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Pixie Piper #1
The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper
Pixie Piper, an ordinary fifth grader, discovers she is a direct descendant of Mother Goose—and she has the magical ability and poetry power to prove it! A lively and funny twist on a classic character for fans of the Clementine books, Wendy Mass, and Lisa Graff. This is the first of two books about Pixie Piper, and it features black-and-white spot art throughout.
Fifth grader Pixie Piper has always known that she was a little different. She has a wild mop of hair that won’t stay put, her best friend is a boy, and to top it all off, she’s constantly coming up with rhymes and poems that just seem to pop out of her. Then, when Pixie thinks it can’t get any worse, she finds out that she actually is different—she’s a descendant of Mother Goose! This surprising and clever novel features family, friendship, poetry, a toilet museum, and just the right amount of magic, as well as a goose, a fox, and a beautiful golden retriever puppy. Rich, multigenerational characters and the real and powerful portrayal of grade-school friendships, with all their ups and downs, distinguish this terrific elementary school story that will appeal to fans of Judy Moody, Clementine, and novels by Wendy Mass and Lisa Graff.
Fifth grader Pixie Piper has always known that she was a little different. She has a wild mop of hair that won’t stay put, her best friend is a boy, and to top it all off, she’s constantly coming up with rhymes and poems that just seem to pop out of her. Then, when Pixie thinks it can’t get any worse, she finds out that she actually is different—she’s a descendant of Mother Goose! This surprising and clever novel features family, friendship, poetry, a toilet museum, and just the right amount of magic, as well as a goose, a fox, and a beautiful golden retriever puppy. Rich, multigenerational characters and the real and powerful portrayal of grade-school friendships, with all their ups and downs, distinguish this terrific elementary school story that will appeal to fans of Judy Moody, Clementine, and novels by Wendy Mass and Lisa Graff.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
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585 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 12, 2016
This book is about a girl named Pixie Piper who has a talent for rhyming. She is considered “weird” by her classmates and just wants to be normal by not having a mother who dresses up in costumes, living in a house that looks like an acorn, and not having her rhyming talent. Little does she know that her rhyming ability is special – and magical.
Along the way, she meets challenges such as a creepy lady, a jealous classmate (who Pixie is also jealous of), and a missing goose.
I thought this was pretty good, maybe targeted toward younger audiences, but still very interesting. I really liked the rhymes, for example, “A tisket, a tasket / A goose in a basket / Your heart holds a question / And now you must ask it.” Also the plot twist that I expected did not happen (well, not really) so I like this book for not being like other books. The idea was original and come on, it’s rhymes! Rhymes rock!!!!
Along the way, she meets challenges such as a creepy lady, a jealous classmate (who Pixie is also jealous of), and a missing goose.
I thought this was pretty good, maybe targeted toward younger audiences, but still very interesting. I really liked the rhymes, for example, “A tisket, a tasket / A goose in a basket / Your heart holds a question / And now you must ask it.” Also the plot twist that I expected did not happen (well, not really) so I like this book for not being like other books. The idea was original and come on, it’s rhymes! Rhymes rock!!!!
January 23, 2016
Fifth grader Pixie Piper just wants to be normal like the other kids in school, but normal is just what she can't be. She is a descendant of Mother Goose, for real. That means she is a Goose Girl with special powers, and with that comes responsibility. Her flair for rhyming is more than just a special talent, and it sometimes has unexpected results. She will have to learn how and when to use it, with the help of her newfound Goose Lady aunt, her best friend Gray, and her pet goose Destiny. Readers will love Pixie and her quirky family, and root for her as she learns to accept her own uniqueness. This is a suspenseful, entertaining and heartwarming story.
June 2, 2016
A delightful book about the descendant of Mother Goose!
Pixie lives in Winged Bowl in a house called Acorn Cottage. That wouldn't be so bad if her Uncle Bottoms (not really her uncle) didn't have a museum of toilets down close to her house. She grew up with the name Princess Potty. Now Pixie always knew she was a bit different from everyone else, as rhymes came easy to her, but she didn't realize how different until after her first encounter with a Goose Girl.
After that her mother explains that she is a descendant of Mother Goose and that she had always hoped to be a Goose Girl but it never happened. So she really hopes that her daughter gets to be one but Pixie is not sure if she wants to be one. Then one day when her and her friend Gray was in the woods they find a goose egg.
So while other kids had dogs for pets Pixie ends up with a Goose named Destiny. That is when strange things starts to happen and if you want to know what that is you must read the book. :)
Now I will admit that at first I wasn't real fond of Pixie. She let what others thought get to her and it almost ruins her friendship with a boy named Gray. She was rather rude to him one day and I don't blame him for what he did afterwards and it took some time for Gray to come back around. She does learn a lot along the way and I started liking her and she is a very interesting girl.
I love Aunt Doris, who is a goose girl. She is the one who helps Pixie find her way through what was happening to her and she was a lot of fun! Also all the other secondary characters were really good and though I am not sure if it might be a series, I think it would make a cute one as I am kind of curious what will happen to Pixie and friends.
This book was a lot of fun and I would recommend it for any young reader boy or girl, especially if they are into poems because it has some really cute and fun poems within the story.
April 18, 2016
This was a very cute read. Although rhyming is not my favorite thing in the world, this book won me over. It is wonderfully pulled together with Pixie having to handle both personal and magical challenges that she runs into. She is also forced to learn when to react and when to restrain herself when threatened by the mean girl in the book. There are no doubts in Pixie’s mind as to what’s important in the world and I think that’s an important lesson. In the book, Pixie and Gray are in the fifth grade and that seems like it’d be the perfect age for reading it. I will certainly be looking forward to the sequel!
Warning: Contains mild violence.
Who should read it? Middle grade kids looking for a relatable spunky heroine who is not afraid of a challenge.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the publisher.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
Warning: Contains mild violence.
Who should read it? Middle grade kids looking for a relatable spunky heroine who is not afraid of a challenge.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the publisher.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
Read
August 4, 2016Pixie wants to be a normal kid, but her life is anything but. Her family lives in an acorn-shaped house next to a toilet museum. Her homemade clothes make her stand out in a crowd. Instead of a normal pet, like a dog, Pixie has a pet goose. And...she writes poems like Mother Goose. When Pixie learns that she is a descendant of Mother Goose--a Goose Lady--she tries to stop rhyming. But the evil Raveneece's plans to steal Pixie's goose and kidnap Pixie herself can only be stopped when Pixie decides to use her magical powers of rhyme.
This is a light, fun read for ages 8-12, and has a little something for everyone: friendship, animals, magic and fantasy, writing and rhyming, wicked witches and trouble at school.
This is a light, fun read for ages 8-12, and has a little something for everyone: friendship, animals, magic and fantasy, writing and rhyming, wicked witches and trouble at school.
February 14, 2016
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins/Greenwillow for the ARC! This book took me a little while to warm up to (as it took Pixie a little while to accept her heritage), but the real-world family and friendship dynamics melded together so well with the twist on nursery rhymes in the tradition of other fractured fairy tales that I couldn't help but be drawn in. Already can't wait for the second book in this duology!
August 19, 2016
Reviewer #24
Pixie Piper's world takes a strange turn when she learns she is a direct descendant of Mother Goose. On top of that she finds an abandon goose egg that she takes home and raises as a pet. Will she be a Goose Girl or normal like everyone else?
Pixie Piper's world takes a strange turn when she learns she is a direct descendant of Mother Goose. On top of that she finds an abandon goose egg that she takes home and raises as a pet. Will she be a Goose Girl or normal like everyone else?
October 18, 2016
There is power in poetry. You'll never look at Mother Goose the same way again.
January 15, 2021
I read this to see if it was appropriate for my nine-year-old. I just meant to read the first chapter, but then I wanted to find out what happened.
Things parents might like to know:
As far as I can tell, all the kids are white and able-bodied. Other than a couple of conversations about 'like liking' someone of the opposite gender there is no discussion of gender/sexuality. There is positive portrayal of an aged care facility.
It's reasonably fast paced, the child-friendships seem realistic, the villain seems pretty easy to compartmentalise. I particularly enjoyed that Pixie had such a good relationship with her parents - in a sea of books about orphans/absent parents, it was lovely to see a good family and the kids having adventures whilst having a stable home life.
I would recommend for 8-13.
Things parents might like to know:
As far as I can tell, all the kids are white and able-bodied. Other than a couple of conversations about 'like liking' someone of the opposite gender there is no discussion of gender/sexuality. There is positive portrayal of an aged care facility.
It's reasonably fast paced, the child-friendships seem realistic, the villain seems pretty easy to compartmentalise. I particularly enjoyed that Pixie had such a good relationship with her parents - in a sea of books about orphans/absent parents, it was lovely to see a good family and the kids having adventures whilst having a stable home life.
I would recommend for 8-13.
June 7, 2018
All Pixie really wants is to be normal. But it's a little hard to blend in when your family is as eccentric as the Pipers. So, even though she's got a knack for poetry, Pixie's reluctant to participate when the school announces a contest to crown their own poet laureate. The last thing she needs is to stand out even more. But when her mother shares a family secret, Pixie realizes that normal might not be an option for her at all.
With quiet, small town charm and Mother Goose inspired details, The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper creates a magical little pocket where anything is possible. Wishes, witches and plenty of poetry provide excitement and flavor to the vivid and idyllic little town of Winged Bowl. While the pacing is easy and lighthearted, Pixie Piper manages to build delighted anticipation in the reader thanks to the rich storytelling.
The illustrations from Natalie Andrewson are perfectly matched to the writing style, and provide further charm to the book. Humorous, adventurous, and wholesome, I'd highly recommend Pixie Piper's adventure to animal lovers, aspiring poet laureates, fans of Gail Carson Levine, and anyone who's grown up with Mother Goose.
With quiet, small town charm and Mother Goose inspired details, The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper creates a magical little pocket where anything is possible. Wishes, witches and plenty of poetry provide excitement and flavor to the vivid and idyllic little town of Winged Bowl. While the pacing is easy and lighthearted, Pixie Piper manages to build delighted anticipation in the reader thanks to the rich storytelling.
The illustrations from Natalie Andrewson are perfectly matched to the writing style, and provide further charm to the book. Humorous, adventurous, and wholesome, I'd highly recommend Pixie Piper's adventure to animal lovers, aspiring poet laureates, fans of Gail Carson Levine, and anyone who's grown up with Mother Goose.
September 20, 2021
When young poet Pixie Piper meets an odd, old woman (in a costume, of course) at a festival, she shares with Pixie a very strange riddle. The whole thing frightens Pixie, but she doesn't know why. It's all fake, right? But as the weeks draw on, more and more parts of the riddle begin to come true, Pixie begins to wonder what is really going on. Then she discovers a goose egg in the woods beside her, which was also a part of the strange riddle. The egg hatches and out comes a white goose, which Pixie names Destiny. When an ominous hag steals Destiny, Pixie must find a way to get her back and stop the greater problem at hand before it is too late.
I think this illustrated novel is perfect for any fairytale-loving child of about 8 to 10 years of age. It was written in an entertaining, hilarious, whimsical way, and is full of suspense and mystery. The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper is clean and pure, and it has a fun story you can read again and again. The only thing I have to complain about it is the fact that you cannot tell if a gosling is male or female by merely looking at it!
I think this illustrated novel is perfect for any fairytale-loving child of about 8 to 10 years of age. It was written in an entertaining, hilarious, whimsical way, and is full of suspense and mystery. The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper is clean and pure, and it has a fun story you can read again and again. The only thing I have to complain about it is the fact that you cannot tell if a gosling is male or female by merely looking at it!
December 5, 2022
What a fun book. Pixie Piper is a girl going through changes. Raising a goose she found and named Destiny has started things happening. For one thing she keeps running into this Mother Goose woman everywhere. Then her mother reveals a secret about the family that has Pixie perplexed and a bit excited. Pixie has always written poems but lately she doesn't want to feeling that it makes her strange....and she doesn't need anything else making her an outcast at school. Trying to fit in she makes a mistake regarding her best friend Gray. But it leads to her making new friends.
This is an intriguing story with a bit of magic and a young girls desire to be "normal" when her family certainly is not.
This is an intriguing story with a bit of magic and a young girls desire to be "normal" when her family certainly is not.
December 1, 2024
This is a delightful story about friendship and responsibility. Pixie Piper discovers she has an unusual tie to Mother Goose, whether she likes it or not. Eventually, she takes on the challenge to be a "Goose Girl" and the fun and magic begin, all while trying to navigate the challenges of keeping her friendship with Gray, which is now being threatened by Sage, the "popular, mean" girl. The story is fast-paced with the right touches of realism and fantasy to keep readers engaged, while reinforcing the power of words, even those seemingly silly nursery rhymes. I plan to read it to my fifth grade class; it's just right for this age group!
February 11, 2018
3.5 stars
Pixie Piper just wants to be a normal 5th grader. But it’s hard to blend when your house is shaped like an acorn and there’s a Toilet Museum in your backyard. Still, Pixie is trying everything to fit in. She is even willing to give up the rhymes she has always loved to write. But everything changes when she meets a strange woman at a local fair. Pixie is about to find out just how magically different she is, especially when it comes to writing poetry.
Pixie Piper just wants to be a normal 5th grader. But it’s hard to blend when your house is shaped like an acorn and there’s a Toilet Museum in your backyard. Still, Pixie is trying everything to fit in. She is even willing to give up the rhymes she has always loved to write. But everything changes when she meets a strange woman at a local fair. Pixie is about to find out just how magically different she is, especially when it comes to writing poetry.
September 30, 2018
Very unique book
What a cute campy book that was light hearted and funny but had the elements of danger and intrigue woven in. The second book should be just as campy!!
What a cute campy book that was light hearted and funny but had the elements of danger and intrigue woven in. The second book should be just as campy!!
June 15, 2020
This is a good book because it is tells about how to be proud of who YOU are.
May 19, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book, it gave me a lovely feeling of nostalgia as I remembered a time when I too was in the 5th grade and writing my own rhymes. The only difference is that while I wanted to be “different” Pixie wants to fit in and be “normal”. Pixie Piper has always been good with rhymes, but she never understood why until she discovers that she is a descendant of Mother Goose, making her a “Goose Girl.” Pixie wants nothing to do with being different, but with the help of her best friend Gray and her Goose Lady aunt she learns to accept who she is and the responsibilities that come with her special powers.
The characters in this book were all fantastic. Pixie Piper is definitely the type of character a reader can look up to. She is clever, smart and spunky. I loved parents, they were eccentric and fun. Pixie's mom reminded me of myself as we both share a love of costumes (I hope that when I have my own children I can be as free-spirited as Pixie's mom). I really liked that Pixie was sure of herself and how she handled all the challenges that came her way head on. I appreciated that the topic of bullying was addressed in this story, and how awful and cruel kids can be to one another. Having been a victim of bullying myself when I was Pixie's age, I know how tormenting it can be. It's too bad there weren't books like this back then, but I am glad that such great stories will be around for when my own children come into this world.
One of the messages in this book that really resonated with me was about accepting your own uniqueness (as Pixie learns to do). I find this to be a very valuable lesson to impart to young readers today. I think the author did a wonderful job with the rhyming as well as keeping the reader entertained and interested in the story and the characters. I definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys nursery rhymes, loves Mother Goose or wants to read a heartwarming and fast-paced story filled with friendship, family and just the right amount of magic. I should also mention that I really enjoyed all the pretty illustrations too. I am glad that there will be a sequel to this book and I can't wait to see what adventures Pixie Piper will encounter next.
A special thank you to Edelweiss/HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book in return for an honest review.
The characters in this book were all fantastic. Pixie Piper is definitely the type of character a reader can look up to. She is clever, smart and spunky. I loved parents, they were eccentric and fun. Pixie's mom reminded me of myself as we both share a love of costumes (I hope that when I have my own children I can be as free-spirited as Pixie's mom). I really liked that Pixie was sure of herself and how she handled all the challenges that came her way head on. I appreciated that the topic of bullying was addressed in this story, and how awful and cruel kids can be to one another. Having been a victim of bullying myself when I was Pixie's age, I know how tormenting it can be. It's too bad there weren't books like this back then, but I am glad that such great stories will be around for when my own children come into this world.
One of the messages in this book that really resonated with me was about accepting your own uniqueness (as Pixie learns to do). I find this to be a very valuable lesson to impart to young readers today. I think the author did a wonderful job with the rhyming as well as keeping the reader entertained and interested in the story and the characters. I definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys nursery rhymes, loves Mother Goose or wants to read a heartwarming and fast-paced story filled with friendship, family and just the right amount of magic. I should also mention that I really enjoyed all the pretty illustrations too. I am glad that there will be a sequel to this book and I can't wait to see what adventures Pixie Piper will encounter next.
A special thank you to Edelweiss/HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book in return for an honest review.
January 11, 2017
Pixie Piper is in 5th grade, and although she loves poetry, she's starting to think that maybe it isn't super cool. While at a Renaissance Fair with her family, a woman gives her a fortune about her life saying that she is a "goose girl" and is destined to rhyme. She is not happy with it. Her mother tells her later that night that they are descendants of Mother Goose. Pixie refuses to believe it, but things start happening that make her think it might be true. This book also deals with changing friendships as puberty begins, as well as a slightly mean girl. There is also a toilet museum for slight potty humor.
February 6, 2017
A cute story about a rhyming girl and her silly goose.
September 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this cute light confection of a fantasy... There were times it got a little too light and the ending was a little anticlimactic... But overall it was a fun and tasty read, the kind we all sometimes need, to cleanse the pallet, like a bonk with a mallet, and with a fun concept indeed!
December 13, 2016
Girl finds out she's a descendant of Mother Goose.
I wanted to adore this, but it was just ok.
I wanted to adore this, but it was just ok.
Want to read
August 29, 2017Unfortunately this isn't the kind of book I was expecting it to be. It's not extremely badly written, even if definitely childish, but from a novel about a Mother Goose descendant, I was expecting to read about nursery rhymes characters and so. Instead this book is about a coven of witches (and the main character is annoying at the beginning, but then she gets better). So, it's not for me. Maybe someday I will finish this, but for now it's dnf.
Read
November 25, 2017Loved this story~ playful language and a suspenseful plot :)
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