby :D
December 19, 2014
From the same publisher that brought us Diary of a wimpy kid comes a book by Julie Sternber.
like Carrot Juice On A Cupcake is Julie’s third book about eleanor. This time Eleanor says something that isn’t very nice and she quickly learns the consequences of doing so.
What I really liked was that the scene where Eleanor actually SAYS the naughty thing, isn’t at the beginning. A whole storyline is laid out very carefully about her friend, and a new girl that comes into her classroom. As well there is a sideline about Eleanor in a school play.
When things come to a crashing head for poor Eleanor. Julie does a great job of describing Eleanor's feelings.
I was initially ambivalent about how the text was arranged on the pages. It seemed more appropriate to a poetry book, but I swiftly came to the conclusion that this arrangement would make it very easy for a child of say six to eight or nine years old to read. It is spaced entirely appropriately for someone getting used to chapter books.
The artwork is very simple and enhances the words, rather than being a true focus. Matthew Cordell did a great job with shading and nuanced emotion.
This book reminded me of how fascinated I became with Beverly Cleary’s books when I was small. I’m pretty certain that Julie Sternberg will be attracting the same fascinated audience with her books.
like Carrot Juice On A Cupcake is Julie’s third book about eleanor. This time Eleanor says something that isn’t very nice and she quickly learns the consequences of doing so.
What I really liked was that the scene where Eleanor actually SAYS the naughty thing, isn’t at the beginning. A whole storyline is laid out very carefully about her friend, and a new girl that comes into her classroom. As well there is a sideline about Eleanor in a school play.
When things come to a crashing head for poor Eleanor. Julie does a great job of describing Eleanor's feelings.
I was initially ambivalent about how the text was arranged on the pages. It seemed more appropriate to a poetry book, but I swiftly came to the conclusion that this arrangement would make it very easy for a child of say six to eight or nine years old to read. It is spaced entirely appropriately for someone getting used to chapter books.
The artwork is very simple and enhances the words, rather than being a true focus. Matthew Cordell did a great job with shading and nuanced emotion.
This book reminded me of how fascinated I became with Beverly Cleary’s books when I was small. I’m pretty certain that Julie Sternberg will be attracting the same fascinated audience with her books.
August 11, 2017
"We all make mistakes ... the important thing is to keep trying to make up for them, for as long as it takes."
Eleanor and Pearl are back. They continue to enjoy their Mondays and Wednesdays at Eleanor's house, doing homework, trying to train Antoine, Eleanor's dog, and baking treats, if there's time. But things are about to change. The class has just gotten a new student, Ainsley Biggs, all the way from Orlando. Mrs. Ramji decides to make Pearl Ainsley's buddy. That means, Pearl needs to help Ainsley get caught up with school work. And, of course, they can only meet Mondays and Wednesdays ... what will Eleanor do without Pearl? Especially now that her Mom and Dad have decided to send Antoine to Canine College to help with the dog's behavior.
To fill in the time, Eleanor auditions and wins a part in the 4th grade play, A Tale of Two Bunnies. A part which requires her not only to sing a solo, but to hug Nicholas Rigby! How embarrassing. And in a moment of humiliation, Eleanor reveals a secret about Ainsley told to her in confidence by Pearl. Now, both girls won't have anything to do with Eleanor. Has she lost her best friend forever?
A wonderful friendship story for early readers.
Eleanor and Pearl are back. They continue to enjoy their Mondays and Wednesdays at Eleanor's house, doing homework, trying to train Antoine, Eleanor's dog, and baking treats, if there's time. But things are about to change. The class has just gotten a new student, Ainsley Biggs, all the way from Orlando. Mrs. Ramji decides to make Pearl Ainsley's buddy. That means, Pearl needs to help Ainsley get caught up with school work. And, of course, they can only meet Mondays and Wednesdays ... what will Eleanor do without Pearl? Especially now that her Mom and Dad have decided to send Antoine to Canine College to help with the dog's behavior.
To fill in the time, Eleanor auditions and wins a part in the 4th grade play, A Tale of Two Bunnies. A part which requires her not only to sing a solo, but to hug Nicholas Rigby! How embarrassing. And in a moment of humiliation, Eleanor reveals a secret about Ainsley told to her in confidence by Pearl. Now, both girls won't have anything to do with Eleanor. Has she lost her best friend forever?
A wonderful friendship story for early readers.
September 11, 2019
Eleanor, the main character, is going through a difficult time in her life. She is in her fourth grade classroom with her best friend Pearl when all of a sudden a new student come in! Their teacher requests Pearl to take care of the new student and catch her up on the work. Unfortunately, this takes away Pearl and Eleanor’s only free afternoons together. Upsetting Eleanor dearly, Pearl tries to find ways to keep her best friend busy while she is away. Signing Eleanor up for a role she was not interested in taking, Eleanor faces multiple challenges in her home life as well as in the classroom. Noticing how Pearl is becoming friends with the new student, Eleanor fears she is going to lose her friend forever. She makes an irrational decision that changes their friendship; how can she make up for it?
As the third book in a series, I can not say much of the first two books because I have yet to read them! The reading style of this book is in much simpler sentence structure, with smaller chapters to allow students to be able to read at least one chapter at a time. Few illustrations throughout the book relate to the storyline and allow a better visual for the audience. I would recommend this book for children in grades 2nd - 4th.
As the third book in a series, I can not say much of the first two books because I have yet to read them! The reading style of this book is in much simpler sentence structure, with smaller chapters to allow students to be able to read at least one chapter at a time. Few illustrations throughout the book relate to the storyline and allow a better visual for the audience. I would recommend this book for children in grades 2nd - 4th.
July 29, 2014
I love this series about Eleanor and her ups and downs in school...she is a 4th grader in this 3rd book. The author captures the events that seem insurmountable as a fourth grader and make the reader empathize completely with Eleanor. Any 4th grader will relate to Eleanor being sorry about telling a secret, being totally embarrassed by a classmate making fun of her in front of the class for a possible crush, for her developing a terrible case of stage fright, and for Eleanor missing her dog so much because he is away at doggie obedience school for two weeks. This sequel is wise as to how Eleanor decides to handle her problems. Her solutions come from her parents, her teachers, her friends, and her own self. 3rd and 4th graders should enjoy reading this as they will all find something to relate too, and it is not just for girls. There is another character, Nicholas, who is a very good friend to Eleanor, though it takes her most of the book to figure this out. The other two books in this series are Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and Like Bug Juice on a Burger. This book can stand alone, but the reader will have more background on the characters if they are read in order.
November 17, 2014
Eleanor is best friends with Pearl and gets to spend several afternoons with her each week. That all changes when Pearl is assigned to be the buddy of new girl Ainsley. Now Pearl and Ainsley are spending all their time together and Eleanor is feeling left out. She has also been given the lead in the school play where she has to sing and she has to hug Nicholas, a boy she may or may not like. Eleanor his having a hard time dealing with all of this and makes a big mistake. She tells a secret she isn't supposed to know and may have just ruined her friendship with Pearl forever. She has to work really hard to make up for what she has done.
This is a novel in verse that doesn't read like one. It reads more like a regular book with very short paragraphs. I really like novels in verse so this style made the book a bit awkward for me, but I think will make it easier for kids to grasp. Eleanor is one of those characters that seems to be pretty common right now. She is a regular girl dealing with regular problems like school and friends and boys. It is a an awkward time for girls and she is a character that I think girls that age can relate to.
This is a novel in verse that doesn't read like one. It reads more like a regular book with very short paragraphs. I really like novels in verse so this style made the book a bit awkward for me, but I think will make it easier for kids to grasp. Eleanor is one of those characters that seems to be pretty common right now. She is a regular girl dealing with regular problems like school and friends and boys. It is a an awkward time for girls and she is a character that I think girls that age can relate to.
January 3, 2015
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=3395
This book has multiple levels going on at the same time. There is the story of Eleanor and Pearl’s friendship and their first speed bump. Then there is Eleanor getting the lead in the play, and dealing with the fear of singing a solo. Eleanor dealing with her puppy having trouble getting house trained. And finally, the Eleanor and Nicholas story. But Sternberg balances it all because it is just all part of Eleanor’s life. Julie Sternberg is so great at writing in an elementary student’s voice. It is so authentic and well done!
What I love so much about all of the “Eleanor” books are that they are written in verse, and Eleanor is an amazing poet. I love that it is free verse and includes such beautiful language, but it never comes off as anything but authentic. Teachers could definitely take Eleanor’s writing and use it as a mentor text for students to write about their own experiences.
This book has multiple levels going on at the same time. There is the story of Eleanor and Pearl’s friendship and their first speed bump. Then there is Eleanor getting the lead in the play, and dealing with the fear of singing a solo. Eleanor dealing with her puppy having trouble getting house trained. And finally, the Eleanor and Nicholas story. But Sternberg balances it all because it is just all part of Eleanor’s life. Julie Sternberg is so great at writing in an elementary student’s voice. It is so authentic and well done!
What I love so much about all of the “Eleanor” books are that they are written in verse, and Eleanor is an amazing poet. I love that it is free verse and includes such beautiful language, but it never comes off as anything but authentic. Teachers could definitely take Eleanor’s writing and use it as a mentor text for students to write about their own experiences.
September 9, 2014
This is a great book for students that are beginning to read chapter books. It is the 3rd book Julie Sternberg wrote about Eleanor and her friend Pearl. In this book, Eleanor gets very upset when Pearl is assigned to be a "buddy" to the new girl in school, Ainsley. Pearl usually goes over to Eleanor's house every Monday and Wednesday because her parents are at work, but now she has to tutor Ainsley so she doesn't see Eleanor anymore after school. She also hates that Pearl volunteered Eleanor for lead part in the school play. Eleanor is shy and Pearl knows that, so Eleanor can't believe her "used to be" best friend did this to her. Eleanor feels like her life is falling apart, but by the end all of the the kids learn to cope with their new situations. It is a great book about making friendships, conquering fears, and helping others.
December 20, 2019
This book was amazing as are all of the Eleanor Books are! Pearl and Eleanor have a fight! A new girl moves to town from Orlando, her name is Aninsey and she needs to catch up on school work and pearl has been named her volunteer. Pearl helps her on Mondays and Wednesday's. That is when Eleanor and Pearl hang out together. The new girl has a crush on a boy named Adam ! Pearl nows and tells Eleanor. Eleanor tells the secret out loud cause she thinks Pearl likes the new girl better. Pearl and the new girl get mad. When there teacher talks about the school play she asks who would like to Auditon. Now Remember Pearl and Eleanor are having a fight so Guess what Pearl does She tells the teacher that Eleanor would like to. Eleanor can be very shy so this is not good. Sorry if am so much . But it is truly amazing. So read it!
March 4, 2014
When a new girl arrives in her class, Eleanor becomes certain that she is losing her best friend Pearl to Ainsley. Her anxiety is heightened when Pearl can no longer come over for weekly visits, and when she is chosen for the lead in the class musical. Eleanor becomes increasingly desperate and reveals one of Ainsley's secrets, told to her by Pearl. The author does a good job of describing the guilt that Eleanor feels and how hard it is to make up for a mean word or deed after it has been done. The emotions and small dramas are spot-on, and I continue to enjoy this series. Carrot juice on a cupcake sounds pretty unappetizing as are many of the things we do.
October 23, 2015
Eleanor and Pearl have been best friends forever, but when a new girl transfers into their school, their friendship is put to the test. Combine this with Eleanor's new puppy being sent away to obedience school, and her lead role in the 4th grade play, and life is very stressful indeed. While there are many books about these types of issues, this book is particularly well done. Eleanor's voice rings true, and her concerns will be shared with elementary school girls everywhere. This is the third book about Eleanor. Though you do not need to read the other two to appreciate this one, you may want to go back and read them when you finished it. Recommended for grades 2-4.
June 20, 2016
The final book in this series, Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake might be my favorite. Eleanor is now in fourth grade, a new girl has moved to town (and possibly come between Eleanor and her best friend) and Eleanor, despite horrible stage fright, is somehow the lead in the fourth grade production.
Maybe it’s because I read this book shortly before Easter and the book includes singing bunnies, but I found Eleanor less annoying (although she’s still totally spoiled) and the lessons less preachy. In Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake, it feels like Ms. Sternberg finally hit her groove with this series. Quasi-recommended.
Maybe it’s because I read this book shortly before Easter and the book includes singing bunnies, but I found Eleanor less annoying (although she’s still totally spoiled) and the lessons less preachy. In Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake, it feels like Ms. Sternberg finally hit her groove with this series. Quasi-recommended.
May 6, 2015
""It was the best of carrots, it was the worst of carrots." Eleanor is cast in the lead of the fourth-grade musical, A Tale of Two Bunnies, and has to overcome her stage fright. She tries to hide her crush on a boy who plays the lead opposite her. Her relationship with her best friend Pearl is not going so well, and then the new girl, Ainsley, steps in. So Eleanor does a very mean thing—even worse than carrot juice on a cupcake, or pickles. And now she has to figure out how to fix it. She will even go as far as eating a pickle to prove how sorry she is."
July 27, 2017
Best of the three books. In this installment, Eleanor's life is falling apart- there is a "sparkly" new girl in her class that has taken a liking to her best friend, her best friend can't spend Monday and Wednesdays after school with her anymore, and she is volunteered to audition for a play- even though she has stage fright. When she blurts out a secret that she wasn't even supposed to know, she learns that you have to work hard to set things right with friends and that you can face your fears if you have the right people in your corner. Sweet.
November 22, 2014
Another heartwarming adventure with Eleanor, now in 4th grade. Realistic resolutions to friendship problems with added joy of fun phrases like "carrot emergency" and "life or death pickle." Although the format and font look younger than 4th grade, younger fans of Eleanor will feel comfortable reading and growing older with her. Hoping there will be more Eleanor books!
June 22, 2015
Cute story for grades 3-5. Eleanor gets herself into trouble when she blabs the secret of a new girl to the entire class. Now, her best friend no longer wants to talk to her, and on top of that she has the lead in a school play that involves a solo.
The third book in a series, so girls who like this will have others to read.
The third book in a series, so girls who like this will have others to read.
October 22, 2014
A very sweet friendship story. When a new student moves in to her school, Eleanor is excited. But when her best friend, Pearl, is asked to be the new girl's buddy, Eleanor becomes jealous. And to make matters worse, she has the lead role in the school play and she needs to kiss a boy! A good story when girls are feeling left out.
November 8, 2014
I really like the poetic format. It has just enough middle school to satisfy fourth and fifth graders without being too much. The friendships feel real, even if the way they solve problems is a little too optimistic. And it's funny, and the B stories are interesting, and all the characters (including the parents) are appealing.
March 1, 2015
Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake by Julie Sternberg, illustrations by Matthew Cordell – Loved reading this third book in the series,wonderful complicated situations, friendship challenges, and dog training disasters… I know my students will love this new book and appreciate the consistent ease/approach of the novel with the writing almost like a novel in verse. Fantastic.
January 26, 2016
I've accepted all three of Sternberg's books for review because I just knew they'd appeal to my daughter (now almost 8), and I was right on the money. I appreciate the honest and realistically emotional tone Sternberg has created in protagonist Eleanor, and I like that these books help fill the gap between beginning chapter books and longer middle grade novels.
April 19, 2016
It was okay but i dont like it when eleanor goes to the bathroom and is mean to the girl when the girls are mad at her for telling their crush in front of the whole class and when she was looking for bruses and hit marks on the dog from the dog trainer that was just mean just because she did not want him to leave
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2018
My favorite of the three. I teach 4th grade and the 3-girlfriend drama is so real. I really liked how the author helped Eleanor weave through the process of getting her friends back. Besides I HATE pickles and I knew Eleanor was serious when she ate a pickle! Caution: girl/boy crushes are involved if that is something you are sensitive to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2018
I was so pleasantly surprised by this little book! It would make a great read aloud (gr 3-5). I simply adored the style of printing the text down the page with just a few words on each line. Eleanor's struggles are so relatable to what kids go through without entering "Dork Diaries" territory and I love how her parents' relationship with her is portrayed. WONDERFUL BOOK.
July 12, 2014
Although this is the third book in this series, it was the first book that I have read. I think 4th graders will like the characters and will be able to relate to their problems. This would make a fun book group!
November 2, 2014
Girls and their troubles with friends. Three just never seems to work. It doesn't work when Ainsley moves to town and she comes between the longtime friends, Pearl and Eleanor. Eleanor does something stupid and hurtful and must try to fix things with the other two girls.
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