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Dessert First (Dessert Schneider #1)
Dessert Schneider has her very own personal style. But sometimes walking to the beat of her own drum means walking right into a heap of mischief, especially when it comes to the legendary family recipe (and Dessert's all-time favorite treat), Grandma Reine's Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. As the oldest in a rambunctious, restaurant-owning family, with a four-year-old sister...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
May 19th 2009
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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I thought this was a great book for those precocious little girls who love to read about other precocious little girls! I didn't like it as much as Clementine, but I think those books are for a little older reader and thus can be fleshed out a tad more. I think that the target age group for this book will love it. My favorite character was Dessert's teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody! How lucky she is to have such a wonderful adult in her life. Kids will relate to Dessert wanting to eat dessert first as...more
Enjoyed reading this book, really cute. Great voice. Such a cute voice and personality- comes across within a moment of reading. Another series with the cute Dessert character is by Hallie Durand I’m already a huge fan because of her picture book Mitchell’s License which I read daily for a number of weeks to my son. So now, when there was a random librarian collaboration time, a colleague pointed out the book Dessert First to me and said, you’ll like this one, it is very cute. Reminds me of Grac...more
Dessert Schneider lives in New York, is in 3rd grade, and is the eldest child in a loud, active family that owns a fondue restaurant. Trouble starts when Dessert gobbles up a special treat and has to make it right with her family. This debut book reminded me a bit of Clementine, but Dessert isn't quite as charming as that 3rd grader. However, I liked this book for its slim, easy to follow plot, a character who is instantly relatable for just about any girl the same age, and the fantasy element f...more
This is a mixed review for me. Dessert is a sweet little girl, and all the food descriptions give this story a huge yum factor, but two things struck me as odd. A big part of the plot revolves around Dessert longing for Double-Decker Chocolate Bars which she repeatedly refers to as "Double-Ds". "It was only natural to want to sample the Double-Ds". Now, where I come from, Double-Ds is a term for something totally different, and I found myself giggling inappropriately every time Dessert said it....more
Dessert Schneider loves...what else, you guessed it! Dessert! This eight-year-old cannot resist the temptation of this sweet ending, especially when it is chocolate, like her grandmother's Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. When her mother bakes a batch, Dessert is strictly forbidden from tasting them. They are for a special occasion! That's right...you guessed it! She ate them all. Now, she is painfully (tummy trouble-ly) sorry. How can she possibly make it up to the family?
When her teacher, Mrs. Ho...more
When her teacher, Mrs. Ho...more
Dessert Schneider doesn't know what to think on the first day of third grade when her teacher introduces herself as Mrs. Howdy Doody and starts marching around in fluffy white slippers. But then Mrs. Howdy Doody tells the class that they should all find their own personal style and march to their very own drummers. And Dessert kind of likes that idea because it means she might have a chance to eat dessert first (before dinner) once in a while--if she marches just right.
Dessert comes from a famil...more
Dessert comes from a famil...more
It was a simple book about a girl entering third grade where she meets her eccentric teacher Mrs. Howdy Doody. Mrs. Howdy Doody teachers her students that they need to march to their own drum. She is heading a fund raiser to build a tree house at the school. Students are asked to give up something for two weeks and find people to sponsor them. Dessert's parents own a Fondue Restaurant and have enough children to keep them busy. Dessert decides they should eat dessert first because she is marchin...more
Jun 21, 2009
Ariel
added it
I loved the ending of this book, especially the last two sentences.
I wish Durand had opened the book with the French, food loving family theme. I felt like that really was the glue that held the book together, and it was really key to understanding the protagonist and plot. However, the reader had to discover that theme slowly over the course of the novel, making the book feel a little disjointed. Also, there are times where Dessert, the protagonist, is a real bully, and I sometimes found it ha...more
I wish Durand had opened the book with the French, food loving family theme. I felt like that really was the glue that held the book together, and it was really key to understanding the protagonist and plot. However, the reader had to discover that theme slowly over the course of the novel, making the book feel a little disjointed. Also, there are times where Dessert, the protagonist, is a real bully, and I sometimes found it ha...more
Dessert (not her birth name) Schneider is eight and loves dessert. She comes from a dessert type family. Her parents own and run the restaurant Fondue Paris. She has a younger sister and 2 younger brothers that the family calls 'the Beasties'. One of her problems is how to get the family to eat dessert before dinner, not after. Her teacher at school has given the students a goal to raise money for the school playground. The trouble is, each student has to give up something they love to earn mone...more
Third-grader Donahue Penelope Schneider’s nickname is “Dessert.” She loves dessert. She also loves her teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody, and her family: Daddy and Mummy, and three younger siblings, plus their devoted dog, Chunky. Dessert comes from a “food family.” Her parents run the Fondue Paris restaurant. Dessert has her own way of doing things, and, after several tries, she convinces her family to eat dessert first—before the entrée at dinner, instead of after.
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny....more
Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny....more
I think my reading of this book suffered because my expectations were higher for it. Knowing a top literary agent in children's literature wrote it, I thought I would like it more- it was okay, but I wanted to love it. I enjoyed all the food references/fondue restaurant info, but would an 8-year-old? Not sure. I didn't feel that many of the characters were as fleshed out or sympathetic as they could have been- especially Dessert's family- and I felt like the Amy D./villian part of the story was...more
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For the 2nd and 3rd grade gourmet! Delightful names fill this book about a restaurant owning family - (Where is that restaurant anyway? It's either that or go find a fondue pot and start melting cheese) Dessert's teacher Mrs. Howdy Doody suggests that the 3rd graders can each make a difference - Dessert's difference is that she wants dessert first.
Hmmmmmm. Fun, easy read, with illustrations perfectly placed to move the story forward.
Hmmmmmm. Fun, easy read, with illustrations perfectly placed to move the story forward.
It would be hard for me not to like a book with a title like Dessert First. The main character goes by the name Dessert and loves eating her dessert before the rest of her dinner. Dessert's sweet tooth gets her into big trouble with her parents, but she manages to make things right. I thought that Dessert was a great character. I think that kids who like the Clementine series would also love this book.
This is a cute little book about a girl whose one-of-a-kind teacher encourages the students to "march to their own drummer." Desserts way of doing this is to convince her family to eat dessert before they eat their dinner. However, dessert begins to become a problem for Dessert as she struggles with self-control and has to redeem herself with her parents.
This beginning chapter books is darling. Dessert is an 8-yr-old girl who loves sweets. Her parents own a Fondue restaurant with an Eiffel Tower shaped fondue fountain. Yeah! Life is a little wild with three younger siblings and a superbly goofy teacher named Mrs. Howdy Doody. The school is saving up for a tree house and there are some double decker chocolate bars involved. I am copying down that recipe, that's for sure.
Dessert wants to have dessert BEFORE dinner. She finally gets her way and then she gets greedy and has to suffer the consequences, which are...
Cute book...good for reluctant reader; a bit odd. I mean, really, who can eat that many sweets? DESSERT can, that's who! Large font, simple language, quick read.
Cute book...good for reluctant reader; a bit odd. I mean, really, who can eat that many sweets? DESSERT can, that's who! Large font, simple language, quick read.
Dessert Schneider marches to the beat of her own drummer, whether it's bribing her younger sister to clean her room or convincing her family that they should start serving dessert first. But when she spoils a special surprise, she'll have to figure out a way to make it up to her family.
Dessert's got an interesting family and a super third-grade teacher, although I wish we got more details about the background characters. Her nemesis, Amy D., is completely one-tone and the conflict would feel mor...more
Dessert's got an interesting family and a super third-grade teacher, although I wish we got more details about the background characters. Her nemesis, Amy D., is completely one-tone and the conflict would feel mor...more
I read this with my 5 year old sons. None of us enjoyed it that much, probably because we are not the book's target audience. The main character is very sweet but I think the story will only appeal to 6-7 year-old- girls who are equally sweet and very interested in food (especially dessert!)
A delicious little book about a girl called Dessert who loves dessert more than just about anything. Even her family loves it so much that they eat it first. Your mouth will water and you will want to make cakes and candy when you are finished with this one.
A fun quick read. Dessert has everything a young girl needs: a dog, an enemy, a great teacher, a bit of an attitude, and parents who love her but are sometimes exasperated by her. She also has a major sweet tooth, which sometimes gets her into trouble.
Good lessons from a third grader that sometimes we do the things we know we shouldn't and then have to find the best way we can to say we are sorry!
Cute story, would like to try this as a read aloud in my classroom.
Cute story, would like to try this as a read aloud in my classroom.
Cute story about a girl who loves dessert a little TOO much and through several misadventures, learns the benefits of moderation. Daniel and I both read this one and agreed that it was ok, but not really that great.
As my 10 year old said: "It looked interesting, but it wasn't."
Finishing this would've been like eating one of my mom's "it's healthy so eat it" sort of meals--I'd have felt virtuous, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it.
Finishing this would've been like eating one of my mom's "it's healthy so eat it" sort of meals--I'd have felt virtuous, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it.
We enjoyed this story. Mrs. Howdy Doody is the teacher we wish we all had. Lots of us can relate to the "calling" from a best-loved dessert that is off limits. Dessert is a character who kids will relate to. They'll understand her predicaments, laugh with her, and cheer her own when she has to fix the problems she created. I love the author's creativity in using different size fonts to help convey Dessert's thoughts and dialogue.
To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.
To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.
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Clever, funny, and a new character in the Judy Moody, Junie B. Jones vein. Dessert's family owns a French fondue restaurant, both her parents are great cooks, and Dessert (her nickname) is having trouble with life right now. Great for booktalking.
This is a good read aloud book for my 2nd grader who has been reluctant to read chapter books on her own. The story is cute and it is a good lesson in consequences, forgiveness, and honesty.
Dessert is a definitely a relation to Junie B. Jones, Clementine and Ramona. That being said, I think she lacks a little of the charm that those girls have.
good for 3rd grade
good for 3rd grade
this book was perfect to read to my 7-year-old daughter. very funny and entertaining and great main character, plus an endearing supporting cast.
Dessert Schneider is a girl in 4th grade facing off against her nemesis, Amy D., aka, the leaf stuffer. She has to deal with her web of lies when she just can't resist eating dessert before dinner and Grandma Reine's Double Decker Bars. her parents restaurant, Fondue Flight, could help her redeem herself, especially the head chef Dom. When she gives up dessert for two weeks for a fundraiser, she finds a clever way to save her dessert until the end of the fundraiser, it's all about saving up, the...more
Can't wait for the author to reveal the recipe for the Double Decker Brownies!!
Fun short novel for grades 2-5.
Fun short novel for grades 2-5.
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