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Dessert Schneider #1
Dessert First
Dessert Schneider has her very own personal style. But sometimes walking to the beat of her own drum means walking right into a heap of mischief, especially when it comes to the legendary family recipe (and Dessert's all-time favorite treat), Grandma Reine's Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. As the oldest in a rambunctious, restaurant-owning family, with a four-year-old sister who is going through a “phase” and two little brothers called “the Beasties,” Dessert seems to be better at getting into trouble than getting out of it. And that's because for this eight-year-old, saying sorry is definitely not a piece o'cake!
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2009
4 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Hallie Durand
10 books16 followersHallie Durand (the pen name for Holly M. McGhee) began writing in 2007 and has published the Dessert First chapter book trilogy, two picture books about a boy named Mitchell (Mitchell's License & Mitchell Goes Bowling), and another picture book about her son Marshall (Catch That Cookie!).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 7, 2018
Our elementary school read this book in a week (I finished the last few chapters this week). They arranged guest readers from the community and staff and put the videos for each chapter up on YouTube, had live guest readers at breakfast, read in classrooms, and sent every student home with their own copy of the book to keep.
Super fun idea! The book was easy to read and fun and easy to relate to (I love dessert too!)
It's about a girl named Dessert who loves, you guessed it, dessert! She tried several days in a row to get her family to eat dessert first before dinner and finally wore her parents down enough to get her way. They decided it was a great idea and continued doing that.
Her class at school starts a pledge drive to give something up and she decides to give up dessert.
Kids all seemed to like it. Not my favorite, but it was fun.
Super fun idea! The book was easy to read and fun and easy to relate to (I love dessert too!)
It's about a girl named Dessert who loves, you guessed it, dessert! She tried several days in a row to get her family to eat dessert first before dinner and finally wore her parents down enough to get her way. They decided it was a great idea and continued doing that.
Her class at school starts a pledge drive to give something up and she decides to give up dessert.
Kids all seemed to like it. Not my favorite, but it was fun.
August 24, 2009
I think my reading of this book suffered because my expectations were higher for it. Knowing a top literary agent in children's literature wrote it, I thought I would like it more- it was okay, but I wanted to love it. I enjoyed all the food references/fondue restaurant info, but would an 8-year-old? Not sure. I didn't feel that many of the characters were as fleshed out or sympathetic as they could have been- especially Dessert's family- and I felt like the Amy D./villian part of the story was kind of cartoonish. And the Doody Drive thing kind of bugged me- we have sooooo many fund-raisers for the kids' schools these days, I didn't enjoy reading about yet another (and thinly-veiled) one- ha! So that part was just my personal gripe- feel free to ignore. I guess overall, I wanted to like Dessert more and understand her better, and I wish Dessert had been more Clementine, less Junie B. Jones, if that makes any sense. I will look forward to the next Dessert book, if there is one- maybe she'll grow on me :)
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September 28, 2018We enjoyed this story. Mrs. Howdy Doody is the teacher we wish we all had. Lots of us can relate to the "calling" from a best-loved dessert that is off limits. Dessert is a character who kids will relate to. They'll understand her predicaments, laugh with her, and cheer her own when she has to fix the problems she created. I love the author's creativity in using different size fonts to help convey Dessert's thoughts and dialogue.
To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
October 20, 2014
I truly enjoyed this book! The main character by the name Dessert has a sweet tooth. Her main goal is to convince her parents to have dessert before dinner time. Even when she accomplishes her goal, she gets to another adventure. Her teacher is an unusual person and Dessert learns a lot from her. This book would fit perfectly in any 3rd grader's must-read list, since none could stay indifferent towards the desserts.
May 14, 2018
Dessert Schneider's new teacher encourages students to march to the beat of their own drum. At first, this is fun. Dessert has a lot of bright ideas to share with her family. But when Dessert takes things a little too far, she's choc-full of regret and has no idea how to get herself back in good graces with her family.
Dessert First is a sweet story about a girl with a massive sweet tooth, sharp wits, and perhaps a little too much ambition. Dessert's lack of self-control leads to some bad decisions that will have young readers cringing, but realistic consequences and wise council from Dessert's teacher give balance and sufficient takeaways for me to feel safe recommending Dessert First to readers, especially fans of Junie B. Jones or Ramona.
I really enjoyed Dessert First, and would look for the next book in the series. I need more of Mrs. Howdy Doody!
Dessert First is a sweet story about a girl with a massive sweet tooth, sharp wits, and perhaps a little too much ambition. Dessert's lack of self-control leads to some bad decisions that will have young readers cringing, but realistic consequences and wise council from Dessert's teacher give balance and sufficient takeaways for me to feel safe recommending Dessert First to readers, especially fans of Junie B. Jones or Ramona.
I really enjoyed Dessert First, and would look for the next book in the series. I need more of Mrs. Howdy Doody!
May 23, 2021
Eight-year-old Donahue Penelope Schneider has always been called Dessert. And Dessert loves desserts, “the only thing in life you really need is a maraschino cherry, and something to put it on”. Dessert attempts to follow her third grade teacher’s advice and “march to our own drummer”. Convincing her parents to eat dessert before dinner, Dessert is feeling good. Until her love of sweets leads her to disobey her mother’s warning not to touch the Double Decker Chocolate Bars. Durand creates a like-able character who learns through her mistake.
May 6, 2021
Dessert (and her whole family, really) aren't afraid to do things their own way. A slice-of-life tale about a girl whose family runs a French fondue restaurant. Includes younger siblings, family bonding, school rivals, an adoring pet, and the amazing Ms. Howdy Doody. Deals with choices, consequences, and fine print.
I immediately snapped up the rest of this trilogy. Vivid and honest and smile-inducing.
I immediately snapped up the rest of this trilogy. Vivid and honest and smile-inducing.
May 10, 2023
açıkçası kitabın kapağı çok güzel olduğu ve yemekten önce tatlı yiyen biri olarak ismi dikkatimi çektiği için okumaya başladım. karakterlerin altı doldurulmamış ve ana karakter genel itibarıyla sevimsiz. tatlı bir şımarıklığı olsa yine biraz daha iyi olabilirdi ama neyi neden yaptığı bile açıklanmıyor, tatlı tarifleriyle dolu bir kitap okuyup, yine dekoratif olsun diye rafa kaldırıyoruz işte.
July 7, 2024
"Sweet" story! And, a recipe at the end!
October 7, 2014
Dessert Schneider doesn't know what to think on the first day of third grade when her teacher introduces herself as Mrs. Howdy Doody and starts marching around in fluffy white slippers. But then Mrs. Howdy Doody tells the class that they should all find their own personal style and march to their very own drummers. And Dessert kind of likes that idea because it means she might have a chance to eat dessert first (before dinner) once in a while--if she marches just right.
Dessert comes from a family of foodies. Her younger sister Charlie and brothers Wolfie and Mushy all love food. And her parents own Fondue Paris, a very cool restaurant specializing in all things fondue. Coming from this background, it is no surpise that Dessert signs her name with a Maraschino cherry anymore than she believes that cherry is all you need in life, along with something to put the cherry on of course.
The problem with belonging to a food family, though, is that sometimes food--especially sweet chocolately foods--can be really distracting. When Dessert discovers an off limit box of special Double-Decker Bars at home, she knows she has to try just one. At least, it was supposed to be just one. Sometimes, without Dessert meaning to, things get out of hand because she spends too much time getting into trouble and not enough time thinking about how to avoid it.
Dessert First by Hallie Durand (with illustrations by Christine Davenier) is the first book about Dessert Schneider and her family. While not as good as the first Clementine book (possibly because it's just plain shorter), I saw a lot of similarities between the two books. Dessert is a really likable eight-year-old with a fascinating family.
The illustrations add a lot to the story as well. Sometimes I find myself dissappointed, after seeing the colorful cover, to discover that a book has black-and-white illustrations but Davenier's are done with thick lines and bold geometric patterns (mostly on Dessert's dresses) that really make them work.
That said, some aspects of the plot did bother me. I was never a eat-dessert-first kind of kid so I found Dessert's singular interest in the matter to be . . . interersting. An eight-year-old sneaking not one but twelve brownies without anyone noticing was also interesting. It set up a chance to learn an important lesson, but it was also just strange because Dessert didn't seem to have any self control. I get it in terms of the story but I wonder if it could happen in the real world. Finally, I had issues with the Doody Drive at the end of the story where all of the elementary school is asked to give up something they love for two weeks to pledge money to build a tree house. It just seemed bizarre and not entirely appropriate for a grade school to me. Maybe that's just me. . . .
Weird bits aside, I see big things in Dessert's future and hope that Dessert First leads to bigger and better installments about the Schneider family.
Dessert comes from a family of foodies. Her younger sister Charlie and brothers Wolfie and Mushy all love food. And her parents own Fondue Paris, a very cool restaurant specializing in all things fondue. Coming from this background, it is no surpise that Dessert signs her name with a Maraschino cherry anymore than she believes that cherry is all you need in life, along with something to put the cherry on of course.
The problem with belonging to a food family, though, is that sometimes food--especially sweet chocolately foods--can be really distracting. When Dessert discovers an off limit box of special Double-Decker Bars at home, she knows she has to try just one. At least, it was supposed to be just one. Sometimes, without Dessert meaning to, things get out of hand because she spends too much time getting into trouble and not enough time thinking about how to avoid it.
Dessert First by Hallie Durand (with illustrations by Christine Davenier) is the first book about Dessert Schneider and her family. While not as good as the first Clementine book (possibly because it's just plain shorter), I saw a lot of similarities between the two books. Dessert is a really likable eight-year-old with a fascinating family.
The illustrations add a lot to the story as well. Sometimes I find myself dissappointed, after seeing the colorful cover, to discover that a book has black-and-white illustrations but Davenier's are done with thick lines and bold geometric patterns (mostly on Dessert's dresses) that really make them work.
That said, some aspects of the plot did bother me. I was never a eat-dessert-first kind of kid so I found Dessert's singular interest in the matter to be . . . interersting. An eight-year-old sneaking not one but twelve brownies without anyone noticing was also interesting. It set up a chance to learn an important lesson, but it was also just strange because Dessert didn't seem to have any self control. I get it in terms of the story but I wonder if it could happen in the real world. Finally, I had issues with the Doody Drive at the end of the story where all of the elementary school is asked to give up something they love for two weeks to pledge money to build a tree house. It just seemed bizarre and not entirely appropriate for a grade school to me. Maybe that's just me. . . .
Weird bits aside, I see big things in Dessert's future and hope that Dessert First leads to bigger and better installments about the Schneider family.
December 19, 2016
Dessert First is the first book of Hallie Durand’s trilogy about Dessert Schneider, an eight year old in Mrs. Howdy Doody’s third grade class. Dessert loves dessert, especially chocolate, and thanks to Mrs. Howdy Doody’s advice to march to the beat of her own drummer, she has convinced her parents to serve dessert before meals, rather than after. Unfortunately, though, whatever she has for dessert, Dessert can’t help but be tempted by the Double-Decker bars her mom has set aside in the freezer. She sneaks one bite, which leads to another, and another, until all the bars are gone! Dessert feels extremely guilty, but even with Mrs. Howdy Doody’s help, she’s not sure she can confess to her crime.
This quirky series has been a favorite of mine for a while now, and I was disappointed when I learned that No Room for Dessert was to be the last story about Dessert. I had missed this first book, though, since none of my usual libraries have owned a copy until now, so it was a treat to see this one come across my desk and to enjoy one more adventure with these fun characters. Dessert’s guilt about eating all the Double Deckers and her anxiety over how to earn her parents’ forgiveness is a very relatable story line. Kids around Dessert’s age are just starting to be responsible for their own actions, and this story really understands and demonstrates how difficult it can be to make things right after doing something wrong.
I enjoyed this book mostly because it gave me the backstory for the later two stories. I got a chance to see a more human and less cartoonish side of the offbeat Mrs. Howdy Doody, and I finally understand the whole story behind the Schneiders’ decision to eat dessert first. I also think it’s interesting to see how much stronger the characters and plots become from the beginning of the trilogy to the end. This book was solid, but each one in the series is better than the next.
This quirky series has been a favorite of mine for a while now, and I was disappointed when I learned that No Room for Dessert was to be the last story about Dessert. I had missed this first book, though, since none of my usual libraries have owned a copy until now, so it was a treat to see this one come across my desk and to enjoy one more adventure with these fun characters. Dessert’s guilt about eating all the Double Deckers and her anxiety over how to earn her parents’ forgiveness is a very relatable story line. Kids around Dessert’s age are just starting to be responsible for their own actions, and this story really understands and demonstrates how difficult it can be to make things right after doing something wrong.
I enjoyed this book mostly because it gave me the backstory for the later two stories. I got a chance to see a more human and less cartoonish side of the offbeat Mrs. Howdy Doody, and I finally understand the whole story behind the Schneiders’ decision to eat dessert first. I also think it’s interesting to see how much stronger the characters and plots become from the beginning of the trilogy to the end. This book was solid, but each one in the series is better than the next.
December 2, 2013
Awards/Nominations:
• Nominee for the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award 2012
• 2009 Cybils Nominee
Summary: Dessert Schneider is an 8 year-old with a passion for…desserts, especially her grandmother’s specialty, Double Decker Chocolate Bars. After meeting her eccentric 3rd grade teacher, who encourages her students to march to the beat of their own drum, she start advocating for eating dessert before dinner. But Dessert’s sweet tooth lands her in a big pile of trouble so when she is asked to give up something she loves to raise money for the school; she decides she must give up her sweets. But can she succeed?
Review: Dessert First is a quick and easy read following 8-year old Dessert as she begins the third grade and tries to help her parents with her three younger siblings. The family owns a fondue restaurant and the food descriptions in the story are good enough to make anyone hungry. The characters are well developed and the reader is able to get a clear picture of the characters in their mind without the illustrations. It is certainly easy to picture an eccentric third grade teacher, a precocious 8 year-old, a 4 year-old with constant temper tantrums, a pair of rambunctious toddlers and a pair of overworked parents. While the illustrations are well done and depict what is happening at certain points of the story, Durand describes the elements very well, giving the reader a picture in their mind of what is happening, making the need for the illustrations not as important.
There is some confusion about the character of Amy D., Dessert’s nemesis. She only appears a few times in the story and she is mean to Dessert but the reader has no idea of why that is. Children will identify with Dessert wanting to eat dessert before dinner and wondering how to own up to her mistakes.
Rating: 3 out of 5
• Nominee for the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award 2012
• 2009 Cybils Nominee
Summary: Dessert Schneider is an 8 year-old with a passion for…desserts, especially her grandmother’s specialty, Double Decker Chocolate Bars. After meeting her eccentric 3rd grade teacher, who encourages her students to march to the beat of their own drum, she start advocating for eating dessert before dinner. But Dessert’s sweet tooth lands her in a big pile of trouble so when she is asked to give up something she loves to raise money for the school; she decides she must give up her sweets. But can she succeed?
Review: Dessert First is a quick and easy read following 8-year old Dessert as she begins the third grade and tries to help her parents with her three younger siblings. The family owns a fondue restaurant and the food descriptions in the story are good enough to make anyone hungry. The characters are well developed and the reader is able to get a clear picture of the characters in their mind without the illustrations. It is certainly easy to picture an eccentric third grade teacher, a precocious 8 year-old, a 4 year-old with constant temper tantrums, a pair of rambunctious toddlers and a pair of overworked parents. While the illustrations are well done and depict what is happening at certain points of the story, Durand describes the elements very well, giving the reader a picture in their mind of what is happening, making the need for the illustrations not as important.
There is some confusion about the character of Amy D., Dessert’s nemesis. She only appears a few times in the story and she is mean to Dessert but the reader has no idea of why that is. Children will identify with Dessert wanting to eat dessert before dinner and wondering how to own up to her mistakes.
Rating: 3 out of 5
August 18, 2016
This was such a good book--I don't think you could want for a more perfect bed-time story. It has an entrepreneur family (who own a cool fondue restaurant--I like that it is something different), a innovative teacher who is just what a teacher should be, an awesome fundraiser idea (the kids sign a pledge to give up something they like--i.e. learn self-restraint and saving), an awesome dog (because he reminds me of the dog I had growing up, who was my best friend and very understanding), and a main character you can totally see yourself in (at least, I could...I kept thinking, "This was so me as a kid!"). Well written and easy to read, I love the unique and fresh offbeat details and twists (Dessert's name, her French grandma, her family's restaurant, eating dessert first as a family, her relationship with her dog, how she feels her mom always cooks the nicest treats for other people, etc.) to this "growing up" story. Good plain fun! I can't wait to try the recipe on the back book cover for Grandma Reine's Double Decker Chocolate Bars! (I kept trying to find the recipe in the book's pages, but it is only on the back cover). The illustrations are pleasant as well. I also love how Dessert figures out how to get what she wants and to fix her mistakes. I highly recommend this book!
June 13, 2009
This is a mixed review for me. Dessert is a sweet little girl, and all the food descriptions give this story a huge yum factor, but two things struck me as odd. A big part of the plot revolves around Dessert longing for Double-Decker Chocolate Bars which she repeatedly refers to as "Double-Ds". "It was only natural to want to sample the Double-Ds". Now, where I come from, Double-Ds is a term for something totally different, and I found myself giggling inappropriately every time Dessert said it. I'm sure no 8-year old would get that reference, unless they are a fan of rap or lingerie, in which case they probably wouldn't read this book.
Also, Mrs. Howdy Doody, the very cool teacher who encourages kids to march to the beat of their own drum, tells the kids they can raise money to build a tree house by sacrificing something they love for two weeks. Is this meant to teach self-control? Just felt too Lent-y to me.
Also, Mrs. Howdy Doody, the very cool teacher who encourages kids to march to the beat of their own drum, tells the kids they can raise money to build a tree house by sacrificing something they love for two weeks. Is this meant to teach self-control? Just felt too Lent-y to me.
February 10, 2014
This book is a great book for little girls around nine or ten years old. It is an easy to read book at about 150 pages it is not overwhelming.
Dessert is a little girl who can't help but absolutely love dessert. Her parents own a French restaurant which features fondue. In the middle of the restaurant is a huge dessert Eiffel tower, any child's dream.
Mrs. Howdy Doody, very similar to Ms. Frizzle in the Magic School Bus, is Dessert's third grade teacher and she has a contract that she wants all the students to fulfill: Give something up for two weeks and have people pledge money if you succeed. What to give up? Dessert finally decides.
Dessert is very similar to Eloise and the layout of the book is as well. The smaller writing when Dessert is muttering to herself and the large print when she's yelling. The illustrations are also reminiscent of Eloise, clever and detailed with lots of expression.
So there you go, Eloise meets Ms. Frizzle and the fun begins!
Dessert is a little girl who can't help but absolutely love dessert. Her parents own a French restaurant which features fondue. In the middle of the restaurant is a huge dessert Eiffel tower, any child's dream.
Mrs. Howdy Doody, very similar to Ms. Frizzle in the Magic School Bus, is Dessert's third grade teacher and she has a contract that she wants all the students to fulfill: Give something up for two weeks and have people pledge money if you succeed. What to give up? Dessert finally decides.
Dessert is very similar to Eloise and the layout of the book is as well. The smaller writing when Dessert is muttering to herself and the large print when she's yelling. The illustrations are also reminiscent of Eloise, clever and detailed with lots of expression.
So there you go, Eloise meets Ms. Frizzle and the fun begins!
November 3, 2009
I thought this was a great book for those precocious little girls who love to read about other precocious little girls! I didn't like it as much as Clementine, but I think those books are for a little older reader and thus can be fleshed out a tad more. I think that the target age group for this book will love it. My favorite character was Dessert's teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody! How lucky she is to have such a wonderful adult in her life. Kids will relate to Dessert wanting to eat dessert first as well as her inability to resist the Double Decker Chocolate Bars--eating them all and ruining a special surprise for her family. They will also understand the lesson that when you do something wrong, you have to find a way to fix it and forgiveness is almost as sweet as dessert. I look forward to more of these and am glad to have another book in this genre for those girls who just gobble them up!
November 30, 2009
It was a simple book about a girl entering third grade where she meets her eccentric teacher Mrs. Howdy Doody. Mrs. Howdy Doody teachers her students that they need to march to their own drum. She is heading a fund raiser to build a tree house at the school. Students are asked to give up something for two weeks and find people to sponsor them. Dessert's parents own a Fondue Restaurant and have enough children to keep them busy. Dessert decides they should eat dessert first because she is marching to her own drum and the parents disagree. She finally convinces them to eat dessert first and they find that dinner time is more peaceful. When her mother makes a delicious treat for a special occassion Dessert eats it. She finds a creative way to fix the situation, keep her pledge of giving up what is most precious for two weeks.
March 30, 2009
Dessert Schneider marches to the beat of her own drummer, whether it's bribing her younger sister to clean her room or convincing her family that they should start serving dessert first. But when she spoils a special surprise, she'll have to figure out a way to make it up to her family.
Dessert's got an interesting family and a super third-grade teacher, although I wish we got more details about the background characters. Her nemesis, Amy D., is completely one-tone and the conflict would feel more urgent if the plot were a little bit tighter. Still, the imperfect, spunky Dessert will appeal to fans of Moxy Maxwell and Clementine and the descriptions of food seem to melt in your mouth.
Full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
Dessert's got an interesting family and a super third-grade teacher, although I wish we got more details about the background characters. Her nemesis, Amy D., is completely one-tone and the conflict would feel more urgent if the plot were a little bit tighter. Still, the imperfect, spunky Dessert will appeal to fans of Moxy Maxwell and Clementine and the descriptions of food seem to melt in your mouth.
Full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
December 30, 2009
Dessert Schneider lives in New York, is in 3rd grade, and is the eldest child in a loud, active family that owns a fondue restaurant. Trouble starts when Dessert gobbles up a special treat and has to make it right with her family. This debut book reminded me a bit of Clementine, but Dessert isn't quite as charming as that 3rd grader. However, I liked this book for its slim, easy to follow plot, a character who is instantly relatable for just about any girl the same age, and the fantasy element for readers - a little girl whose parents own a restaurant that specializes in fantastic desserts. What's not to love? Who wouldn't want to BE Dessert? A good bridge novel for girl readers who might be past Junie B. but not quite ready for heavier or longer reading.
March 25, 2012
Enjoyed reading this book, really cute. Great voice. Such a cute voice and personality- comes across within a moment of reading. Another series with the cute Dessert character is by Hallie Durand I’m already a huge fan because of her picture book Mitchell’s License which I read daily for a number of weeks to my son. So now, when there was a random librarian collaboration time, a colleague pointed out the book Dessert First to me and said, you’ll like this one, it is very cute. Reminds me of Grace Lin’s books- Year of the Dog/Rat/Dumpling Days and also Just Grace series by Charise Mericle Harper. Although to be honest, I also found myself thinking of Beverly Cleary’s endearing Ramona as I read the first chapter with a little girl talking about her day at school…
September 29, 2012
Dessert Schneider loves...what else, you guessed it! Dessert! This eight-year-old cannot resist the temptation of this sweet ending, especially when it is chocolate, like her grandmother's Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. When her mother bakes a batch, Dessert is strictly forbidden from tasting them. They are for a special occasion! That's right...you guessed it! She ate them all. Now, she is painfully (tummy trouble-ly) sorry. How can she possibly make it up to the family?
When her teacher, Mrs. Howdy-Doody, suggests they give something up for two weeks for a special fund-raising event, Dessert is coerced into giving up the one thing she lives for...dessert. SIGH...Can she do it? Can she make it two weeks? Dessert is full of temptation, but also full of ways to give up and save.
When her teacher, Mrs. Howdy-Doody, suggests they give something up for two weeks for a special fund-raising event, Dessert is coerced into giving up the one thing she lives for...dessert. SIGH...Can she do it? Can she make it two weeks? Dessert is full of temptation, but also full of ways to give up and save.
October 29, 2015
In this book a little girl, Dessert, has a new teacher that has a motto. Mrs. Howdy Doody encourages all of the students to "March to the beat of their own drummer". This sparks an idea in Dessert. Desserts family owns a fondue restraint and she loves dessert and doesn't see why it can not be eaten first. She tries to convince her mom that it would be beneficial to the family if they eat dessert first. I thought this story was cute, but I do not think it sends kids the best message. Dessert's parents give into her and let her eat dessert first and I do not think that is a good lesson to teach. I would not recommend this as a read aloud but I may have it on a shelf in the class. I would recommend this for fourth grade.
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June 22, 2009I loved the ending of this book, especially the last two sentences.
I wish Durand had opened the book with the French, food loving family theme. I felt like that really was the glue that held the book together, and it was really key to understanding the protagonist and plot. However, the reader had to discover that theme slowly over the course of the novel, making the book feel a little disjointed. Also, there are times where Dessert, the protagonist, is a real bully, and I sometimes found it hard to like her. Despite these criticisms, it is a fun early reader, with great lessons about forgiveness, making amends, and growing up.
I wish Durand had opened the book with the French, food loving family theme. I felt like that really was the glue that held the book together, and it was really key to understanding the protagonist and plot. However, the reader had to discover that theme slowly over the course of the novel, making the book feel a little disjointed. Also, there are times where Dessert, the protagonist, is a real bully, and I sometimes found it hard to like her. Despite these criticisms, it is a fun early reader, with great lessons about forgiveness, making amends, and growing up.
June 5, 2011
Dessert Schneider is a girl in 4th grade facing off against her nemesis, Amy D., aka, the leaf stuffer. She has to deal with her web of lies when she just can't resist eating dessert before dinner and Grandma Reine's Double Decker Bars. her parents restaurant, Fondue Flight, could help her redeem herself, especially the head chef Dom. When she gives up dessert for two weeks for a fundraiser, she finds a clever way to save her dessert until the end of the fundraiser, it's all about saving up, then spending all at once for her. Mrs Howdy-Doody and Chunky (Dessert's dog) are certainly helpful in her time of messiness!
April 23, 2015
This is a cute story about a girl who LOVES dessert but is "tricked" into giving it up by for a school fundraiser. Dessert (the girl's name) convinces her family they should have dessert first for each meal. She also loves the Double Decker Chocolate Bars that her mother makes (I'm not going to tell what happens with this because it would ruin the story) and learns a very important lesson through this.
I read this book to my 8 year old daughter at bedtime for several nights (a chapter a night) and when we finished we made the bars (recipe on the back of the book). We didn't care for them.
I read this book to my 8 year old daughter at bedtime for several nights (a chapter a night) and when we finished we made the bars (recipe on the back of the book). We didn't care for them.
November 7, 2015
Eight-year-old Dessert, a lover of all things sweet and delicious, is trying to follow her third-grade teacher's advice to march to her own drummer. But it is not as easy as it sounds. Her first task is to convince her parents that dessert should be eaten before dinner, but they have other ideas. And when her mother forbids her to touch the irresistible homemade double-decker fudge bars in the refrigerator, Dessert cannot resist, and winds up eating all of them. Now she must find a way to make it up to her family, and so she cooks up a scheme that involves helping out at her family's restaurant. But when her class nemesis arrives at Fondue Paris, all of her grand plans may fall apart.
July 4, 2009
Dessert (not her birth name) Schneider is eight and loves dessert. She comes from a dessert type family. Her parents own and run the restaurant Fondue Paris. She has a younger sister and 2 younger brothers that the family calls 'the Beasties'. One of her problems is how to get the family to eat dessert before dinner, not after. Her teacher at school has given the students a goal to raise money for the school playground. The trouble is, each student has to give up something they love to earn money from their parents. What will she give up and what will she learn from it?
August 9, 2009
Third-grader Donahue Penelope Schneider’s nickname is “Dessert.” She loves dessert. She also loves her teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody, and her family: Daddy and Mummy, and three younger siblings, plus their devoted dog, Chunky. Dessert comes from a “food family.” Her parents run the Fondue Paris restaurant. Dessert has her own way of doing things, and, after several tries, she convinces her family to eat dessert first—before the entrée at dinner, instead of after.
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny.com/812Books...
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny.com/812Books...
March 31, 2015
The illustrations scattered throughout the book are delightful...er...
The main character might have been an homage to Ramona Quimby, Age 8, but it felt more like a rip-off. Mrs. Howdy Doody was a bit odd, and I won't even go into the legal ramifications of sponsoring kids to give up something for two weeks to build a treehouse on school property -- here's a hint, though, a treehouse is SO not going to happen. None of the characters rose above cartoon status on paper.
Oh, and Double-D's -- really?!
The main character might have been an homage to Ramona Quimby, Age 8, but it felt more like a rip-off. Mrs. Howdy Doody was a bit odd, and I won't even go into the legal ramifications of sponsoring kids to give up something for two weeks to build a treehouse on school property -- here's a hint, though, a treehouse is SO not going to happen. None of the characters rose above cartoon status on paper.
Oh, and Double-D's -- really?!
October 8, 2015
I am a lover of desserts. Who isn't? So the premise of this book was good right from the start. Blake and Clark could have easily read this in a few hours to themselves, but they were happy to listen to me for the past few weeks. There are great lessons in this book about apologizing and making things right, and also using self-control.
I'm pleased that Hallie Durand has branched out from just picture books, because this was a treat. :)
Also, I baked the recipe for Double Decker Brownies on the back of the book and they were AMAZING.
I'm pleased that Hallie Durand has branched out from just picture books, because this was a treat. :)
Also, I baked the recipe for Double Decker Brownies on the back of the book and they were AMAZING.
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