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Coasting Casey: A Tale of Busting Boredom in School ebook
“My teachers say I’m coasting, that I just do ‘well enough.’ But why do I want to waste my time on super boring stuff?� Casey is bright but bored in class, and doesn’t apply himself at school. Instead, he coasts—doing just enough to get by and ignoring homework and projects that don’t interest him. What does interest Casey is art. He loves to draw, make music, and create. Sometimes this enthusiasm interferes with learning and gets him into trouble. With help from his school principal, Casey learns to apply his passions to his schoolwork. Told in humorous rhyme, this lively story will speak to bored students and to any kid who can—and wants to—do better and turn their “snores into scores.� The book concludes with tips and information to help adults talk with kids who are bored in class and want to do better (and have more fun) at school. A social story to promote student engagement.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2013
4 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Anderson
171 books58 followersShannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. Her career highlight was being named one of the Top 10 Teachers who inspired the Today Show.
She is an award-winning children's book author, TEDx speaker, certified brain coach, and frequent keynote speaker. She LOVES to do author visits and coach aspiring writers. You can visit her website at www.shannonisteaching.com to find out more!
She is an award-winning children's book author, TEDx speaker, certified brain coach, and frequent keynote speaker. She LOVES to do author visits and coach aspiring writers. You can visit her website at www.shannonisteaching.com to find out more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 11, 2023
We enjoyed this short story about Penelope Perfect and how she learned that she didn't have to be perfect all the time after all.
August 16, 2015
I received this as an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this one a lot; I have many students who, despite their behavior diagnosis, can be major perfectionists (particularly my female students). I had one student who, during social studies, would write so slowly to make sure her notes were perfect, that she was often still answering the first question when we had moved on to the 5th or 6th. She rewrote everything, much like Penelope in the story. I wish I had had this book for her two years ago before she moved on to the next grade!
There are many positives to enjoy about this story for all those children who feel for whatever reason like they have to be perfect. As a teacher in a very diverse setting, it was also nice to see a diverse family depicted, as that will connect with my students as well. Additionally, the rhymes flowed well and were not halting at any point - always important!
Seeing the change in Penelope will be good for those little perfectionists. To see her going from always working so hard on school work, studying, recopying notes, it was nice to see her realize being a kid and goofing around is fun too. I would definitely use this with my perfectionists!
I really enjoyed this one a lot; I have many students who, despite their behavior diagnosis, can be major perfectionists (particularly my female students). I had one student who, during social studies, would write so slowly to make sure her notes were perfect, that she was often still answering the first question when we had moved on to the 5th or 6th. She rewrote everything, much like Penelope in the story. I wish I had had this book for her two years ago before she moved on to the next grade!
There are many positives to enjoy about this story for all those children who feel for whatever reason like they have to be perfect. As a teacher in a very diverse setting, it was also nice to see a diverse family depicted, as that will connect with my students as well. Additionally, the rhymes flowed well and were not halting at any point - always important!
Seeing the change in Penelope will be good for those little perfectionists. To see her going from always working so hard on school work, studying, recopying notes, it was nice to see her realize being a kid and goofing around is fun too. I would definitely use this with my perfectionists!
March 8, 2016
As a parent of a child who coasted and as a teacher I loved this book. Casey is a young man who is bored in school. He is smart, but does not do well. He loses interest in what is going on in the classroom and often doodles or draws. Casey's gifts are in the artistic area (drawing, music etc.). When he is given the opportunity to use these gifts to show what he knows, he excels. Once he begins to feel like he can do well, he wants to inspire others. He starts to put forth an effort in other areas and become successful. I love the back of the book where the author writes notes and suggestions to both teachers and students about coasting and how to use your gifts to show what you know. A wonderful book.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2015
Penelope is a perfectionist. She wants everything to go just right. She plans out every second of her day. She gets up very early each day, has a specific breakfast, rewrites her notes during recess etc. She has not fun, no friends and does not know how to enjoy herself. One night the power goes off, so her alarm does not wake her in time. What is going to happen. To Penelope this is a catastrophe. She is late for school, her hair is wild and she has no time to make lunch. What is going to happen to her on this topsy turvy day? Fortunately, for Penelope's storybook character, by the end of her day and the end of the story she has realised that actually 'It's all right to go with the flow sometimes.' This book would be great to read with those students who are perfectionists and get upset whenever something does not go according to plan.
The story is written useing rhyme and humour to tell the story. The illustrations are bold, virant and colourful and support the humourous content of the story. A final entry to the book is a section "for caring parents" with activities to encourage discussions as well as a section from 'A Psychologist's Perspective'.
Thank you to Netgalley and Free Spirit Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story is written useing rhyme and humour to tell the story. The illustrations are bold, virant and colourful and support the humourous content of the story. A final entry to the book is a section "for caring parents" with activities to encourage discussions as well as a section from 'A Psychologist's Perspective'.
Thank you to Netgalley and Free Spirit Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 13, 2015
Having become a bit of a perfectionist in my adult life, and then learning to let it go (Cue Disney's Frozen music!), I was interested to see how rigid Penelope was, and how she learnt that life can be enjoyed without such a rigid structure. She was extremely rigid! Everything had to be just so, and she'd happily spend the time making sure that everything went just as she thought it 'should'.
Being late for school is a big no, which is why when she overslept she thought she was doomed. I wanted to hug her and say that it's ok when our plans don't match up with reality, as her distress was clear. However it came about I'm glad that she did then realise being less than perfect didn't stop the world from turning. That having fun with friends – and making friends – beat having perfect school notes. A must read for anyone who takes perfectionism a bit too far, especially while they are young.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...
Being late for school is a big no, which is why when she overslept she thought she was doomed. I wanted to hug her and say that it's ok when our plans don't match up with reality, as her distress was clear. However it came about I'm glad that she did then realise being less than perfect didn't stop the world from turning. That having fun with friends – and making friends – beat having perfect school notes. A must read for anyone who takes perfectionism a bit too far, especially while they are young.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...
April 10, 2016
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley
I see students like Casey in my classroom every year. They are gifted and many times overlooked in schools filled with curriculum taught to a test. Casey is passionate about art and is lucky to have a principal who understands this passion. A wonderful book told in rhyme.
I see students like Casey in my classroom every year. They are gifted and many times overlooked in schools filled with curriculum taught to a test. Casey is passionate about art and is lucky to have a principal who understands this passion. A wonderful book told in rhyme.
March 26, 2014
I won this book off the Goodreads Giveaway.
I greatly enjoyed this book. It was very cute and great for teaching children having Amblyopia is nothing bad. Great little medical info for parents also!
I greatly enjoyed this book. It was very cute and great for teaching children having Amblyopia is nothing bad. Great little medical info for parents also!
September 11, 2018
Awesome book to introduce poetry to young writers. As a teacher, I'm always trying to come up with ways to motivate my students with creative writing ideas. Illustrator, Sharon Vargo, did an amazing job creating the adorable characters!
March 13, 2024
Penelope Perfect is a perfect read for everyone who consistently follows a routine and feels annoyed if for a day routine falls apart.
Penelope Perfect is a prim and perfect girl. She does her homework on time, she helps her Mom and Dad, she removes the wrinkles from her bedsheet in the morning, and keeps her room squeaky clean. At school, she makes excellent notes and keeps sharpened pencils ready. She eats heart-shaped pancakes in the morning and carries her lunch. She quickly eats her lunch during recess and prepares for the next session. She is tucked in her bed with her teddy and doll at night. She looks over her to-do list. But one night, there was a storm that threw Penelope's life out of her daily rhythm. As her alarm didn't ring. She was hassled and couldn't set her bed and wear her perfectly pressed dress. She rushed to her parent's room and took Plum for breakfast. She was beginning to feel that it was the start of a terrible day. At school, everyone glared at her as she was late. On top of it, she received a B on a test. Suddenly, instead of feeling dejected, she burst out laughing. Penelope was feeling a sense of freedom in her mind and heart. She missed looking at notes in school and went out to play with her friends in recess. She was having a good time at not being perfect- her hair was frizzy and her dress was wrinkled. But she loved being herself. Now, as she reached home, she helped her Mom and Dad. She finished her homework. At the same time, she went out to play with her friends. She realized sometimes it is okay to go with the flow and not worry excessively about timelines. That doesn't mean that she will be lazy, it just means that she will follow her routine but also enjoy herself by playing outside and chitchatting with her friends.
She liked the title of Penelope Perfect but for now, she liked being Penelope...
PS. The crazy timelines and to-do lists make us more productive. However, we also need to take a break and enjoy ourselves.
Penelope Perfect is a prim and perfect girl. She does her homework on time, she helps her Mom and Dad, she removes the wrinkles from her bedsheet in the morning, and keeps her room squeaky clean. At school, she makes excellent notes and keeps sharpened pencils ready. She eats heart-shaped pancakes in the morning and carries her lunch. She quickly eats her lunch during recess and prepares for the next session. She is tucked in her bed with her teddy and doll at night. She looks over her to-do list. But one night, there was a storm that threw Penelope's life out of her daily rhythm. As her alarm didn't ring. She was hassled and couldn't set her bed and wear her perfectly pressed dress. She rushed to her parent's room and took Plum for breakfast. She was beginning to feel that it was the start of a terrible day. At school, everyone glared at her as she was late. On top of it, she received a B on a test. Suddenly, instead of feeling dejected, she burst out laughing. Penelope was feeling a sense of freedom in her mind and heart. She missed looking at notes in school and went out to play with her friends in recess. She was having a good time at not being perfect- her hair was frizzy and her dress was wrinkled. But she loved being herself. Now, as she reached home, she helped her Mom and Dad. She finished her homework. At the same time, she went out to play with her friends. She realized sometimes it is okay to go with the flow and not worry excessively about timelines. That doesn't mean that she will be lazy, it just means that she will follow her routine but also enjoy herself by playing outside and chitchatting with her friends.
She liked the title of Penelope Perfect but for now, she liked being Penelope...
PS. The crazy timelines and to-do lists make us more productive. However, we also need to take a break and enjoy ourselves.
May 5, 2023
This book captured the attention of my 2nd through 5th graders. I teach literacy, and it is hard to find a picture book that keeps the upper elementary spellbound. This book did that and more! The quick story with a fun, quirky character kept them focused and talking about this critical topic of over-worrying. This book connected with all the students, not just the perfectionists. We can all relate to these moments in our lives or know someone close who does. The back matter was also fabulous and added a lot for further discussion. I would suggest this book for kids ages 7 to 11—a must-have for the classroom.
July 3, 2024
I grabbed this book to read to my daughter to help her to know that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. There’s big problems and little problems and we don’t have to let them ruin our day. We enjoyed the illustrations. What a great message.
We would recommend this book others.
We would recommend this book others.
July 15, 2024
I relate so much to Penelope and I think other kids and even adults will too. Older kids story time.
August 15, 2015
Full review available on Miss Magee's Reads at https://missmageesreads.wordpress.com...!
When I was a kid, a lot of unnecessary worries preoccupied my thoughts. I used to think through every “what if” and worry about the outcome of every situation. Now that I’m an educator, I see this same anxiety every day in various classrooms. Although this anxiety can come in many forms, children often show it by trying to be a perfectionist. Penelope Perfect explores what happens when one perfectionist has a day that goes horribly wrong.
In Penelope Perfect, we are introduced to Penelope through illustrations of her life with text explaining her habits. For example, Penelope follows her exercise chart every morning and sharpens six pencils when she gets to school. She wakes up at the same time every morning and goes to bed at the same time every night. When a power outage alters her routine, Penelope must figure out how to make it through her less-than-perfect day. Along the way, she learns some lessons about how to be herself and stay flexible.
One thing I loved about this book was the illustrations. Penelope’s world really comes to life in front of you, and kids can see their own world reflected in the pictures. The illustrations also do a great job of showing just how unsettling a change in routine can be; straight lines and organized pictures give way to movement, chaos, and more dramatic images. The illustrations do a great job of contributing to the story, and for readers who rely on visual cues, Katie Kath’s beautiful images do the trick.
I also loved that the book portrayed Penelope’s family as mixed race, with an African-American mother and a caucasian father. I think it is so important for all children to be able to see their own experiences reflected in children’s books, and while the text doesn’t mention race, students can relate to Penelope’s family through the illustrations. The other characters in the book are portrayed as being very diverse, including the teacher and the other students in Penelope’s class.
Although the illustrations in this book were great and the story has a fantastic message, the rhyme scheme was a little clunky for me. While I could imagine using this story as a read aloud during a classroom lesson on emotions and feelings, I had to read the story outloud twice before being able to fall into the rhyme scheme. I felt like I had to anticipate how the next few sentences were going to go in order to figure out what words to emphasize. This is something that can be avoided with practice, but it does prevent the book from reaching a 4- or 5-star rating.
Overall, this book would be fantastic for students who struggle with perfectionism in their day-to-day lives. Teachers and parents alike could use this book to start conversations about perfection and how mistakes, change, and failure are okay. I give the book a strong 3 stars for its great message and excellent illustrations.
Classroom Connections
- The Advanced Review Copy of Penelope Perfect I received included 5 full pages of valuable suggestions for using this book in the classroom. Strategies suggested include:
- Students writing skits about unexpected situations and how to deal with them
Sharing stories of famous people who struggled with failure before becoming successful
Posing “what if?” situations that allow students to think through worst case scenarios in order to develop strategies for dealing with them
As a classroom teacher, I would suggest this book for independent reading to students who may benefit from the message in the story. I would also use it to discuss failure and success with my students.
When I was a kid, a lot of unnecessary worries preoccupied my thoughts. I used to think through every “what if” and worry about the outcome of every situation. Now that I’m an educator, I see this same anxiety every day in various classrooms. Although this anxiety can come in many forms, children often show it by trying to be a perfectionist. Penelope Perfect explores what happens when one perfectionist has a day that goes horribly wrong.
In Penelope Perfect, we are introduced to Penelope through illustrations of her life with text explaining her habits. For example, Penelope follows her exercise chart every morning and sharpens six pencils when she gets to school. She wakes up at the same time every morning and goes to bed at the same time every night. When a power outage alters her routine, Penelope must figure out how to make it through her less-than-perfect day. Along the way, she learns some lessons about how to be herself and stay flexible.
One thing I loved about this book was the illustrations. Penelope’s world really comes to life in front of you, and kids can see their own world reflected in the pictures. The illustrations also do a great job of showing just how unsettling a change in routine can be; straight lines and organized pictures give way to movement, chaos, and more dramatic images. The illustrations do a great job of contributing to the story, and for readers who rely on visual cues, Katie Kath’s beautiful images do the trick.
I also loved that the book portrayed Penelope’s family as mixed race, with an African-American mother and a caucasian father. I think it is so important for all children to be able to see their own experiences reflected in children’s books, and while the text doesn’t mention race, students can relate to Penelope’s family through the illustrations. The other characters in the book are portrayed as being very diverse, including the teacher and the other students in Penelope’s class.
Although the illustrations in this book were great and the story has a fantastic message, the rhyme scheme was a little clunky for me. While I could imagine using this story as a read aloud during a classroom lesson on emotions and feelings, I had to read the story outloud twice before being able to fall into the rhyme scheme. I felt like I had to anticipate how the next few sentences were going to go in order to figure out what words to emphasize. This is something that can be avoided with practice, but it does prevent the book from reaching a 4- or 5-star rating.
Overall, this book would be fantastic for students who struggle with perfectionism in their day-to-day lives. Teachers and parents alike could use this book to start conversations about perfection and how mistakes, change, and failure are okay. I give the book a strong 3 stars for its great message and excellent illustrations.
Classroom Connections
- The Advanced Review Copy of Penelope Perfect I received included 5 full pages of valuable suggestions for using this book in the classroom. Strategies suggested include:
- Students writing skits about unexpected situations and how to deal with them
Sharing stories of famous people who struggled with failure before becoming successful
Posing “what if?” situations that allow students to think through worst case scenarios in order to develop strategies for dealing with them
As a classroom teacher, I would suggest this book for independent reading to students who may benefit from the message in the story. I would also use it to discuss failure and success with my students.
February 14, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.
This was a terrific little book, I do have to say that I was worried at first that we would only get Penelope being perfect, or her going back to her perfect ways after a disastrous day. Thankfully, this was not the case. :)
Because that was what I had trouble with, the first half of the book is all about Penelope, how she doesn't have any fun (at least, it seems to me, she is always hurrying and planning and doing stuff) and how she is quite uptight. I just disliked the girl a whole lot. Life isn't all about schedules, planning and getting everything perfect. Mistakes are meant to be made, mistakes will teach you.
Luckily (though unluckily for Penelope), one day something goes wrong, and the whole day that follows will teach Penelope something special, a life lesson that she really had to learn. The second part Penelope was funny and really nice, and I was cheering for her to discover the new ways to live her life. To find joy in the smallest things, to find out that you don't need tight schedules, but that you can have fun and make friends, while still trying your best in life. Of course I also felt sorry for her a bit, because I can imagine how much change it is to suddenly not being as perfect, or to get a grade that you didn't think you would ever get.
The story was really nice, and I think this will be a great book for everyone, though maybe mostly for those that are perfectionists, it might be a nice eye-opener to people.
The illustrations are absolutely adorable and beautiful. I think it would look better in paper form than it did in the ebook form, because now the pages were chopped up in two to fit. I think in paper form it will be a true delight to check out these pages and see them together. The colours are vibrant, the art style is playful and fun. I really loved it.
The book also concludes by giving reading discussion stuff, and also some tips and hints about perfectionism and anxiety. It was nice that this is added.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. Beautiful illustrations, a great story with a lesson to learn, a nice character (well at least at second part).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was a terrific little book, I do have to say that I was worried at first that we would only get Penelope being perfect, or her going back to her perfect ways after a disastrous day. Thankfully, this was not the case. :)
Because that was what I had trouble with, the first half of the book is all about Penelope, how she doesn't have any fun (at least, it seems to me, she is always hurrying and planning and doing stuff) and how she is quite uptight. I just disliked the girl a whole lot. Life isn't all about schedules, planning and getting everything perfect. Mistakes are meant to be made, mistakes will teach you.
Luckily (though unluckily for Penelope), one day something goes wrong, and the whole day that follows will teach Penelope something special, a life lesson that she really had to learn. The second part Penelope was funny and really nice, and I was cheering for her to discover the new ways to live her life. To find joy in the smallest things, to find out that you don't need tight schedules, but that you can have fun and make friends, while still trying your best in life. Of course I also felt sorry for her a bit, because I can imagine how much change it is to suddenly not being as perfect, or to get a grade that you didn't think you would ever get.
The story was really nice, and I think this will be a great book for everyone, though maybe mostly for those that are perfectionists, it might be a nice eye-opener to people.
The illustrations are absolutely adorable and beautiful. I think it would look better in paper form than it did in the ebook form, because now the pages were chopped up in two to fit. I think in paper form it will be a true delight to check out these pages and see them together. The colours are vibrant, the art style is playful and fun. I really loved it.
The book also concludes by giving reading discussion stuff, and also some tips and hints about perfectionism and anxiety. It was nice that this is added.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. Beautiful illustrations, a great story with a lesson to learn, a nice character (well at least at second part).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 15, 2015
Good children's literature can be a very effective way of approaching difficult subjects and teaching important life lessons, and 'Penelope Perfect' falls nicely into the category of 'good' children's literature. The star of the book is Penelope who 'likes things a certain way, and she plans out every detail of every day.' (back cover)
However, one morning her alarm clock doesn't go off and her world is turned upside-down!
'How will Penelope cope with a topsy-turvy day where nothing goes according to plan?' (back cover)
As adults we know that everyone has good days and bad days, and where possible we learn to go with the flow. Penelope's use of hyperbole like 'catastrophe' and 'disaster' however, indicates the level of impact such a small event as a failed alarm clock has on her life, and indeed many children like her who live by routine and whose whole life might revolve around getting things right! Not to do so results in bad feelings such as failure, guilt, stress and confusion.
Fortunately, for Penelope's storybook character, by the end of her day and the end of the story she has realised that actually 'It's all right to go with the flow sometimes.' (p.36) In reality however, a child that imposes such strict rules on themselves and lays such importance on getting things just right may well go on to suffer high levels of anxiety, stress, social problems and anger.
The author, Shannon Anderson uses rhyme and humour to tell her story, which jollies the reader along nicely to the end. The illustrations are bold and colourful and support the humourous content of the written words. Finally, there is an extremely useful support section 'for caring adults' (p.42 and 43) in the final pages, with activities to encourage discussions among the readers and listeners, as well as sections written from 'A Psychologist's Perspective'
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
However, one morning her alarm clock doesn't go off and her world is turned upside-down!
'How will Penelope cope with a topsy-turvy day where nothing goes according to plan?' (back cover)
As adults we know that everyone has good days and bad days, and where possible we learn to go with the flow. Penelope's use of hyperbole like 'catastrophe' and 'disaster' however, indicates the level of impact such a small event as a failed alarm clock has on her life, and indeed many children like her who live by routine and whose whole life might revolve around getting things right! Not to do so results in bad feelings such as failure, guilt, stress and confusion.
Fortunately, for Penelope's storybook character, by the end of her day and the end of the story she has realised that actually 'It's all right to go with the flow sometimes.' (p.36) In reality however, a child that imposes such strict rules on themselves and lays such importance on getting things just right may well go on to suffer high levels of anxiety, stress, social problems and anger.
The author, Shannon Anderson uses rhyme and humour to tell her story, which jollies the reader along nicely to the end. The illustrations are bold and colourful and support the humourous content of the written words. Finally, there is an extremely useful support section 'for caring adults' (p.42 and 43) in the final pages, with activities to encourage discussions among the readers and listeners, as well as sections written from 'A Psychologist's Perspective'
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
August 4, 2015
I love everything about the book. Written in rhyme, the storyline is engaging and the illustrations are full of detail, humour and perfectly enrich the author's narrative.
Penelope prides herself on being a perfectionist.
"They call me Penelope Perfect.
If you know me, I'm sure you agree.
Have you ever heard of Old Faithful?
Well, That geyser has nothin' on me!"
Everything she does whether it be waking up at 5 every morning (on the dot), cleaning her room (until it's spotless and shiny), exercising precisely from her exercise chart (10 jumping jacks please), or eating her heart-shaped pancakes that her mom makes her for breakfast every morning (yum!yum!), has to be regimented and incisively on time each day. Penelope is meticulous and precise in all her daily endeavours.
At school she is known for skipping recess to get her lessons rewritten properly and on the bus home she completes her assigned homework. Everything she does is done flawlessly and with determination, until one day there's a huge storm in the middle of the night in her neighbourhood and the power goes off causing her impeccable, controlled world to become unplugged.
Penelope's alarm does not go off and this throws her whole routine, her whole day, and must I add her whole LIFE into chaos and confusion. She has lost control and must go with the flow ... fluidly moving through her day ... powerless. Penelope learns some valuable life lessons because of this mishap: it is alright to play with the other kids at recess, it's o.k. to have wrinkled clothes and messy hair, it's fine to get a B+ on a test and it's great to leave time to play outside and goof off a bit....
"I've learned not to make life a checklist.
That doesn't mean I'm lazy.
It's all right to go with the flow sometimes,
And not make myself so crazy.!"
She learns not to worry so much, be happy and free, and enjoy just being herself...Penelope!
Penelope prides herself on being a perfectionist.
"They call me Penelope Perfect.
If you know me, I'm sure you agree.
Have you ever heard of Old Faithful?
Well, That geyser has nothin' on me!"
Everything she does whether it be waking up at 5 every morning (on the dot), cleaning her room (until it's spotless and shiny), exercising precisely from her exercise chart (10 jumping jacks please), or eating her heart-shaped pancakes that her mom makes her for breakfast every morning (yum!yum!), has to be regimented and incisively on time each day. Penelope is meticulous and precise in all her daily endeavours.
At school she is known for skipping recess to get her lessons rewritten properly and on the bus home she completes her assigned homework. Everything she does is done flawlessly and with determination, until one day there's a huge storm in the middle of the night in her neighbourhood and the power goes off causing her impeccable, controlled world to become unplugged.
Penelope's alarm does not go off and this throws her whole routine, her whole day, and must I add her whole LIFE into chaos and confusion. She has lost control and must go with the flow ... fluidly moving through her day ... powerless. Penelope learns some valuable life lessons because of this mishap: it is alright to play with the other kids at recess, it's o.k. to have wrinkled clothes and messy hair, it's fine to get a B+ on a test and it's great to leave time to play outside and goof off a bit....
"I've learned not to make life a checklist.
That doesn't mean I'm lazy.
It's all right to go with the flow sometimes,
And not make myself so crazy.!"
She learns not to worry so much, be happy and free, and enjoy just being herself...Penelope!
September 7, 2015
As a bit of perfectionist myself, I understand how Penelope feels. When I was in elementary school, I often did extra credit work, even though I didn't need the extra points for my grade. I worried about my handwriting to the point that I pressed so hard on the pencil, it was impossible to erase mistakes. (My family bought me pencils with extra-hard lead so that I couldn't make such permanent marks on the paper.) Even in college, I made notes and outlined each chapter in the textbooks, completing the review questions even if they weren't assigned by the professor. Although I have lightened up a bit, I still remember how it feels to want everything to be perfect and to hate when things don't run smoothly.
Penelope is "Penelope Perfect" because she sticks to her careful routine, skips recess to make sure her assignments are perfect, and keeps to-do lists close at hand. But when there is a thunderstorm that knocks out the power, her alarm doesn't wake her at the normal time and her day if off to a horrible start. Can such a terrible day possibly have a good ending? When she rushes into class late, everyone stops and stares. And when she gets her first ever B on a paper, it seems like the end of the world. But maybe Penelope can learn something important from this disaster.
There are suggested activities and discussion ideas at the end of the book, along with a brief description of perfectionism from a psychologist's perspective. Parents and teachers who are trying to help a child deal with this issue will be grateful for the support of this story and the additional resources in the back matter.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Penelope is "Penelope Perfect" because she sticks to her careful routine, skips recess to make sure her assignments are perfect, and keeps to-do lists close at hand. But when there is a thunderstorm that knocks out the power, her alarm doesn't wake her at the normal time and her day if off to a horrible start. Can such a terrible day possibly have a good ending? When she rushes into class late, everyone stops and stares. And when she gets her first ever B on a paper, it seems like the end of the world. But maybe Penelope can learn something important from this disaster.
There are suggested activities and discussion ideas at the end of the book, along with a brief description of perfectionism from a psychologist's perspective. Parents and teachers who are trying to help a child deal with this issue will be grateful for the support of this story and the additional resources in the back matter.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
April 16, 2020
Review: This is a tale of perfectionism and fear of failure. Everyday our main character, Penelope, wakes up and follows a strict regime. She wakes up, irons her sheets, does her exercise routine, eats her pancakes and heads to school. At school, she listens to everything and writes down many notes. Instead of going out to recess she rewrites her notes because she feels like they are too messy, Then, she practices her music and other skills. She does not incorporate any time for fun or relaxation and this causes her to become very anxious. One day, she wakes up late for school and is tardy for class. No one can believe what they have witnessed. But something interesting happens after Penelope breaks down nervously. She realizes that the world is not ending and she becomes giddy and all of a sudden her “messy hair and wrinkly clothes are now comfortable”. Penelope goes out and has fun with her classmates while playing kickball. The important lesson is that you need time to relax and enjoy life. It is ok not to be perfect. Trying to be perfect will only cause you to become anxious and have unrealistic expectations.
Artistic/Literary Review: We see a combination between watercolor and colored pencil being used. As with many children's books there is of course bright vibrant color used to grab the children's attention. The artist does a wonderful job illustrating emotion on all of the characters' faces in times of great distress.
Rating: I would rate this book 5/5. Great lesson for young students who need help easing their stress levels. You should take your learning seriously but also need to enjoy being a kid most importantly.
Artistic/Literary Review: We see a combination between watercolor and colored pencil being used. As with many children's books there is of course bright vibrant color used to grab the children's attention. The artist does a wonderful job illustrating emotion on all of the characters' faces in times of great distress.
Rating: I would rate this book 5/5. Great lesson for young students who need help easing their stress levels. You should take your learning seriously but also need to enjoy being a kid most importantly.
October 7, 2015
Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild by Shannon Anderson is a children's book written in rhyme about a young lady that tries to be perfect in everything she does. When a power outage makes her wake up late, her whole day is thrown off. Could changing her routine be more than the disaster she expects?
Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild is a great book for anyone, of any age, that gets anxiety ridden or out of sorts when things do not go as planned. I am one of those people that need to be early for everything, so the idea of starting off late is just as scary to me as it was for Penelope. Just like Penelope I like to follow my schedule, and I think many children feel the same way. However, Penelope eventually is shown that loosing the reigns and stepping outside your comfort zone can be a good thing.
Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild is a story of encouragement and understanding. It is told in rhyme, and has a cheerful tone to it, which might help readers feel calm as they read. I liked that the book includes information to help students, teachers, and parents deal with stress and anxiety and how to talk about related problems.
Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild is a great book for anyone, of any age, that gets anxiety ridden or out of sorts when things do not go as planned. I am one of those people that need to be early for everything, so the idea of starting off late is just as scary to me as it was for Penelope. Just like Penelope I like to follow my schedule, and I think many children feel the same way. However, Penelope eventually is shown that loosing the reigns and stepping outside your comfort zone can be a good thing.
Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild is a story of encouragement and understanding. It is told in rhyme, and has a cheerful tone to it, which might help readers feel calm as they read. I liked that the book includes information to help students, teachers, and parents deal with stress and anxiety and how to talk about related problems.
July 22, 2015
Penelope is a perfectionist. She sets her alarm for five every morning so she will have time to clean her room, do exactly 10 jumping jacks, eat heart-shaped pancakes, pack a lunch and feed her cat before she leaves for school. Her life is filled with routines that do not leave any room for fun.
One day, a storm knocks out the power at her house and her alarm doesn't go off. Because of this, Penelope and her parents oversleep. Penelope doesn't have time for all her routines; she shows up at school after the tardy bell rings in wrinkled clothing and her hair is an uncontrolled mess. Then the worst thing of all happens, she gets a "B". Because of these circumstances, Penelope is forced out of her careful routine, and instead of going back to it and living a life of all work and no play, she tries some new things.
This is a great book to show children that they need a balance in their life. A nice addition to the book is the short guide at the end to help parents and teachers work with their children on the things that can be learned from the story. I recommend this book.
One day, a storm knocks out the power at her house and her alarm doesn't go off. Because of this, Penelope and her parents oversleep. Penelope doesn't have time for all her routines; she shows up at school after the tardy bell rings in wrinkled clothing and her hair is an uncontrolled mess. Then the worst thing of all happens, she gets a "B". Because of these circumstances, Penelope is forced out of her careful routine, and instead of going back to it and living a life of all work and no play, she tries some new things.
This is a great book to show children that they need a balance in their life. A nice addition to the book is the short guide at the end to help parents and teachers work with their children on the things that can be learned from the story. I recommend this book.
May 6, 2016
Totally in love with this book. This is a book every elementary teacher should have in their classroom library, as should anyone on the school resource staff. Coasting Casey is about a boy named Casey who knows he's smart, but doesn't put in the effort he should because he's bored (something that everyone can relate to for sure). Casey's principal helps him channel his energy into doing work that is more meaningful to him. I love the rhythm of the book, and the kids will love it too. The illustrations are great. This book would also be a great addition to any teacher who is using PBS, Love and Logic, Responsive Classroom or the Seven Habits in their classroom. I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes.
August 12, 2015
I really loved this book. The illustrations really add to the great story. Penelope was such a fun character and I loved seeing how she dealt with her day not going at all the way she wanted it to.
The discussion questions at the back make this book a great resource for parents and those who work with children. We may associate with kids who are like Penelope when things don't go just right in their day. We can help them learn how to deal with things like that by reading this book with them and utilizing the suggestions at the end.
I plan to read more by this author and to look for more books with this illustrator.
The discussion questions at the back make this book a great resource for parents and those who work with children. We may associate with kids who are like Penelope when things don't go just right in their day. We can help them learn how to deal with things like that by reading this book with them and utilizing the suggestions at the end.
I plan to read more by this author and to look for more books with this illustrator.
July 27, 2015
As the mother of a gifted child, I know that perfectionism is a real struggle. This book is perfect for younger students trying to figure out what they need to do to succeed and who need a reminder that you don't need to be perfect. Some of Penelope's habits border OCD behavior though, and I wonder if her parents should have stepped in to get her some help.
I do, however, love the message of the book and that the main character is mixed race.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC through Netgalley.
I do, however, love the message of the book and that the main character is mixed race.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC through Netgalley.
August 9, 2015
Penelope is an elementary school child perfectionist perhaps bordering on OCD. The illustrations are very cute. The rhyming story is fun to read. After a storm knocks out the electricity and her alarm clock fails to ring, Penelope oversleeps and has a very on-perfect day and learns how to lighten up and have fun. The book has activities and discussion questions at the end that parents and educators can use to discuss anxiety and perfectionism with children after reading the story. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
August 26, 2015
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REVIEW BY: Angelina, age 8 years, 10 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was about a girl named Penelope that has a routine for every thing every single day. She loves her routine. She goes to bed at 8:00 p.m. but she can never fall asleep. There was a storm one night and the storm made the power go out so her alarm clock did not work. Penelope slept in until 8:00 a.m. and her routine was ruined for the day!
REVIEW BY: Angelina, age 8 years, 10 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was about a girl named Penelope that has a routine for every thing every single day. She loves her routine. She goes to bed at 8:00 p.m. but she can never fall asleep. There was a storm one night and the storm made the power go out so her alarm clock did not work. Penelope slept in until 8:00 a.m. and her routine was ruined for the day!
July 27, 2015
This book is great all-around.
On it's own, it is a fun, interesting story.
Digging deeper, it is a story of a child afraid to fail. She has to be perfect at all things, all of the time. Then, a storm knocks out the power and she starts her whole day rushed, and late! I have had a lot of students with anxiety and a fear of failure. This book is a great example that letting go a little can be a good thing!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
On it's own, it is a fun, interesting story.
Digging deeper, it is a story of a child afraid to fail. She has to be perfect at all things, all of the time. Then, a storm knocks out the power and she starts her whole day rushed, and late! I have had a lot of students with anxiety and a fear of failure. This book is a great example that letting go a little can be a good thing!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2015
This was a fun story to read. I know a few children just like her. The story helps children understand that perfectionism is okay but that it is also okay not being perfect. Penelope's gradual acceptance of not being perfect all the time or sticking to a strict routine can help children understand how to de-stress their lives when things go wrong or unplanned. The only think I did NOT like about the story was the rhyming. Sometimes it felt really forced and in some place the rhyming was 'meh'.
March 10, 2016
My thoughts: I have mixed thoughts about this book. I've been looking for books to go with the core value "excellence" and this sort of fits. However, it just doesn't seem to quite hit the mark. I really like the concept, but something just seems to be missing from the story.
The illustrations are great. Students will like them. They will also like that the story rhymes. My students really enjoy rhyming stories.
I'm not sure if I will purchase this one for the library or not.
The illustrations are great. Students will like them. They will also like that the story rhymes. My students really enjoy rhyming stories.
I'm not sure if I will purchase this one for the library or not.
June 4, 2016
I really dislike children's picture books that are written not with a story in mind, but with a lesson. Some adult decides there needs to be a picture book about peanut allergies, or celiac disease, or bad attitudes, and then tries to figure out how to make that book. They usually rhyme, which gets annoying, and everything is fixed very easily by the end. They are boring and didactic. This one was no exception.
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