Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor 1

Clementine Rose #1

by Jacqueline Harvey

A gorgeous new series for girls from the bestselling author of the Alice-Miranda series.Clementine Rose was delivered not in the usual way, at a hospital, but in the back of a mini-van, in a basket of dinner rolls.So begins the story of a lovely little girl who lives in Penberthy Floss in a large ramshackle house with her mother, Lady Clarissa, Digby Pertwhistle the butler and a very sweet teacup pig called Lavender.When her scary Aunt Violet arrives unexpectedly, the household is thrown into disarray. What is it that Aunt Violet really wants and what is she carrying in her mysterious black bag?From the author of the best-selling Alice-Miranda series, for readers aged 5+.

Genres: Childrens

146 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2012

About the author

Jacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of many novels for younger readers and a picture book, THE SOUND OF THE SEA, which was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 Australian Children’s Book Council Awards.

Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.

Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.

Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.

Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.

Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)

Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013

Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013

Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.

Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012

Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year

Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013

Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards

Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012

Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.


Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010

Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.

Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020

Reviews

[xuchele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my Alice-Miranda fan at home. Naturally, I need to know the reason why she worked hard preparing for her NAPLAN just to have the first books of this new series. So, this morning while waiting for my oats porridge to warm up, I checked a few pages. Checked it thoroughly that I didn't notice my breakfast turning cold. I can't help remembering Anne of Green Gables, a modern one, a younger version. It's funny, it's hopeful, it's warm. It's a delightful slice of chocolate sponge cake!

[Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book! I'm happily suprised to say that Clementine Rose is not as annoyingly sweet as Alice Miranda. She is a pretty normal little girl.

One thing I found a bit weird was that although Clemmie and her family are supposed to be poor, they had an entire library of books. Hm. Don't you think Clem's mother would've sold all of them by now to keep the house?

I recommend this book to small children (ages 5- 7). They'll love it!

[Claude · Rating 5 out of 5]

18.10.2012
M-Tear LOVED this book. Clemmie is so lovable!! Can't wait to read the next book

[Rob Towner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, light-hearted & enjoyable read :) Not just for kids, also for big kids like me :)

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful book, and the beginning of the Clementine Rose series. I loved how this cute baby was delivered with the bakers buns and how Lady Clarissa instantly opened her heart and home to her.

As a five year old who occasionally said the wrong thing to people or got into mischief, Clementine Rose is also charming. She found it hard to be charitable to their surprise visitor Aunt Violet Appleby who was bossy and cross.

They soon discovered that Aunt Violet had no money or home. Lady Clarissa understood as they had no money but the good fortune to win things and prizes. Clarissa realised that Aunt Violet was family and she would have a home at Penberthy House, once she understood that it was a hotel and thats how they could afford to keep the large house running.

Clementine thought Aunt Violets Sphinx cat was ugly because it had no hair, but when her teacup pig Lavender shared her basket with the cat she liked the animal a little better.

Clementine talks to the portraits of the family ancestors in the house. She points out to Aunt Violet that they have the same coloured eyes.

I’m giving this book along with other Clementine Rose books to by grand daughter for Christmas. I’m sure she’ll love it.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone,

My name is Cynthia Lu and I live in Brisbane, Australia. This week, at my school library, I found this book called Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor. Clementine Rose is my favourite series and the author is a woman named Jaqueline Harvey. She is a great author. There are actually lot’s of books to Clementine Rose but this one is the first one and I think you really should read them in order. Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor is the only one I’ve read but to begin with, I think it’s really good. You should definitely choose this book if you’re looking for a good book to read. Fun and exciting and full of adventure. After that, you may want to read Alice-Miranda or maybe Kensy and Max. They’re all Jaqueline Harvey books. Have fun reading Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor!

Kind regards,

Cynthia Lu.

[Nam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book thinking it was a bit slow, but when we met Aunt Violet, I really got into it. I both hate and sympathize with Aunt Violet. I feel like she had a hard life, but she doesn't have to take it out on her family. I desperately want to know where Clementine came from. She seems to be related, but to who?

[Tanya Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up at the local library for my 7 year old and seeing her so engrossed couldn’t help but turn a few pages after she was done. And those were enough to get me hooked too :-) Such a warm lovely read. So in love with them all and already looking forward to bring home the next books in this series.

[Shelly Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clementine Rose is a story of a girl who is adopted by Lady Clarissa, the owner of Penberthy House in a small town called Penberthy Floss. This story to me is always charming in every way. And I don't think there's any pet as cute as Lavender (or as ugly as Pharogh). This series is a great read.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

B. fiction, children's fiction, grade 2, realistic fiction, Australian author.

[Number1dingus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this as a kid, I've wanted a teacup pig ever since

[Chloe Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS SERIES IS GOATED.

Force your kids to read this it's such a core memory

[Kailani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clementine rose wasn't that boring as I thought

[Anna Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet early fiction reader.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clementine Rose is delivered in a very odd way, not at a hospital, but “in the back of a mini-van in a basket of dinner rolls.” When discovered by Lady Clarissa, who lives in a crumbling mansion called Penberthy House with elderly butler Digby Pertwhistle, she finds a note asking her to care for the baby. That is how Clementine Rose grows up, loved and adored and very happy with her mother, Uncle Digby and pet teacup pig Lavender. Lady Clarissa has no money, so she decides to take in paying guests and open the house as a hotel. She also has a great deal of luck and wins all sorts of things, from new cars to holidays. She gives most of her prizes away and the lady at the Post Office makes sure she ear-marks each new competition in the new magazines, so the village can benefit from her legendary success.

Although it is difficult at times, the family are poor but very happy. That is, until they have an unexpected visitor... Aunt Violet is snobby, unkind and not at all fond of children. Before long, her visit has thrown Penberthy House into chaos and it is up to Clementine Rose to discover why she is really here and what she wants. There are lots of good characters outside of Clementine Rose and her family, such as people in the village, who help to flesh out the storyline. Also, Penberthy House is an interesting setting and my daughter enjoyed the way Clementine Rose spoke to the family portraits and adored the little mistakes she made, especially with the guests.

This is a really enjoyable story, which will probably appeal mostly to girls of 6+. There are a few black and white illustrations, but it is more suitable for fluent readers – although, of course, it is also nice to read aloud. My daughter is keen to read on with the series and discover what Clementine Rose gets up to next. The next book in the series is Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one in the Clementine Rose series. Clementine Rose is a 5 year old girl who lives in a country town. I read this aloud to my 4 and 5 1/2 year old children. They found it easy to relate to the characters in the book. It is written in modern language but has an old fashioned moral feel to it. This book introduces all the main characters who appear throughout the series. I plan to continue reading this series to my kids.

[Fleur Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8-year-old read this on her own and loved it. I am now reading it to my 7-year-old and we are both enjoying it. Clemmie is a gorgeous, vibrant and engaging character who captivates the reader. My kids particularly like Lavender, the teacup pig, and we all laugh at how haughty Aunt Violet is. A wonderful first book to what I imagine is a wonderful series. I would highly recommend this book/series to young readers.

[AyathmaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

My opinion on Clementine Rose -The Suprise Vistor is that it is a fabulous book .And I rate it 5/5 stars.

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The children seemed to enjoy this story but I thought it was very lightweight for reading aloud. Probably good as a read-alone book which isn't very challenging. The story was pretty thin too.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so heart warming.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just cannot get over how lovely and perfect this little story was! I loved it!

[Poppy]

well i was little when i read it but i liked it there were lots of adventures that Clementine and her pig went on

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!