Absolutely Alfie and the First Week Friends

by Sally Warner, Shearry Malone (Illustrator)

Overview

Alfie Jakes is starting second grade in the follow-up to Alfie Jakes and the Furry, Purry Secret, perfect for fans of the Judy Moody books! 


Alfie Jakes's summer was better than she expected. Even though her best friend Lulu was away on vacation, she found a new friend in her next door neighbor, Hanni. Hanni even let her take home a kitten! Now that second grade is about to start and Lulu is back in town, Alfie is worried. All she wants is for her trio to be first week friends, but what if Lulu and Hanni don't get along? Her secret first week, second grade wish is for them to become friends. What if Alfie's wish comes true—but with a twist she didn't see coming??

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101999912
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/29/2017
Series:	Absolutely Alfie , #2
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	253,765
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sally Warner (sallywarnerbooks.com) has published more than twenty novels for young readers, including the Emma and EllRay Jakes series. She lives in Altadena, California with her husband and their dachshund Jimmy Shivers.


Shearry Malone (shearrymaloneillustration.com) was born and raised in the eclectic college town of Athens, GA. Shearry has a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and illustrates in a fun, simplistic and quirky style. Shearry now resides in Nashville, TN.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Absolutely Alfie books:

"A sunny narrative reminiscent of the Junie B. Jones books but more sophisticated...Authentic and appealing...." —Booklist on Absolutely Alfie & the Furry, Purry Secret


Praise for the EllRay Jakes Series by Sally Warner
"A lively series . . . clever plotting . . . ingenious narration." —Publishers Weekly

"Ideal for reluctant readers." —Booklist

"Warner is a dead-on observer of playground politics, and has a great ear for dialogue."—School Library Journal

"Young readers can identify with EllRay, who is neither a bad seed nor a goody-two-shoes; he and his sense of humor are just right." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

08/01/2017
Gr 2–5—Another charming installment starring Alfie Jakes, a seven-year-old girl worried about beginning second grade. Anxious about having a new "boy" teacher, and tasked with bringing together her two best friends, she has a lot on her plate. Lulu and Hanni, polar opposites with strong personalities, do not seem to gel as friends, although Alfie works hard to help the girls come together. When a group project is assigned, all goes awry and Alfie ends up on the outs. Warner crafts her characters with authenticity and purpose. The interactions between seven-year-old Alfie and her brother EllRay (who has his own series by the same author) are positive and reassuring. Her teacher, Mr. Havens, helps Alfie problem-solve and plan. His humble demeanor and appropriate dialogue is accessible and explained in context without being condescending. VERDICT The young African American protagonist, her diverse group of classmates, the realistic dialogue, and the simple black-and-white illustrations make this a strong purchase for any collection serving chapter book readers.—Meghan Busby, York City School District, PA

School Library Journal