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Tales from Deckawoo Drive #2
Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon
“Francine Poulet will wrangle readers’ hearts along with rascally wildlife in this standout early chapter book.” — Booklist (starred review)
Francine Poulet is the greatest animal control officer in Gizzford County, hailing from a long line of animal control officers. “The genuine article,” Francine’s dad always called her. She is never scared — until, that is, she’s faced with a screaming raccoon that may or may not be a ghost. Maybe Francine isn’t cut out to be an animal control officer after all! Join a cast of familiar characters — Frank, Stella, Mrs. Watson, and Mercy the porcine wonder—for some riotous raccoon wrangling in the second tale from Deckawoo Drive.
Francine Poulet is the greatest animal control officer in Gizzford County, hailing from a long line of animal control officers. “The genuine article,” Francine’s dad always called her. She is never scared — until, that is, she’s faced with a screaming raccoon that may or may not be a ghost. Maybe Francine isn’t cut out to be an animal control officer after all! Join a cast of familiar characters — Frank, Stella, Mrs. Watson, and Mercy the porcine wonder—for some riotous raccoon wrangling in the second tale from Deckawoo Drive.
112 pages, Library Binding
First published August 25, 2015
122 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
Kate DiCamillo
163 books11k followersKate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.
Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."
Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.
Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.
Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."
Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.
Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
June 19, 2018
A great story about facing your fears. You get thrown off your horse, you have to get back up again, or you fall off a roof and you have to get back up again.
Francine is afraid of nothing until one day she learns what fear is. It stops her from doing her job and she walks away from what she loves. Luckily, there is Frank who pesters her into being the genuine article. She faces her fears and becomes better at her job.
This is so well told and has all the fun of the Mercy Watson series. Kate never disappoints.
Francine is afraid of nothing until one day she learns what fear is. It stops her from doing her job and she walks away from what she loves. Luckily, there is Frank who pesters her into being the genuine article. She faces her fears and becomes better at her job.
This is so well told and has all the fun of the Mercy Watson series. Kate never disappoints.
December 1, 2023
The raccoon answered her. He answered her by screaming his terrible scream and by bounding out of the darkness and throwing himself directly at her. (PG 26)
This is a book we chose for our new homeschooling project in our new book club consisting of just the four of us. We didn’t realize, though, that libraries hardly ever carry more than two copies of a book so we had to read and share.
We all agreed we didn’t like the book and its storyline. The two stars were from the kids ranging from 7-13 and me, the 38 year old, just went along with it.
A good start for a kids book club but not the funnest.
This is a book we chose for our new homeschooling project in our new book club consisting of just the four of us. We didn’t realize, though, that libraries hardly ever carry more than two copies of a book so we had to read and share.
We all agreed we didn’t like the book and its storyline. The two stars were from the kids ranging from 7-13 and me, the 38 year old, just went along with it.
A good start for a kids book club but not the funnest.
November 23, 2024
Not one of my favorite Kate Di Camillo books, but it's pretty good.
June 8, 2015
Kate DiCamillo is simply a master storyteller. No matter whether reading one of her novels or a beginning chapter book like this one, her words touch and warm the reader's heart. Her characters are always so well drawn and unique, yet so easy to relate to with all their strengths and weaknesses, with their joys and sorrows. I appreciate that Kate DiCamillo trusts her young readers with sophisticated vocabulary, awakening a curiosity for the beauty of language while telling an entertaining story. It is however the compassion and empathy shown and felt by her characters in their big and small gestures, that make her stories so memorable. Each of her books is a very special gift, and so is Franchine Poullet.
June 10, 2020
I read this with my 7 year old who has been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately. (Thanks a lot, covid.🖕) This book was listed in an article I found that was compiled by librarians, and meant for children with anxiety. I think it did a great job at helping kids realise we all have worries, and that those emotions are valid. But it also taught, through an interesting story, that we can face and conquer those fears. I really liked it! And so did my son.
January 24, 2023
3.5. Not my fave Kate book but it’s cute. I do love Mercy Watson. There are connections to the Watson family here. Read with some students today and they enjoyed the characters.
November 28, 2017
The moral of the story: Remember who you are and be brave.
January 20, 2019
سبک نوشتنش رو دوست دارم
جذاب و ساده و بانمک
و همینطور باهدف
جذاب و ساده و بانمک
و همینطور باهدف
August 4, 2015
To Whom Do I Give This Book?
This is the second book in DiCamillo's Deckawoo Drive series, which is itself a spin-off from the Mercy Watson series. Some familiar characters make appearances, but this book is perfectly fine as a stand alone.
SPOILER. Francine Poulet is the best Animal Control Officer in the county. But she has a panic attack while trying to capture a raccoon on a rooftop, suffers a nasty fall with serious injuries, loses all confidence in herself, and quits her job. She is coaxed back by a kind, patient, deadpan, young boy for one more try at the raccoon. Although frightened and nervous, she reaches down deep and remembers who she is.
Kate DiCamillo effects me the same way Polly Horvath does. Great characters, great pacing, some beautiful word craft, and an odd story that is too heavy for the antic setup, the funsy first chapters, and the audience.
At the outset DiCamillo builds a nice tone by repeating a few phrases over and over. The story is told almost like a poem with a recurring, repeating silly refrain. As the story unfolds we get to more edgy humor - the lady who calls Francine about the raccoon is dismissive and vinegary, Francine's boss is a windbag jerk, Francine is not all sweetness and light. That's fine. But once Francine fails at her task, well, the depth of her angst is way out of proportion given the rest of the story and is presented as a complete collapse of her entire sense of self-worth. Geez; what happened to the funsy ghost raccoon story? (By the way, the ghost angle is a complete non-starter and I have no idea why it's even in the title.) We then follow Francine's further rather extended descent into self-loathing, before she is pulled together by a neurotic, humorless Yoda-like boy who urges her to try, try again.
The messages are all positive and the ending is happy enough. But the book by the end feels more like an intervention than a fun or even merely instructive, story. It's the same old problem - there are some terrific lines and some terrific descriptions and just marvelous use of words, (especially words more advanced than what you would normally find in books for this demo). Heck, a totally superfluous and loony but inspired scene in which a little girl kvetches because a bait shop doesn't sell sweets is worth the price of the book. But, it's all in service of a muddled, unconvincing and fundamentally awkward story that is quite likely to go mostly over a little reader's head.
The upshot is that I honestly admire this book as a crafted written work, but I have no idea to whom to give it. It's too old and angsty for the little readers, and too childish for the older readers. This is probably why Nietzsche didn't write children's books.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is the second book in DiCamillo's Deckawoo Drive series, which is itself a spin-off from the Mercy Watson series. Some familiar characters make appearances, but this book is perfectly fine as a stand alone.
SPOILER. Francine Poulet is the best Animal Control Officer in the county. But she has a panic attack while trying to capture a raccoon on a rooftop, suffers a nasty fall with serious injuries, loses all confidence in herself, and quits her job. She is coaxed back by a kind, patient, deadpan, young boy for one more try at the raccoon. Although frightened and nervous, she reaches down deep and remembers who she is.
Kate DiCamillo effects me the same way Polly Horvath does. Great characters, great pacing, some beautiful word craft, and an odd story that is too heavy for the antic setup, the funsy first chapters, and the audience.
At the outset DiCamillo builds a nice tone by repeating a few phrases over and over. The story is told almost like a poem with a recurring, repeating silly refrain. As the story unfolds we get to more edgy humor - the lady who calls Francine about the raccoon is dismissive and vinegary, Francine's boss is a windbag jerk, Francine is not all sweetness and light. That's fine. But once Francine fails at her task, well, the depth of her angst is way out of proportion given the rest of the story and is presented as a complete collapse of her entire sense of self-worth. Geez; what happened to the funsy ghost raccoon story? (By the way, the ghost angle is a complete non-starter and I have no idea why it's even in the title.) We then follow Francine's further rather extended descent into self-loathing, before she is pulled together by a neurotic, humorless Yoda-like boy who urges her to try, try again.
The messages are all positive and the ending is happy enough. But the book by the end feels more like an intervention than a fun or even merely instructive, story. It's the same old problem - there are some terrific lines and some terrific descriptions and just marvelous use of words, (especially words more advanced than what you would normally find in books for this demo). Heck, a totally superfluous and loony but inspired scene in which a little girl kvetches because a bait shop doesn't sell sweets is worth the price of the book. But, it's all in service of a muddled, unconvincing and fundamentally awkward story that is quite likely to go mostly over a little reader's head.
The upshot is that I honestly admire this book as a crafted written work, but I have no idea to whom to give it. It's too old and angsty for the little readers, and too childish for the older readers. This is probably why Nietzsche didn't write children's books.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
July 24, 2019
In this second entry in Kate DiCamillo's Tales of Deckawoo Drive series, which presents longer stories about some of the secondary characters from her Mercy Watson books, Animal Control Officer extraordinaire Francine Poulet, the third in a line of animal control officers in her family, unexpectedly meets her Waterloo in the form of an eerie raccoon said to be 'haunting' elderly Miss Bissinger's house. When Francine becomes frightened and loses her head, falling off the roof and injuring herself, she loses her confidence and resigns her post. Will she ever be an Animal Control Officer again...?
This being the world of Kate DiCamillo, naturally things turn out for the best, but young fans of the author will still enjoy reading about Francine's adventures, having first encountered her in Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig . Stella and Frank, other secondary characters from the Mercy Watson books, also make a reappearance here, and Frank has a role in helping Francine to overcome her malaise. These books are a step up in reading level, from the earlier ones devoted to Mercy Watson, and the artwork, done by Chris Van Dusen, is black and white here, rather than in color, perhaps reflecting the fact that most chapter-books at this level are illustrated without color. Reccommended to fans of Mercy Watson, and to young readers looking for entertaining chapter-books.
This being the world of Kate DiCamillo, naturally things turn out for the best, but young fans of the author will still enjoy reading about Francine's adventures, having first encountered her in Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig . Stella and Frank, other secondary characters from the Mercy Watson books, also make a reappearance here, and Frank has a role in helping Francine to overcome her malaise. These books are a step up in reading level, from the earlier ones devoted to Mercy Watson, and the artwork, done by Chris Van Dusen, is black and white here, rather than in color, perhaps reflecting the fact that most chapter-books at this level are illustrated without color. Reccommended to fans of Mercy Watson, and to young readers looking for entertaining chapter-books.
January 13, 2019
This, the second book in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, was a bit of a disappointment for me. While it had some amusing moments (and plenty of Kate DiCamillo's fabulous use of words), I just couldn't get all that invested in the story, which is mainly about overcoming fear.
Francine Poulet, the animal control officer, attends a call for a screaming raccoon. Things go badly, and her confidence is shaken. It takes Frank, a little boy who lives on Deckawoo Drive, to remind Francine of her skill and her accomplishments. Only then is she able to overcome her fears and start believing in herself again.
While the raccoon and its screaming was pretty funny, I just didn't connect with Francine. She's probably my least favourite character in both series, so I'm not that surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of this book.
Maybe the next couple of books, which look like they feature the Lincoln sisters, will be more to my liking. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon isn't a bad book; it just wasn't for me.
Francine Poulet, the animal control officer, attends a call for a screaming raccoon. Things go badly, and her confidence is shaken. It takes Frank, a little boy who lives on Deckawoo Drive, to remind Francine of her skill and her accomplishments. Only then is she able to overcome her fears and start believing in herself again.
While the raccoon and its screaming was pretty funny, I just didn't connect with Francine. She's probably my least favourite character in both series, so I'm not that surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of this book.
Maybe the next couple of books, which look like they feature the Lincoln sisters, will be more to my liking. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon isn't a bad book; it just wasn't for me.
September 30, 2015
For some idiotic and irrational reason this book pissed me off. What happened to the raccoon? Why did it need to be captured in the first place? Did they take it to an animal rehab like Second Chances Wildlife? Or return it to the woods somewhere safe? Did they euthanize it? GOD, I've read too many kids books, I'M LOSING MY MIND. But really, I am way more concerned about this raccoon and it's whereabouts now. I'm terribly concerned about this raccoon and that wasn't even the point of the book...
October 7, 2016
I suppose these books may not be as engaging for readers not already familiar with the characters on Deckawoo Drive. Possibly. But this new series is so fun, cute, and full of charm, it is surely unlikely. I think anyone would enjoy these.
May 9, 2020
When the going gets tough.... the tough get going!
Beautiful, beautifully told is the story of Francine Poulet, as the title indicates meets the raccoon on the roof of a house. I think she was right... raccoons are scary... and being on a tall roof is scary as well.. BUT Francine knows who she is and moves forward!
Brave, resilient, and self-confident, our heroine regains herself and overcomes her lapse of bravery!
4 stars for Ms Poulet!
Happy Reading!
Love the cover and the illistrations
Beautiful, beautifully told is the story of Francine Poulet, as the title indicates meets the raccoon on the roof of a house. I think she was right... raccoons are scary... and being on a tall roof is scary as well.. BUT Francine knows who she is and moves forward!
Brave, resilient, and self-confident, our heroine regains herself and overcomes her lapse of bravery!
4 stars for Ms Poulet!
Happy Reading!
Love the cover and the illistrations
September 24, 2015
Francine Poulet is a very self assured woman until she meets a raccoon that shakes her confidence.
Before we begin I must tell you I liked Leroy Ninker better. The vocabulary in this book is going to challenging for most readers. There are more questions then answers in the plot.
However it has all the character qualities I want in a DiCamillo book. The illustrations make me want to turn the page so I can see what else is going to happen. I get to check in with some on my favorite characters who live on Deckawoo Drive. It is worth the read. I just wish the ghost element wasn't added in.
Before we begin I must tell you I liked Leroy Ninker better. The vocabulary in this book is going to challenging for most readers. There are more questions then answers in the plot.
However it has all the character qualities I want in a DiCamillo book. The illustrations make me want to turn the page so I can see what else is going to happen. I get to check in with some on my favorite characters who live on Deckawoo Drive. It is worth the read. I just wish the ghost element wasn't added in.
August 2, 2015
Kate DiCamillo`s words are the best words.
October 28, 2015
Francine Poulet is a wonderful character. I loved the writing and the distinctive voices of the characters. The illustrations are also excellent.
May 29, 2018
Somehow I didn't hear about this series when it first came out. I'm so glad to have found out about it now! The first in the series, Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, left me with questions at the end, and I thought it was just okay. Luckily, that didn't happen with Francine Poulet! What a great story, with an important lesson to teach, and a screaming raccoon! I look forward to reading the next two in the series very soon.
June 24, 2021
4.5 stars: This book is really great. It teaches about failure, fear, and resilience, about trying again even after you’ve failed. I really liked that message. The only thing that makes it not five stars is that the raccoon Francine is trying to catch might be a little scary for some kids.
January 22, 2024
This was a cute story about a fearless animal control officer who suddenly gets scared. It made my kiddos laugh.
April 28, 2025
An absolutely delightful story about conquering your fears. Kate DiCamillo books are exactly what we need right now.
September 27, 2022
An awesome book pick for younger readers!
September 29, 2015
This second story from Deckawoo Drive (Leroy Ninker Saddles Up was the first), young readers meet Francine Poulet, the fearless and fearsome animal control officer. Following in her father and grandmother's footsteps, Francine is a first class animal control officer, in fact, she's won 47 animal control trophies, more than anyone else.
Since nothing scars Francine, when she receives an hysterical call from Mrs. Bissinger that there was a most unusual raccoon living on her roof and tormenting her by screaming her name all night long, she is immediately on the job. Undaunted and unafraid, Francine arrives at Mrs. Bissinger totally confidant the she will be able to capture the raccoon. That is, until it begins to scream her name, too. Suddenly, for the first time ever, Francine is afraid, so afraid she falls off the roof and lands in the hospital with several broken bones and a very broken spirit.
When Francine recovers, she quits her job as animal control officer and takes a job as a cashier at Clyde's Bait, Feed, Tackle, and Animal Necessities store. One day, two children, Frank and Stella, come in looking some sweets. Frank immediately recognizes Francine from a newspaper story about her and knows all about her exploits as an animal control officer and her fall from animal control grace and Mrs. Bissinger's roof. But why quit? Frank explains to her that the raccoon is a screamer, and suddenly Francine remembers her father talking about a screaming raccoon.
The raccoon had gotten the best of Francine, an otherwise outstanding animal control officer. Maybe, Frank suggests, she is still a great one. Could that be true, Francine thinks, could she possibly go back and get that screaming raccoon, despite everything that happened.
What do you think she will do?
Kate DiCamillo really knows how to write great transitional books for young readers, first with her Mercy Watson series, and now with Tales from Deckawoo Drive. What is especially nice for these young readers is that they will recognize some characters from the first series in this second one, providing connection and continuity, a great support for developing readers at this age.
And this sense of continuity carries over to the illustrations by Chris Van Dusem, who has done the same type of spot black and white gouache illustrations throughout this book, just as he has for the Mercy Watson and Leroy Ninker books.
Some of the vocabulary will be a little sophisticated for some readers, but will hopefully encourage them to look up words they don't know. And some kids might be reluctant to read a book with an adult main character, but I think Francine is a humorous enough character that they will overlook that (just look at the cover), particularly if they see her in comparison to the other adult in the story, Mrs. Bissinger.
Like Leroy Ninker, this is a fun story that has a nice quiet message about not giving up even if you don't succeed the first time around. And they may enjoy learning that Francine's last name, Poulet, means chicken in French (lots of potential classroom discussion about that, I think). I also liked seeing the encouragement that Francine receives from Frank. Sometimes kids just see things more clearly than adults - in this case, Frank reminds Francine to just be herself and be proud of it - and it works.
I'm curious to read the next installment of Tales from Deckawoo Drive, and I hope young readers like this one so much that they will be as well.
A useful Teacher's Guide is available to download HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Candlewick Press
The review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
Since nothing scars Francine, when she receives an hysterical call from Mrs. Bissinger that there was a most unusual raccoon living on her roof and tormenting her by screaming her name all night long, she is immediately on the job. Undaunted and unafraid, Francine arrives at Mrs. Bissinger totally confidant the she will be able to capture the raccoon. That is, until it begins to scream her name, too. Suddenly, for the first time ever, Francine is afraid, so afraid she falls off the roof and lands in the hospital with several broken bones and a very broken spirit.
When Francine recovers, she quits her job as animal control officer and takes a job as a cashier at Clyde's Bait, Feed, Tackle, and Animal Necessities store. One day, two children, Frank and Stella, come in looking some sweets. Frank immediately recognizes Francine from a newspaper story about her and knows all about her exploits as an animal control officer and her fall from animal control grace and Mrs. Bissinger's roof. But why quit? Frank explains to her that the raccoon is a screamer, and suddenly Francine remembers her father talking about a screaming raccoon.
The raccoon had gotten the best of Francine, an otherwise outstanding animal control officer. Maybe, Frank suggests, she is still a great one. Could that be true, Francine thinks, could she possibly go back and get that screaming raccoon, despite everything that happened.
What do you think she will do?
Kate DiCamillo really knows how to write great transitional books for young readers, first with her Mercy Watson series, and now with Tales from Deckawoo Drive. What is especially nice for these young readers is that they will recognize some characters from the first series in this second one, providing connection and continuity, a great support for developing readers at this age.
And this sense of continuity carries over to the illustrations by Chris Van Dusem, who has done the same type of spot black and white gouache illustrations throughout this book, just as he has for the Mercy Watson and Leroy Ninker books.
Some of the vocabulary will be a little sophisticated for some readers, but will hopefully encourage them to look up words they don't know. And some kids might be reluctant to read a book with an adult main character, but I think Francine is a humorous enough character that they will overlook that (just look at the cover), particularly if they see her in comparison to the other adult in the story, Mrs. Bissinger.
Like Leroy Ninker, this is a fun story that has a nice quiet message about not giving up even if you don't succeed the first time around. And they may enjoy learning that Francine's last name, Poulet, means chicken in French (lots of potential classroom discussion about that, I think). I also liked seeing the encouragement that Francine receives from Frank. Sometimes kids just see things more clearly than adults - in this case, Frank reminds Francine to just be herself and be proud of it - and it works.
I'm curious to read the next installment of Tales from Deckawoo Drive, and I hope young readers like this one so much that they will be as well.
A useful Teacher's Guide is available to download HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Candlewick Press
The review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
December 15, 2016
Francine Poulet is the premier Animal Control Officer in the land. She isn't afraid of anything. That is until she meets a raccoon who screams her name while charging her on a steep roof. The experience shakes Francine to the core and causes her to question her calling. But with the help of one little boy, she finds the courage to face her defeat and fear head on.
I know, I'm reading this one out of order, but that didn't affect the story much at all. Love the way Van Dusen's illustrations superbly complement DiCamillo's impeccable story writing. And even though this series is aimed at the lower grades, the author isn't afraid to expand their vocabulary with some nice big words. The story theme addresses an issue that many can relate to, how to respond to unanticipated defeat, but does so in a way that is humorous and probably not too close to home for anyone.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. One fall from a roof that results in some broken bones (but injuries aren't shown in illustrations).
I know, I'm reading this one out of order, but that didn't affect the story much at all. Love the way Van Dusen's illustrations superbly complement DiCamillo's impeccable story writing. And even though this series is aimed at the lower grades, the author isn't afraid to expand their vocabulary with some nice big words. The story theme addresses an issue that many can relate to, how to respond to unanticipated defeat, but does so in a way that is humorous and probably not too close to home for anyone.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. One fall from a roof that results in some broken bones (but injuries aren't shown in illustrations).
December 3, 2016
I got a kick out of this book and loved the illustrations. I tried the first in the Deckawoo series --Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, but didn't like it enough to continue beyond a dozen pages, which is rare for me. In any case, now that I get the idea of the humor and style of the series, I might try it again. Someday. But right now, because Francine is the only book I've put in my early chapter book category and I enjoyed it, I'm giving it 5 stars!
March 2, 2017
This book is definitely not up to the caliber of some of DiCamillo's other books (like Because of Winn-Dixie or Tale of Despereaux). It was slightly interesting and a bit amusing but I found it overall very mediocre. The story line was not super strong and the characters were alright. However, it does have an overall theme of perseverance which was good.
May 13, 2017
I bought this book because my 6 year old daughter and I have loved reading the Mercy Watson book series together. This book however was not up to par with those books. It barley kept my daughters attention, it had some very hard words for young kids and it had a ghost that was smoking not really something I want my 6 year old to see/read about in a children's book.
June 24, 2017
DiCamillo is hit & miss w/ me. This one I like a lot, because the philosophic bits are explored concisely, lightly, and within context of fun story.
I wouldn't mind knowing the characters better, but I don't think I will bother to go back and read the Mercy Watson books (I think I did read one, once, and iirc I wasn't impressed).
I wouldn't mind knowing the characters better, but I don't think I will bother to go back and read the Mercy Watson books (I think I did read one, once, and iirc I wasn't impressed).
May 6, 2016
DiCamillo is brilliant!
March 19, 2017
It was good, but much longer than the few Mercy Watson books we have read and perhaps more suitable for a little older. P enjoyed it though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews