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A is for Amber #5
Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown
Second grade is almost as wonderful as Amber expected, but there's one the rules. Most of them are easy for Amber, but she just can't manage to keep her desk clean. Even when Ms. Light tells them about Deskarina, the fairy who gives treats to kids with neat desks (a cousin of Dentalina, the tooth fairy), Amber has trouble. But seeing other kids get treats while her desk is skipped over gets Frustrating&150just enough for her to take some action. Following closely on the events in Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown, kids and teachers will applaud this hilarious take on a universal September classroom issue.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2004
7 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Paula Danziger
116 books349 followersPaula Danziger was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 18, 2016
This easy reader is the last in the A is for Amber Brown series, which ended in 2004, following author Paula Danziger's death. I couldn't get enough of Paula Danziger when I was in middle school, and this story, about second-grader Amber's troubles with a messy desk, reminded me of the reasons I love her writing.
Amber Brown loves second grade. She loves her teacher, Ms. Light, who creates special days like pocket day, and she can live with the classroom rules, which involve being respectful, being on time, and doing one's own work. But when Ms. Light introduces a new rule - that each desk in the class should be kept clean - Amber starts to find second grade much more difficult. Ms. Light promises that students with clean desks will be visited by Deskarina, the desk fairy (who is a cousin to Dentina, the tooth fairy), and receive a Clean Desk Award. Amber wants an award so badly, especially when others in her cluster of desks start to receive them. Still, it's hard for her to avoid distractions and actually do the work of cleaning out her messy desk. Finally, though, after practicing on her bedroom at home, Amber learns what she has to do to acheive a clean enough desk to attract Deskarina's attention.
What impresses me about well-written readers like this one is the way that authors like Danziger incorporate all the artistry of creative writing into even the simplest stories. Right on the very first page, Danziger writes:
When I get to school, Ms. Light beams at me.
How fitting that a teacher named for light should beam! And how wonderful that such a vibrant and lively teacher should have such an illuminated name.
Danziger also makes great observations about the behavior of young children when they're in a group. I chuckled in recognition when Ms. Light mentioned the tooth fairy's cousin, only to have every student in the class want to tell about his or her own cousins. That phenomenon happens again and again at story time, and during library class visits, and was perfectly captured in this story.
I also appreciated that the story empowered Amber to solve her own problem of cleaning her desk. No one does it for her, or even forces her to do it. Rather, Amber learns, through her desire to receive a reward, to put in the effort required to attain it. She doesn't completely alter her personality, or even overcome her messiness, as evidenced by her cluttered bulletin board on the last page, but she makes the effort to clean up when it matters, and reaps the subsequent rewards.
And of course, last but not least, Danziger infuses this book with her trademark humor. There were quite a few funny moments, but though it's disgusting this was one of my favorites:
My dad is a dentist," Fredrich says, taking his finger out of his nose. "It is good to touch other people's teeth." I hope that Fredrich's father is not a nose-picker like his son. A nose-picking dentist...yuck.
Second grade humor at its finest!
This book introduces wonderful vocabulary and figurative language, and the story is easy for kids in school to relate to. The parents and other adults reading with the new reader will also be entertained by Amber's observations of the world around her, and will root for her to get that desk award. Amber Brown had fallen off my radar somewhat in the last few years, but I can tell I'll be recommending this series to new readers this school year!
Amber Brown loves second grade. She loves her teacher, Ms. Light, who creates special days like pocket day, and she can live with the classroom rules, which involve being respectful, being on time, and doing one's own work. But when Ms. Light introduces a new rule - that each desk in the class should be kept clean - Amber starts to find second grade much more difficult. Ms. Light promises that students with clean desks will be visited by Deskarina, the desk fairy (who is a cousin to Dentina, the tooth fairy), and receive a Clean Desk Award. Amber wants an award so badly, especially when others in her cluster of desks start to receive them. Still, it's hard for her to avoid distractions and actually do the work of cleaning out her messy desk. Finally, though, after practicing on her bedroom at home, Amber learns what she has to do to acheive a clean enough desk to attract Deskarina's attention.
What impresses me about well-written readers like this one is the way that authors like Danziger incorporate all the artistry of creative writing into even the simplest stories. Right on the very first page, Danziger writes:
When I get to school, Ms. Light beams at me.
How fitting that a teacher named for light should beam! And how wonderful that such a vibrant and lively teacher should have such an illuminated name.
Danziger also makes great observations about the behavior of young children when they're in a group. I chuckled in recognition when Ms. Light mentioned the tooth fairy's cousin, only to have every student in the class want to tell about his or her own cousins. That phenomenon happens again and again at story time, and during library class visits, and was perfectly captured in this story.
I also appreciated that the story empowered Amber to solve her own problem of cleaning her desk. No one does it for her, or even forces her to do it. Rather, Amber learns, through her desire to receive a reward, to put in the effort required to attain it. She doesn't completely alter her personality, or even overcome her messiness, as evidenced by her cluttered bulletin board on the last page, but she makes the effort to clean up when it matters, and reaps the subsequent rewards.
And of course, last but not least, Danziger infuses this book with her trademark humor. There were quite a few funny moments, but though it's disgusting this was one of my favorites:
My dad is a dentist," Fredrich says, taking his finger out of his nose. "It is good to touch other people's teeth." I hope that Fredrich's father is not a nose-picker like his son. A nose-picking dentist...yuck.
Second grade humor at its finest!
This book introduces wonderful vocabulary and figurative language, and the story is easy for kids in school to relate to. The parents and other adults reading with the new reader will also be entertained by Amber's observations of the world around her, and will root for her to get that desk award. Amber Brown had fallen off my radar somewhat in the last few years, but I can tell I'll be recommending this series to new readers this school year!
June 20, 2011
I'm giving this book 4 stars because it made me laugh. Did you know that there's a desk fairy named Deskarina and the tooth fairy's name is Dentalina? Haha.
I also like that Amber Brown discovered a way to do something she thought she couldn't do and turned a bad habit into a good habit.
It's a cute, imaginative book, and Haven liked it enough to read it twice. That's saying something.
I also like that Amber Brown discovered a way to do something she thought she couldn't do and turned a bad habit into a good habit.
It's a cute, imaginative book, and Haven liked it enough to read it twice. That's saying something.
June 18, 2021
I think this book was a great story. I enjoyed hearing all of Amber's thoughts and feelings as we went along the book. The book began on a very positive note as Amber was having a great day and feeling cheerful about everything. Seeing Amber succeed at different things was great, but then getting to see her face a problem that was not as easy for her to solve made the story even better when she finally accomplished it. I also enjoyed the part where the teacher came up with the idea of "Deskarina" to motivate students to keep their desks clean.
As a teacher, I think this is a great book that I would use for my students. It is a light and happy book, that also faces some roadblocks along the way. This can teach students to keep their desks clean, but going even deeper, it can teach them that facing problems and doing things that are not always the most fun can end up being beneficial and achievable. As a teacher, I would probably read this book, and then implement the "Deskarina" trick into my own classroom.
As a teacher, I think this is a great book that I would use for my students. It is a light and happy book, that also faces some roadblocks along the way. This can teach students to keep their desks clean, but going even deeper, it can teach them that facing problems and doing things that are not always the most fun can end up being beneficial and achievable. As a teacher, I would probably read this book, and then implement the "Deskarina" trick into my own classroom.
Read
June 18, 2021Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown is a fun book about student Amber Brown's interesting perspective on second grade. This book puts a fun and entertaining view on real life situations in second grade. This book gives the reader insight on what goes through a child's mind, or if a child is reading it, they can relate to some of the things Amber Brown says. It is a great book for children who do not want to follow rules or do not want to clean! This book can be used in the classroom when talking about classroom rules. The teacher can explain to students that they get rewarded when they follow the rules, even if they do not want to follow the rules. This book repeats words and restates what a word o phrase means. It would be a great book for children to be exposed to words and terms multiple times.
July 13, 2024
As a reader, this book was fun! At first, I thought the book would be about something else. It started off a bit sad with Amber Brown mentioning how her parents yell at each other a lot, but it turned into a fun, cute story. I did not think at any point that this book would be about Deskarina, the desk fairy, and Amber Brown having a difficult time keeping her desk clean. I would have definitely enjoyed this book as a child. It would have motivated me to keep my desk clean.
As a future teacher, I would use this book in various ways. The first way I would use it, would be to introduce the class rules on the first day of school or to introduce a new rule. The second way I would use it would be to encourage my students to keep their desks and the classroom clean. I would also have Deskarina "visit" our classroom.
As a future teacher, I would use this book in various ways. The first way I would use it, would be to introduce the class rules on the first day of school or to introduce a new rule. The second way I would use it would be to encourage my students to keep their desks and the classroom clean. I would also have Deskarina "visit" our classroom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
I think this book was great! I really liked how it showed all the reasons that Amber loved second grade so much. I also liked how the first part of the book included the fact that Ambers parents have been fighting some. I think that this shows a struggle that some kids might be going through but it shows that they can still have a great day in second grade. I love when kids books are able to tackle tough topics.
If I were to use this book in my classroom, I think it would definitely be if my students were having a rough time keeping their desks or work areas clean. I would introduce the book and read it and then let the students do an activity where they can draw what they think the desk fairy looks like, and write a sentence or two about what they think the desk fairy does.
If I were to use this book in my classroom, I think it would definitely be if my students were having a rough time keeping their desks or work areas clean. I would introduce the book and read it and then let the students do an activity where they can draw what they think the desk fairy looks like, and write a sentence or two about what they think the desk fairy does.
September 9, 2020
I was gifted this book when I was going into 2nd grade by my teacher. It has always been one of my favorites. Amber Brown is a second grade who likes to win at anything she can. She usually does win but when the desk fairy, Deskarina, is coming to school she has a problem. She is not a girl who keeps her desk clean. She really struggles and is upset and gets determined to clean her desk when she starts seeing all her other friends are getting ribbons and candy from the desk fairy. In the end it all works out, but it teaches kids they need to work hard to get something they want. Amber Brown really wanted a ribbon and candy and she had to keep working hard to keep her desk clean multiple times. The reason I liked this book so much is because my teacher did this. She picked one person a week who had a clean desk and they received a ribbon and candy just like the story. I think kids will enjoy the story and want to keep their desk clean to see if the desk fairy will come to their school. The book has great pictures which really show Amber Browns emotions throughout the story. It is a very detailed book in not only the text but all the pictures.
August 5, 2024
In this book, we follow Amber Brown through her day as a second grader. Amber explains all of the rules she must follow. All of the rules are a breeze for Amber except for one. She must keep her desk clean. Amber tries as hard as she can and finally keeps her desk tidy. This book was a charming read.
November 25, 2020
Cute book about Amber Brown and being in second grade. My second grader really liked it. It was age appropriate and she could read it all herself.
January 28, 2023
I liked how Amber went from messy to clean and earned a ribbon. I liked how she decided to like Deskarina.
February 9, 2023
A cute story that's a good read along book for preschool on up
February 1, 2024
So cute and sweet!
January 11, 2017
Amber has a messy desk and a desk fairy comes to the class. I don't think the fairy is real.
January 21, 2010
This is a fun and imaginative tale about a little girl's experiences in second grade. All is great until the desk fairy comes to visit. Amber is a creative and cooperative student, but she finds it difficult to keep her desk clean and neat. This is a story of her attempts to change that and it's a fun story for children in first and second grades. Our girls really liked it.
December 14, 2010
Mommy says: The A is for Amber books are really for beginning readers who want a taste of the chapter book life. Cana has already devoured all the Amber Brown chapter books, but I picked up this and others in the series just to round out our entire Amber Brown reading experience. She probably read this in 3 minutes.
July 8, 2012
Amber heads to second grade and has a lot of worries about who her teacher is going to be, and what it's going to be like.
I enjoyed visiting Amber's classroom, and I enjoyed learning a bit about the name "Amber." Overall it's a good book, and an enjoyable series. One I would recommend.
I enjoyed visiting Amber's classroom, and I enjoyed learning a bit about the name "Amber." Overall it's a good book, and an enjoyable series. One I would recommend.
July 15, 2008
cute book!
October 15, 2010
Was a cute read. A desk fairey is a cute idea
April 30, 2013
This book is a good way for students to read about following rules and how if you do you can reap the benifits. This is obviously a book for second graders.
December 30, 2014
Amber Brown loves second grade but doesn't love keeping a clean desk.
July 1, 2016
Deskarina
I do not like it when Hannah Burton tries to trip Amber Brown.
I like it when Amber Brown gets her reward.
I do not like it when Hannah Burton tries to trip Amber Brown.
I like it when Amber Brown gets her reward.
February 4, 2017
A second grade book of class rules. Good read.
June 25, 2012
Cute book
February 10, 2014
Loved this book! This character was too funny for words.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews