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The Kids of the Polk Street School #4
December Secrets
Emily is stuck with crybaby Jill Simon as her "secret Pal" to be kind to for the whole month of December.
80 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1982
13 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Reilly Giff
204 books466 followersPatricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 16, 2015
I don't like language in this book and how the students treat each other. Currently one of my second graders is reading this book and I think the language and message behind the book is too much for her.
January 26, 2018
This was a purchase among other Goodwill randoms. I enjoyed that the children had realistic personalities—they were mean to each other, and took time to learn how to act kindly and understand one another. The language was not quite natural but I think it’s because it was written by an adult in the voice of a child. I thought it was (unintentionally?) hilarious at some points. Emily really focuses on the weight of another student and it reminds me a lot of my own students. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone except my sister maybe, who can laugh at it with me. I would like to hear from an actual child if this book resonates with her.
April 13, 2016
I didn't care for the main character at all.
December 23, 2019
What do I think of this book? Good question.
My guess is that Emily is an exuberant child who throws herself headlong into everything without much forethought. She is not a model child. Here, Giff shares with us Emily's responses to everything around her -- events, people, comments ... I don't like the heavy emphasis on the 'fat' child. If this book were used in a classroom, it would make every heavy child uncomfortable and, I suspect, subject to mean-spirited jabs. By the end of the book, Emily's attitudes change a little. If an adult reads this with a child, this is an opportunity to discuss behaviors and Emily's total lack of empathy.
Good: the 'map' of the classroom
My guess is that Emily is an exuberant child who throws herself headlong into everything without much forethought. She is not a model child. Here, Giff shares with us Emily's responses to everything around her -- events, people, comments ... I don't like the heavy emphasis on the 'fat' child. If this book were used in a classroom, it would make every heavy child uncomfortable and, I suspect, subject to mean-spirited jabs. By the end of the book, Emily's attitudes change a little. If an adult reads this with a child, this is an opportunity to discuss behaviors and Emily's total lack of empathy.
Good: the 'map' of the classroom
December 25, 2014
We were to read this whole group at the school where I recently began teaching. The main character is very self centered and never clearly learns her lesson. I had multiple students breathe a sigh of relief when the book was over. I had them write a book review when we were done including whether they would recommend the book to others. Only one student would recommend it. It's a stinker of a book.
November 20, 2018
This book was good even though it was very very short. You should read it still just for a little story.
April 12, 2020
I didn't like this because it was not what I thought it would be. There was not enough story for me to enjoy it.
March 14, 2025
December Secrets
To kick off the month of December the students of Polk Elementary get to ride on a fire truck. Then after thinking of special things that happen in December, it’s announced that they all get to pick secret Santa’s. First she picks Richard Best (Beast). But it turns out another boy (Matthew) has picked him because he’s *his* best friend.
Then she thinks maybe I’ll pick Dawn, but Dawn does an unflattering drawing of her and nags her about why she didn’t let her skip when they were lining up to get on the fire truck.
So she decides to pick a nice boy named Wayne (who likes fish) but he’s already been chosen to. The teacher suggests Dawn and Jill. Emily thinks of the picture and says no Dawn is out, and Jill is a cry baby so no. Matthew has also been picked. She wants to pick herself but the teacher says no. So, since Jill is the only one left, she picks Jill.
Richard says he picked Matthew and he’s going to give him after shave (to cover up his wet the bed smell). Then Emily gets an idea of what to give Jill first. Emily gets Jill two pictures (one of a baby with smile underneath, the other of some vegetables showing how she should eat healthily)
Matt thinks the cologne stinks. After Jill and Noah tell the story of Hannaka, Jill notices the pictures, crumples them up, and throws them in the trash. The teacher teaches them all how to make boxes decorated with gold and silver macaroni (which sounds fun). Emily gets put out of music class when she and Dawn are trying to out sing each other and she finds a note that says good friends let each other skip. So she gets up and throws it in the trash in the middle of class.
While telling Miss Rooney she thinks Dawn is her secret person (and that she doesn’t wanna be), Matthew comes in and leaves a box of Richard’s favorite candy (as a substitute for eating all but one of the other box he left). The class discusses the meaning of Christmas, and Miss Rooney says they’re getting a Christmas tree.
Emily gets a gift (a blanket for Uni) her rubber unicorn and thinks it’s from Dawn. She slips Jill another crap gift (a green pencil with an eraser. She thinks because it’s skinny Jill will get the hint). Miss Rooney sends Jill and Emily on a errand to request the tree and she starts to feel a little more friendly to Jill.
When she gets back Dawn notices the Christmas cookies, Emily gave her but she *pretends* she thinks its from a secret Santa (Emily thinks). Emily gets upset again because she thinks Dawn knows it’s her that gave her the cookies (how? Was she there when her mom baked them?). But then she gets a new red crayon and she thinks it’s from Dawn. So she offers her the old red crayon but Dawn dismisses the gesture.
The next day Jill’s mom brings potato lakes for Hannaka. Dawn and Jill make up. Emily finds out Dawn wasn’t her secret santa. It was Jill. Jill’s was Emily. Dawn invites Emily, Jill, Matthew, and Richard over her place. Then they all start to sing Jingle Bells.
My Thoughts:
What was good about this book was that it reminded me of elementary school in December with the fire truck visit, the secret Santa gifts, the decoration of the spray-painted macaroni boxes, and bringing the lankas and the Christmas song singing. All things I can easily see in my mind I might have done in the second grade at my elementary school.
However these characters. Emily is a little snob and spent half the book getting crap bs presents for “the fat girl”. I’m surprised she wasn’t the one giving Jill the candy bars because what else would she want she’s *fat* (rolling my eyes). Instead of *actually* getting to know what Jill was interested in. And I’m sorry *pink hair bows* cause she wore them all the time? Maybe Jill didn’t even *like* that style. Her mother might have made her wear her hair like that or was the one doing it. I use to wear that fat two braid with bows look when I was younger.
Richard was no better. At least Matthew got him something he knew he liked. And this is supposed to be his best friend. His gift is basically saying yeah dude you smell like piss. It’s like when your with someone and they offer you gum or a mint.
I didn’t like Dawn because she seems like a spoiled brat. She spend the whole book pouting because she didn’t get her way (to cut Emily in line). And Jill just cried too much over nothing. She was however, a better friend to Emily than she deserved so I will give her that. And she liked a PENCIL come on. It wasn’t a glitter pencil or a scented pencil. No it was a plain ol pencil (YEAH). I do remember this series and reading some of the books, but I wonder what I saw in it as a kid.
Rating: 5 There was a semi good message at the end about getting to know people past their appearance and it did a good job of capturing the feeling of December.
To kick off the month of December the students of Polk Elementary get to ride on a fire truck. Then after thinking of special things that happen in December, it’s announced that they all get to pick secret Santa’s. First she picks Richard Best (Beast). But it turns out another boy (Matthew) has picked him because he’s *his* best friend.
Then she thinks maybe I’ll pick Dawn, but Dawn does an unflattering drawing of her and nags her about why she didn’t let her skip when they were lining up to get on the fire truck.
So she decides to pick a nice boy named Wayne (who likes fish) but he’s already been chosen to. The teacher suggests Dawn and Jill. Emily thinks of the picture and says no Dawn is out, and Jill is a cry baby so no. Matthew has also been picked. She wants to pick herself but the teacher says no. So, since Jill is the only one left, she picks Jill.
Richard says he picked Matthew and he’s going to give him after shave (to cover up his wet the bed smell). Then Emily gets an idea of what to give Jill first. Emily gets Jill two pictures (one of a baby with smile underneath, the other of some vegetables showing how she should eat healthily)
Matt thinks the cologne stinks. After Jill and Noah tell the story of Hannaka, Jill notices the pictures, crumples them up, and throws them in the trash. The teacher teaches them all how to make boxes decorated with gold and silver macaroni (which sounds fun). Emily gets put out of music class when she and Dawn are trying to out sing each other and she finds a note that says good friends let each other skip. So she gets up and throws it in the trash in the middle of class.
While telling Miss Rooney she thinks Dawn is her secret person (and that she doesn’t wanna be), Matthew comes in and leaves a box of Richard’s favorite candy (as a substitute for eating all but one of the other box he left). The class discusses the meaning of Christmas, and Miss Rooney says they’re getting a Christmas tree.
Emily gets a gift (a blanket for Uni) her rubber unicorn and thinks it’s from Dawn. She slips Jill another crap gift (a green pencil with an eraser. She thinks because it’s skinny Jill will get the hint). Miss Rooney sends Jill and Emily on a errand to request the tree and she starts to feel a little more friendly to Jill.
When she gets back Dawn notices the Christmas cookies, Emily gave her but she *pretends* she thinks its from a secret Santa (Emily thinks). Emily gets upset again because she thinks Dawn knows it’s her that gave her the cookies (how? Was she there when her mom baked them?). But then she gets a new red crayon and she thinks it’s from Dawn. So she offers her the old red crayon but Dawn dismisses the gesture.
The next day Jill’s mom brings potato lakes for Hannaka. Dawn and Jill make up. Emily finds out Dawn wasn’t her secret santa. It was Jill. Jill’s was Emily. Dawn invites Emily, Jill, Matthew, and Richard over her place. Then they all start to sing Jingle Bells.
My Thoughts:
What was good about this book was that it reminded me of elementary school in December with the fire truck visit, the secret Santa gifts, the decoration of the spray-painted macaroni boxes, and bringing the lankas and the Christmas song singing. All things I can easily see in my mind I might have done in the second grade at my elementary school.
However these characters. Emily is a little snob and spent half the book getting crap bs presents for “the fat girl”. I’m surprised she wasn’t the one giving Jill the candy bars because what else would she want she’s *fat* (rolling my eyes). Instead of *actually* getting to know what Jill was interested in. And I’m sorry *pink hair bows* cause she wore them all the time? Maybe Jill didn’t even *like* that style. Her mother might have made her wear her hair like that or was the one doing it. I use to wear that fat two braid with bows look when I was younger.
Richard was no better. At least Matthew got him something he knew he liked. And this is supposed to be his best friend. His gift is basically saying yeah dude you smell like piss. It’s like when your with someone and they offer you gum or a mint.
I didn’t like Dawn because she seems like a spoiled brat. She spend the whole book pouting because she didn’t get her way (to cut Emily in line). And Jill just cried too much over nothing. She was however, a better friend to Emily than she deserved so I will give her that. And she liked a PENCIL come on. It wasn’t a glitter pencil or a scented pencil. No it was a plain ol pencil (YEAH). I do remember this series and reading some of the books, but I wonder what I saw in it as a kid.
Rating: 5 There was a semi good message at the end about getting to know people past their appearance and it did a good job of capturing the feeling of December.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
I first read this book in the late 90s, having bought the book at the airport right before my first plane ride (to Bohol!) This book is memorable to me, and while I lost the original and forgot about this for 20 years, I found a copy at a book warehouse and immediately recognized it.
Sadly, rereading this as an adult made me realize how harmful some parts are. Specifically, the main character Emily is highly focused on the weight of her classmate, Jill. The author describes Jill as fat (“big fat raincloud”, “snowball”, “fat pink pillow”). Emily even gifts Jill a picture of a fat baby and pictures of vegetables, hoping she’d get the hint and eat healthier. She gave Jill a pencil so Jill would think about being skinny. Wtf?
Emily also has a personal feud with classmate Dawn Bosco, who when I was a kid, thought was the worst. But now I’m actually on her side. Emily slights Dawn first, and is surprise-Pikachu-face.gif whenever Dawn retaliates. She gives Dawn 1 piece of wheel macaroni, and is shocked when Dawn gives her 1 piece of star macaroni. 😂
2 stars just because this was a childhood fave & for introducing me to Hannukah and latkes.
I would not recommend this to any child.
Sadly, rereading this as an adult made me realize how harmful some parts are. Specifically, the main character Emily is highly focused on the weight of her classmate, Jill. The author describes Jill as fat (“big fat raincloud”, “snowball”, “fat pink pillow”). Emily even gifts Jill a picture of a fat baby and pictures of vegetables, hoping she’d get the hint and eat healthier. She gave Jill a pencil so Jill would think about being skinny. Wtf?
Emily also has a personal feud with classmate Dawn Bosco, who when I was a kid, thought was the worst. But now I’m actually on her side. Emily slights Dawn first, and is surprise-Pikachu-face.gif whenever Dawn retaliates. She gives Dawn 1 piece of wheel macaroni, and is shocked when Dawn gives her 1 piece of star macaroni. 😂
2 stars just because this was a childhood fave & for introducing me to Hannukah and latkes.
I would not recommend this to any child.
January 29, 2017
This book is about a girl who had a couple of girls in her class that she didn't like at all. For their December projects they had to pick a person to do nice things for through the month and keep it a secret. The only person left was Jill, one of the girls she did not like. As the month goes on, Emily learns that these two girls are actually nice, and they become friends at the end of the book.
I thought the book told a good story that many students can relate to because of jealousy and people that they don't like. It has a good message.
I wouldn't use this book in my teaching because it is an older book and has things that aren't what needs to be said in a classroom. They talk about cigar boxes and repetitively call someone fat. It also had a little bit of religion in it. That's just not school appropriate in my opinion.
I thought the book told a good story that many students can relate to because of jealousy and people that they don't like. It has a good message.
I wouldn't use this book in my teaching because it is an older book and has things that aren't what needs to be said in a classroom. They talk about cigar boxes and repetitively call someone fat. It also had a little bit of religion in it. That's just not school appropriate in my opinion.
October 23, 2011
This is a nice story about friendship and being kind to one another, especially during the holiday season. It's a bit early to read this, but our oldest picked this book out to read as one of her independent reading books for her third grade homework and I read it after she did. It's a short tale and is perfect for this age group. We both enjoyed reading this book and we would be interested in reading more books in the Kids of the Polk Street School series.
November 28, 2021
Read this to the boys. You can tell this book is dated by terms and events.
Like others have said, the main character focuses a lot on another student’s weight. Every time she said it I’d add my own commentary so the kids could know that was unacceptable.
The book isn’t bad, and it isn’t great. It’s an easy read we got through in one evening, and it might make more sense if I’d read others from the series.
Like others have said, the main character focuses a lot on another student’s weight. Every time she said it I’d add my own commentary so the kids could know that was unacceptable.
The book isn’t bad, and it isn’t great. It’s an easy read we got through in one evening, and it might make more sense if I’d read others from the series.
March 24, 2017
its December Ms Rooney said. "But we'll do it in special way. Everyone will pick one person in the classroom . He will be your secret friend. And all through December you can do special things for the person" . But Emily stuck with crybaby her name is Jill but Emily wanted to make Jill happy..
It is very interesting story !!!!
It is very interesting story !!!!
December 9, 2015
My kids loved this book. I thought the main character was too mean, but really, I think she "voiced" through the character some of the ugliness many of us may feel at some time or another and it is almost embarrassing to see it brought out onto the page.
March 19, 2017
While I would have never chosen this book to read with my students, we had a lot of good discussions about how we don't call people fat, skinny is not a goal, and you should always be kind. I may trade this one for another book next year.
December 25, 2007
Two kids pick each other and see what happens.
October 11, 2014
It sounded like a good plot, but the meanness didn't improve by the end of the book. Reading was a little too simple too.
August 18, 2016
Wat een vervelend boek zeg. Niet alleen de leraren, maar ook zeker de kinderen.
March 30, 2019
Lotsa calling Jill fat.
December 15, 2017
Emily was kind of a butthole in this book, but she ended up eoing the right thing in the end. Maybe she and two of the other characters will ene up becoming friends. We'll just have to see. :)
November 29, 2018
Just terrible
December 26, 2018
Wonderful story about seeing others for who they truly are, and not just how they look.
January 18, 2019
It was a good book but I didn't like that one character kept calling the other character fat.
December 27, 2021
It was a good book just not appropriate for the age level it’s reaching or made for. It says words you wouldn’t want anyone to say like Fat which is used many times in the book.
January 29, 2025
2.5 stars -- This was almost more than I could take. Thank goodness for positive endings. The Christmas season finds the students of Ms. Rooney's room talking about various holidays in December (which was great) and selecting secret friends to do nice things for because it's Christmas (which was not so great). Emily Arrow wanted other classmates to be her secret friend, but those were already taken, so Ms. Rooney steers her to select Jill Simon. Jill Simon is a problem for Emily, though, because she cries a lot & she is fat. And so it begins. Until the very end of the story, Jill becomes the target of thoughts & mutters & 'helpful' gifts that will make her think that going on a diet is a good idea. I just found it annoying. Thank goodness for a positive ending.
December 23, 2025
I read this to my second grade class, I thought it would have a more prominent theme of kindness and friendship but it was subtle and seemed to go over their heads. Disappointed, I really thought it was going to be a better book for the holidays.
December 22, 2022
I did this as a quick read a loud. It was ok. It helped me high light some things we need to work on- like kindness.
November 27, 2023
This reminded me of school in the 90's. So nostalgic. ❤️
December 3, 2024
This book was a bit dated in its language (calling the girl a fat cry-baby) but had some good lessons to teach as well about not judging on appearance and learning to be a good friend.
September 21, 2025
4.5/5, good story, funny moments, great moral lesson
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews