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Clarice Bean
[Clarice Bean Spells Trouble] [By: Child, Lauren] [January, 2005]
There are so many things you can not explain. Like why isn't YOU spelled U? And why opening your mouth can get you into some very big trouble.Clarice Bean is in nonstop trouble these days- almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, and he is the naughtiest boy in school.Someone who is very good at getting out OUT of trouble is RUBY REDFORT, a girl detective on TV. Clarice would love to be famous on TV. She says, " am really daydreaming about how when we have our school play who spots children for being talents.You see, if I was a cild star, then I would not have to be in Mrs. Wilderton's stupid spelling bee. "I am not a good speller, and not a good speller can get you into all sorts of trouble...."
Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Lauren Child
452 books838 followersLauren Child MBE is an English author and illustrator. She was the UK Children's Laureate from 2017-19.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
August 22, 2009
Lauren Child is my favourite children's writer at the moment. The Clarice Bean series are for children aged nine, perhaps? So on the older end of the children she writes for.
I received this book as a gift twice! I think it was because of my affinity for grammar, spelling, etc. It enabled me to give one copy away to my cousin's daughter, and I think they are great children's gifts. (Even though I haven't asked my cousin's kid what she thought of it.)
There is wonderful whimsy with the language, Child's trademark, and great little scribbly drawings throughout. I think my favourite part of these stories is how unsentimental they are, and at the same time the author conveys clearly these lovely, cosy, modern individuals and families, and nothing is jarring or unfamiliar.
I received this book as a gift twice! I think it was because of my affinity for grammar, spelling, etc. It enabled me to give one copy away to my cousin's daughter, and I think they are great children's gifts. (Even though I haven't asked my cousin's kid what she thought of it.)
There is wonderful whimsy with the language, Child's trademark, and great little scribbly drawings throughout. I think my favourite part of these stories is how unsentimental they are, and at the same time the author conveys clearly these lovely, cosy, modern individuals and families, and nothing is jarring or unfamiliar.
July 31, 2014
The Clarice Bean trilogy by Lauren Child, published from 1999-2006. The series includes, in order, Utterly Me Clarice Bean, Clarice Bean Spells Trouble, and Clarice Bean Don’t Look Now. There are three more books related to the series, but they are picture books and I did not read them.
Best I can decipher, Child started her uber-English writing career with the invention of the Clarice Bean character, but a year later had caught the world’s attention with the first Charlie and Lola book. Now, all this was around 1999-2000 and the woman stays utterly busy, and has published twenty-three books since then, some of them picture books and some of them novels, has illustrated more than ten more (including editions of Pipi Longstocking and Anne of Green Gables), and produces the PBS cartoon about Charlie and Lola. She’s won an impressive amount of impressive awards for her writing and illustrating. Her art is wonderful and beautiful and exceptionordinary.
My daughter was born in 2004, and we quickly came across Charlie and Lola and became fans. Reading them out to her in my British imitation of Lola is a memory I will always cherish. “I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny.” So when Windsor got to the right age (reading chapter books, early elementary school) for Clarice Bean, we gave her the box set for Christmas. (Then she got to the age for Ruby Redfort right as that series really took off, and she happens to be reading through it right now.) I just now read through Clarice Bean by my own self, so I could give it a review.
Clarice Bean reminds me very, very much of a slightly older Junie B. Jones (her American counterpart?) and, going back, Ramona Quimby. It’s not just the characters that are all similar (precocious, not-well-put-together-but-incredibly-imaginative and lovable girl meets the hard knocks of normal, middle class childhood), but having the story told through the voice of the child, including not just the thoughts and perceptions, but the language as well. The books are short and sweet, which is about right for a young reader. Utterly Me gets you hooked on the character and her world, Spells Trouble makes you laugh right out loud, and Don’t Look Now gets much more introspective before it gives you a characteristic One-Scene-Denouement. (I made up that phrase, because I have never been able to find a word for the type of story ending where all the strings are tied in a very small space and one scene. It’s the type of ending I enjoy most, actually. Just one big ka-pow!, everyone accounted for.)
The plots are slightly different in each book. For Utterly Me, Clarice is avidly reading about her favorite character, the young detective Ruby Redfort, while trying to figure out her book report. But when the book report prize goes missing, Clarice must become a young detective herself. For Spells Trouble, Clarice tackles both the school play and the school spelling bee (and, as always, Ruby Redfort), all while balancing her siblings, her parents, her friends, and the colorful characters that make up her neighborhood and school. In Don’t Look Now, Clarice’s world gets a bit clouded by her own worries and some very disturbing circumstances (like the loss of a friend, a dysfunctional house, and insomnia). But between her own indomitable spirit and her loving family and friends, she may just be able to find her way out of the maze of growing up.
I like Clarice Bean and I would recommend it for elementary-age kids, both girls and boys. Just like Junie B. and Ramona, Child has given Clarice enough masculinity to appeal to both genders. Her concerns and struggles will ring very familiar to most young readers (like class bullies, fear of parental divorce, obsession with a fictional character, etc.), but her voice keeps right on the fine line between too serious and too darn funny. Basically-universal morals included, like “Don’t lose sleep over worry” and “There is life after a friend moves away.” Windsor also likes these books, enough to have read them twice and to choose them for her Barnes & Nobel Reading Club summer reading spree.
So recommends all round. In fact, just check out Lauren Child if you like good literature and/or good illustrations and have a child or an interest in child culture. I also strongly recommend the Charlie and Lola series from PBS. (Note, many of the Charlie and Lola books are based on the TV show’s script, not written by Child.)
I will be reviewing the first four books (all that exist) of the Ruby Redfort series in the next several months, once Windsor coughs them up.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG.
Best I can decipher, Child started her uber-English writing career with the invention of the Clarice Bean character, but a year later had caught the world’s attention with the first Charlie and Lola book. Now, all this was around 1999-2000 and the woman stays utterly busy, and has published twenty-three books since then, some of them picture books and some of them novels, has illustrated more than ten more (including editions of Pipi Longstocking and Anne of Green Gables), and produces the PBS cartoon about Charlie and Lola. She’s won an impressive amount of impressive awards for her writing and illustrating. Her art is wonderful and beautiful and exceptionordinary.
My daughter was born in 2004, and we quickly came across Charlie and Lola and became fans. Reading them out to her in my British imitation of Lola is a memory I will always cherish. “I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny.” So when Windsor got to the right age (reading chapter books, early elementary school) for Clarice Bean, we gave her the box set for Christmas. (Then she got to the age for Ruby Redfort right as that series really took off, and she happens to be reading through it right now.) I just now read through Clarice Bean by my own self, so I could give it a review.
Clarice Bean reminds me very, very much of a slightly older Junie B. Jones (her American counterpart?) and, going back, Ramona Quimby. It’s not just the characters that are all similar (precocious, not-well-put-together-but-incredibly-imaginative and lovable girl meets the hard knocks of normal, middle class childhood), but having the story told through the voice of the child, including not just the thoughts and perceptions, but the language as well. The books are short and sweet, which is about right for a young reader. Utterly Me gets you hooked on the character and her world, Spells Trouble makes you laugh right out loud, and Don’t Look Now gets much more introspective before it gives you a characteristic One-Scene-Denouement. (I made up that phrase, because I have never been able to find a word for the type of story ending where all the strings are tied in a very small space and one scene. It’s the type of ending I enjoy most, actually. Just one big ka-pow!, everyone accounted for.)
The plots are slightly different in each book. For Utterly Me, Clarice is avidly reading about her favorite character, the young detective Ruby Redfort, while trying to figure out her book report. But when the book report prize goes missing, Clarice must become a young detective herself. For Spells Trouble, Clarice tackles both the school play and the school spelling bee (and, as always, Ruby Redfort), all while balancing her siblings, her parents, her friends, and the colorful characters that make up her neighborhood and school. In Don’t Look Now, Clarice’s world gets a bit clouded by her own worries and some very disturbing circumstances (like the loss of a friend, a dysfunctional house, and insomnia). But between her own indomitable spirit and her loving family and friends, she may just be able to find her way out of the maze of growing up.
I like Clarice Bean and I would recommend it for elementary-age kids, both girls and boys. Just like Junie B. and Ramona, Child has given Clarice enough masculinity to appeal to both genders. Her concerns and struggles will ring very familiar to most young readers (like class bullies, fear of parental divorce, obsession with a fictional character, etc.), but her voice keeps right on the fine line between too serious and too darn funny. Basically-universal morals included, like “Don’t lose sleep over worry” and “There is life after a friend moves away.” Windsor also likes these books, enough to have read them twice and to choose them for her Barnes & Nobel Reading Club summer reading spree.
So recommends all round. In fact, just check out Lauren Child if you like good literature and/or good illustrations and have a child or an interest in child culture. I also strongly recommend the Charlie and Lola series from PBS. (Note, many of the Charlie and Lola books are based on the TV show’s script, not written by Child.)
I will be reviewing the first four books (all that exist) of the Ruby Redfort series in the next several months, once Windsor coughs them up.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG.
March 11, 2022
Cute book
March 12, 2021
This book was full of comedy bits and emotional bits. Clarice Bean thinks utterly too much, and I get where she is coming from most of the time.
Lauren Child is my absolute favourite author and this book is just an example of her amazing quality book-skills. I literally couldn't put it down.
I absolutely recommend this book and I just know when you start reading it, you will not put it down until the very end.
Lauren Child is my absolute favourite author and this book is just an example of her amazing quality book-skills. I literally couldn't put it down.
I absolutely recommend this book and I just know when you start reading it, you will not put it down until the very end.
June 10, 2016
My daughter & I enjoyed this book a lot :) Funny!
September 21, 2020
This was an enjoyable, fun read which would be good to use in KS2 as a class book as I feel it caters for a range of abilities and is engaging. The chapters are a great length to read aloud. It touches on how we can have both strengths and weaknesses in an area, but this doesn't mean we are rubbish at something, and that with practice anyone can improve. Clarice is an excellent writer with a great imagination, but she isn't so strong when it comes to spelling, so she sets her mind to learning words from the dictionary and her teacher comments on her brilliant vocabulary and compliments her storytelling. I think this is a great message for children in primary school and the book would encourage them to persevere rather than to give up. It also includes role models, in Clarice's case a TV character, and how they influence her to be a better person and to understand how she feels and the impact our actions can have on others. This could link to PSHE discussions on friendship and telling the truth. Another main character, Karl, has a complicated family set up as his Dad left when he was young and he doesn't have any contact with him. He often finds himself in trouble at school, but is excellent at dog training, showing everyone has talents. Personally, I think this storyline seemed to get lost towards the end as we never found out what really happened between Karl and his Dad after Clarice and Karl stopped talking before they made up at the end. However, Clarice does get herself into trouble to help Karl, which could lead to interesting discussions with a class about whether it is ever right to lie. There were little illustrations to make the text eye catching and variations in font which worked well and it would be good if a visualiser could be used to share these with the class. I thought this was a quirky, memorable book which could be enjoyed by a wide audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2020
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble is a little funny. And it is silly too. And I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really like it. And it's sort of a fun story. And I actually really had a lot of fun reading the book with my Mama.
What is funny in it? Well, there are some funny stuff like they also say -- they say that -- well, they say some funny words. I can't remember any right now, but they are silly words.
I liked that Clarice got to be the person that she wanted to. But the other thing that I'm happy about is that she got her notebook back. I always thought she would.
Both kids and grown-ups would like this book because grown-ups and little kids like silly stuff, and it has silly stuff in it. For example, my dad does like silly stuff, and my mom sometimes likes silly stuff. And Grummy sometimes likes silly stuff.
You shouldn't say it was you that did something like had a secret notebook that had stuff you don't like in it and then climb up the roof of your school because then you'll lose it and then your teacher will find out and you'll get kicked out of school. That's the lesson from the book.
Bye! I love you!
What is funny in it? Well, there are some funny stuff like they also say -- they say that -- well, they say some funny words. I can't remember any right now, but they are silly words.
I liked that Clarice got to be the person that she wanted to. But the other thing that I'm happy about is that she got her notebook back. I always thought she would.
Both kids and grown-ups would like this book because grown-ups and little kids like silly stuff, and it has silly stuff in it. For example, my dad does like silly stuff, and my mom sometimes likes silly stuff. And Grummy sometimes likes silly stuff.
You shouldn't say it was you that did something like had a secret notebook that had stuff you don't like in it and then climb up the roof of your school because then you'll lose it and then your teacher will find out and you'll get kicked out of school. That's the lesson from the book.
Bye! I love you!
May 13, 2020
I am rearranging books from one room to another, primarily my children's books. I came across three or four books that I hadn't read, this being one of them. The things I've recently been reading have been SOOOOO depressing for these times, and I felt that perhaps reading these books would be an antidote for isolation, social media, newscasts, press conferences, speculation on the future--you know, the REAL WORLD. Clarice is a character; I'd probably read more books featuring her but this is the only one I had on the shelf. It took me a bit to get into it, but since I'm a grandmother and not a tween, I always relax my expectations when reading a book like this. In the end, I did enjoy it. I liked and disliked the adults in the book too, just as I'm sure the reader was meant to do. (I had a flashback to my sixth grade teacher and how much I hated her and how I got into such trouble that year.) Alas, after finishing this, I went back to one of my sad grown-up books. I'll have to grab another one off the children's shelf to counterbalance it. I remain a fan of Lauren Child. Still wish I had a clippy purse. (Inside joke.)
August 24, 2017
This book is just too fun to see, Clarice keeps doing silly things that you will never guess, an example is when exam time she tell other not to breathe that how we spree silly about her and she say many silly and stupid things I think this book is the most funny one I have ever see. So this times is the second times for me to read the book and this example is one of the funniest, that just I think
January 15, 2020
Fun book and creative. Looking forward to see what my third graders will think about it.
March 29, 2021
Lauren Child NEVER misses
February 3, 2023
It was ok, but spent far too much time talking about a different series of books, which i haven't read and don't have any interest in.
November 26, 2023
Moje detstvo <3 až som zabudla odkiaľ pochádza 70% mojej osobnosti.
September 20, 2024
que gracinha, achei a clarice uma querida. a escrita da lauren child é tão gostosinha e que divertido ler algo da criadora de charlie e lola, o meu desenho favorito da infância <3
January 11, 2019
A more engrossing story than Utterly me
February 17, 2011
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble ~ By: Lauren Child
Katrina Haley
9th Period Reading
You’d be surprised at how much not being able to spell the word rhinoceros can get you into trouble! Ten year old Clarice Bean sure knows though. Clarice Bean Spells Trouble is about a girl named Clarice Bean and her best friend Betty Moody who are huge “Ruby Redford” fans (Ruby Redford is a made up secret agent on T.V. and they are coming out with the Ruby Redford movie soon.) and are having an interesting time in school. For one, they are having a spelling bee at the end of the year and Clarice is studying like mad for it all year. Also, their teacher, Ms. Wilbertson is maybe the meanest teacher in the history of all teachers. And to make matters even worse, they are stuck with the biggest trouble maker in the grade; Karl Whinbury. Except Karl and Clarice are kind of friends. Every year, their school puts on a play. This year the school play is going to be The Sound Of Music. Clarice is very excited because she wants to get the part of Liesl (one of the main Von Trap kids). It turns out that Grace Grapello (a mean know it all in Clarice’s class). Instead, she got the part of nun number four. Later on in the book, Grace breaks her ankle during rehearsal and Clarice gets to be Liesl. But, when Karl wrote “SCHOOL STINKS!” and “MS. WILBERTSON IS A RHINOCEROS” Clarice pretends that she did it because the principal said that if Karl steps out of line one more time, he will be expelled. Of course, Clarice has to give up the part of Liesl and miss the entire last week of school. But, she is happy, she gets to skip the spelling bee! Thats a good thing because Clarice is not the best speller. At the end of the book, Clarice’s mom has her run down to Eggplant (the organic cafe where her brother Kurt works in town) And...... Oh My Gosh! A scene from the Ruby Redford movie is being filmed there! Clarice gets to be in the movie and play a girl who just walks into the store to buy a popsicle but ends up helping Ruby by making the villain slip on her popsicle and save the day!
I really liked this book because it was very funny and well written. Also, I like the way Lauren Child writes the book in different fonts so that you can get a better message of what she is trying to tell you. I love that this book is funny too. It really made me laugh when I was reading it. I would rate this book four stars because it is a little too easy but really good. ★ ★ ★ ★
Katrina Haley
9th Period Reading
You’d be surprised at how much not being able to spell the word rhinoceros can get you into trouble! Ten year old Clarice Bean sure knows though. Clarice Bean Spells Trouble is about a girl named Clarice Bean and her best friend Betty Moody who are huge “Ruby Redford” fans (Ruby Redford is a made up secret agent on T.V. and they are coming out with the Ruby Redford movie soon.) and are having an interesting time in school. For one, they are having a spelling bee at the end of the year and Clarice is studying like mad for it all year. Also, their teacher, Ms. Wilbertson is maybe the meanest teacher in the history of all teachers. And to make matters even worse, they are stuck with the biggest trouble maker in the grade; Karl Whinbury. Except Karl and Clarice are kind of friends. Every year, their school puts on a play. This year the school play is going to be The Sound Of Music. Clarice is very excited because she wants to get the part of Liesl (one of the main Von Trap kids). It turns out that Grace Grapello (a mean know it all in Clarice’s class). Instead, she got the part of nun number four. Later on in the book, Grace breaks her ankle during rehearsal and Clarice gets to be Liesl. But, when Karl wrote “SCHOOL STINKS!” and “MS. WILBERTSON IS A RHINOCEROS” Clarice pretends that she did it because the principal said that if Karl steps out of line one more time, he will be expelled. Of course, Clarice has to give up the part of Liesl and miss the entire last week of school. But, she is happy, she gets to skip the spelling bee! Thats a good thing because Clarice is not the best speller. At the end of the book, Clarice’s mom has her run down to Eggplant (the organic cafe where her brother Kurt works in town) And...... Oh My Gosh! A scene from the Ruby Redford movie is being filmed there! Clarice gets to be in the movie and play a girl who just walks into the store to buy a popsicle but ends up helping Ruby by making the villain slip on her popsicle and save the day!
I really liked this book because it was very funny and well written. Also, I like the way Lauren Child writes the book in different fonts so that you can get a better message of what she is trying to tell you. I love that this book is funny too. It really made me laugh when I was reading it. I would rate this book four stars because it is a little too easy but really good. ★ ★ ★ ★
January 21, 2016
I read the book called 1CSpells Trouble 1D by Laura Child. This is a fiction story and the genre is comedy/mystery. I read this book because I used to watch Claire Bean as a child in a cartoon and I loved it so I choose that it would be a good experience if I also read the book.
Clarice Bean goes to primary and she hates spelling, but loves a detective. Lately she has been naughty, almost as naughty as the naughtiest boy in school called Ruby Redfort. Her teacher choose to make a spelling bee for the school and they have to attend. Ruby got out of it with his sneakiness so he could get into the school play. Clarice also wanted a part in the play but she had to get out of the spelling bee first 26
I can connect to Clarice, I used to sometimes want to get out of something so I could do something else that was interesting or more fun for me, so as you can imagine the characters sound quite real for me. I really liked the story but I also liked Clarice, she was relatable. I would give this book a 6 out of 10, it was funny and all but it wasn't what i was expecting. Would recommend this to 9-10 year olds.
Clarice Bean goes to primary and she hates spelling, but loves a detective. Lately she has been naughty, almost as naughty as the naughtiest boy in school called Ruby Redfort. Her teacher choose to make a spelling bee for the school and they have to attend. Ruby got out of it with his sneakiness so he could get into the school play. Clarice also wanted a part in the play but she had to get out of the spelling bee first 26
I can connect to Clarice, I used to sometimes want to get out of something so I could do something else that was interesting or more fun for me, so as you can imagine the characters sound quite real for me. I really liked the story but I also liked Clarice, she was relatable. I would give this book a 6 out of 10, it was funny and all but it wasn't what i was expecting. Would recommend this to 9-10 year olds.
November 18, 2013
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble / Lauren Child / 2005
Genre: fiction
Format: juvenile fiction
Plot Summary: Clarice Bean, aspiring actress and author, unsuccessfully tries to avoid getting into trouble as she attempts to help a friend in need by following the rules of the fictional, "exceptionordinarily" spy, Ruby Redfort.
Considerations: talk of divorce and family trouble
Review:
"The childish language and writing style will attract fans of Barbara Park's “Junie B. Jones” series (Random) and random sketches and font changes should help keep the interest of young readers."
School Library Journal, vol 51, issue 8, p86
Selection Source: School Library Journal
Recommended age: 8-10
Genre: fiction
Format: juvenile fiction
Plot Summary: Clarice Bean, aspiring actress and author, unsuccessfully tries to avoid getting into trouble as she attempts to help a friend in need by following the rules of the fictional, "exceptionordinarily" spy, Ruby Redfort.
Considerations: talk of divorce and family trouble
Review:
"The childish language and writing style will attract fans of Barbara Park's “Junie B. Jones” series (Random) and random sketches and font changes should help keep the interest of young readers."
School Library Journal, vol 51, issue 8, p86
Selection Source: School Library Journal
Recommended age: 8-10
July 15, 2011
I just saw this book in the book fair. While I was looking for a good book, I just saw this simple little book and first glance in the cover and prologue then I have a feeling that I will love it. Then while reading it, oh my! It's awesome! The characters are just doing their little ways with humorous stuffs, especially Clarice, who is very curious about words and spellings, and her friend, Betty Moody. "Don't look now" (haha!) And oh, before I forget, they are huge fans of Ruby Redford! (haha!) I just love it! So when I finished reading the book, I ended up reading it all over again. It's fun! ;)
July 18, 2018
The best fucking books ever. How could I forget these??? How was Clarice Bean not on my Children's Literature syllabus. The fact this book does have a man booker prize astonishes me to end. From child's highly stylized language and ingenious use of footnotes, this book undoubtedly belongs in the Western Literary Canon and its exclusion speaks to the unthinking minds of dead, white men who make up its body literature currently. This is an absolute necessity to read if you are ever to be taken seriously as a literary scholar. A canonical legend from Lauren Child for sure. This book has touched me genuinely in ways that Kafka never could. Thank you, Queen Clarice.
February 18, 2021
This book was a really good book. It was very well explained and wasn’t very hard to understand at all.
I started reading the Clarice Bean books early 2020. I had got Utterly Me for Christmas 2017 and had just dumped it on my bookshelf. During homeschool, my mum picked a book for me to read and I had to read that one. I was captured and enchanted by the way the author draws and lures you into each chapter.
Overall, I really like this book and really recommend it to other readers who want an easy book to read (I think the reading age is 9-11 years but I am not sure).
I started reading the Clarice Bean books early 2020. I had got Utterly Me for Christmas 2017 and had just dumped it on my bookshelf. During homeschool, my mum picked a book for me to read and I had to read that one. I was captured and enchanted by the way the author draws and lures you into each chapter.
Overall, I really like this book and really recommend it to other readers who want an easy book to read (I think the reading age is 9-11 years but I am not sure).
September 18, 2018
Really not that great. Not that funny or interesting or educational. The story has threads that aren't resolved. The characters aren't particularly likeable. There may be a lesson in there but it went over my kids' heads. It has a lot of length, but not a lot of depth. I expect more for my daughter's first batch of chapter books.
February 5, 2009
Really Good!!!
February 7, 2013
I suggest this book for young adults
August 13, 2021
Read aloud with girls age 12 and 10.....they say three stars. For me it would be two.
July 20, 2022
I love “little libraries” because it gives me a chance to borrow books I wouldn’t otherwise (e.g. books for young kids). This one intrigued me because I, like Clarice Bean, enjoy questioning the spellings of words in the English language.
“I stare at this [rhinoceros] poster every night and it occurs to me now what a strange word the word rhinoceros is and how odd it is that it has an H in it when you wouldn’t expect it to. You can’t hear it in the word or anything.” - p.19
“Clarice Bean Spells Trouble” amused me because it seems like the author has a lot of experience communicating with kids. While reading, I felt like I was listening to a child tell me their story. But of course, the author writes with an adult’s skill of leaving clues and making connections that tie the whole story together. This book made me laugh out loud and also tear up - for me, that’s a good indicator of a book worth reading.
I also appreciate that the author, Lauren Child, sprinkled her own illustrations throughout the book and used different fonts for emphasis. (Since I found enjoyment in those visual aspects, I hope young kids enjoy them too!)
Here are some other quotes that made me smile:
“My mom is always telling me I must think before I open my mouth and then perhaps life would be a lot easier.
She is probably right. But try telling my brain that; it doesn’t think as fast as me.” - p.5
“Anyway, I have been wondering, who is the person who gets to decide what is important? Because I wish it was me.” -p.14
“And it’s not my fault if I don’t know how many K’s there are in anxious — anxious is a very anxious-making word.” -p.82
“I stare at this [rhinoceros] poster every night and it occurs to me now what a strange word the word rhinoceros is and how odd it is that it has an H in it when you wouldn’t expect it to. You can’t hear it in the word or anything.” - p.19
“Clarice Bean Spells Trouble” amused me because it seems like the author has a lot of experience communicating with kids. While reading, I felt like I was listening to a child tell me their story. But of course, the author writes with an adult’s skill of leaving clues and making connections that tie the whole story together. This book made me laugh out loud and also tear up - for me, that’s a good indicator of a book worth reading.
I also appreciate that the author, Lauren Child, sprinkled her own illustrations throughout the book and used different fonts for emphasis. (Since I found enjoyment in those visual aspects, I hope young kids enjoy them too!)
Here are some other quotes that made me smile:
“My mom is always telling me I must think before I open my mouth and then perhaps life would be a lot easier.
She is probably right. But try telling my brain that; it doesn’t think as fast as me.” - p.5
“Anyway, I have been wondering, who is the person who gets to decide what is important? Because I wish it was me.” -p.14
“And it’s not my fault if I don’t know how many K’s there are in anxious — anxious is a very anxious-making word.” -p.82
December 1, 2020
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble - Lauren Child
The sheer amount of joy that re-reading this book has bought me is out of this world! It is as entertaining and funny now at age 26 as it was at age 10.
Everything about Clarice Bean is great. She is cheeky, the way she talks is quirky and hilarious, she doesn’t sweat the small stuff and she has a dry, and almost lame sense of humour.
The book itself is so fun to read not only for the writing but the brief changes in font for certain characters helps you really imagine how they are speaking and the totally random illustrations throughout add to the experience.
Clarice’s struggles in this book include: her mind remembering trivial (or not so trivial) information instead of spelling for the upcoming spelling bee, her teacher, her ‘earwig’ little brother, her rogue friend Karl, the school play and her Ruby Redford hair slide that has not arrived in the post yet.
From the moment I picked up the book I had this incredibly nostalgic feeling. Lauren Child is a pure genius and I utterly adore Clarice Bean and her quirky ways.
This book has aged incredibly well with our ever changing society and is still something that kids today will appreciate. If you have children- read this with them so you can enjoy it too 😂.
Without doubt, 16 years on from when I first read it- this is still a 5/5 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The sheer amount of joy that re-reading this book has bought me is out of this world! It is as entertaining and funny now at age 26 as it was at age 10.
Everything about Clarice Bean is great. She is cheeky, the way she talks is quirky and hilarious, she doesn’t sweat the small stuff and she has a dry, and almost lame sense of humour.
The book itself is so fun to read not only for the writing but the brief changes in font for certain characters helps you really imagine how they are speaking and the totally random illustrations throughout add to the experience.
Clarice’s struggles in this book include: her mind remembering trivial (or not so trivial) information instead of spelling for the upcoming spelling bee, her teacher, her ‘earwig’ little brother, her rogue friend Karl, the school play and her Ruby Redford hair slide that has not arrived in the post yet.
From the moment I picked up the book I had this incredibly nostalgic feeling. Lauren Child is a pure genius and I utterly adore Clarice Bean and her quirky ways.
This book has aged incredibly well with our ever changing society and is still something that kids today will appreciate. If you have children- read this with them so you can enjoy it too 😂.
Without doubt, 16 years on from when I first read it- this is still a 5/5 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 4, 2018
Clarice bean is a girl who loves a detective,named Ruby Redfort,who has a friend who is the naughtiest boy in school,who has to go to a stupid spelling bee and who is trying to get a main part in the school play.Clarice Bean can't spell rhinoceros because she has a picture of it in her room and looks at it all the time and has memorized it.When she finds out she is doing the sound of music at her school she wants the main part of Liesl Von Trapp but gets the part of Nun four. Clarice Bean gets moved form being nun four and gets moved to being nun seven because she said her teacher had a big derriere which is the french name for bottom she said it was true too.Clarice Bean's friend Karl Wrenbury got mad because he did not like school and he said that he isn't her friend anymore.Karl did something bad and his teacher got mad and she asked everyone who did it but she was looking straight at Karl and Clarice noticed.she said"i did it"and her teacher looked at her and was surprised but now him Clarice and Karl are friends again.
June 29, 2017
Este libro está escrito en primera persona desde la perspectiva de una pre-adolescente de nombre Ana Tarambana. Por lo anterior, al leerlo puedes escuchar la voz de la narradora platicando su vida. Lo malo es que lleva una secuencia igual que las charlas de una niña, es decir, no hay secuencia.
Ana comienza a platicar un suceso pero se desvía fácilmente dando detalles que a ella le parecen relevantes aunque se desvíe del punto.
Ana debe enfrentar los problemas típicos de una jovencita, más su peor enemigo es "el que inventó la ortografía." Sus aliados son Alba y Lara Guevara. La primera es su mejor amiga mientras que la segunda es una intrépida heroina de una serie de televisión.
¿Cómo enfrentará Ana el inminente concurso colmena de ortografía? Descúbrelo en un breve y gracioso libro de Lauren Child.
Ana comienza a platicar un suceso pero se desvía fácilmente dando detalles que a ella le parecen relevantes aunque se desvíe del punto.
Ana debe enfrentar los problemas típicos de una jovencita, más su peor enemigo es "el que inventó la ortografía." Sus aliados son Alba y Lara Guevara. La primera es su mejor amiga mientras que la segunda es una intrépida heroina de una serie de televisión.
¿Cómo enfrentará Ana el inminente concurso colmena de ortografía? Descúbrelo en un breve y gracioso libro de Lauren Child.
October 28, 2023
Initially I did not think I would enjoy this book. My 9 year old daughter was given this book to read by her school and I thought I'd give it a read too.
I did not think the main character was believable as a primary age girl and the incorrect spellings and incomplete lines annoyed me.
As I progressed through the book I did actually find it had a rather good story. I really enjoyed the fact that Clarice was friends with the class 'naughty' kid and saw the good in him, that he had other issues and didn't know how to deal with them. Their relationship was really well portrayed.
I also really liked that there were pages of 'I' words etc from Clarice's reading of the dictionary. I spoke about these with my daughter and she loved these too.
My daughter loved the ending too - sadly she finished it first and then swapped it at school so I didn't get to read the last 30 pages!
I did not think the main character was believable as a primary age girl and the incorrect spellings and incomplete lines annoyed me.
As I progressed through the book I did actually find it had a rather good story. I really enjoyed the fact that Clarice was friends with the class 'naughty' kid and saw the good in him, that he had other issues and didn't know how to deal with them. Their relationship was really well portrayed.
I also really liked that there were pages of 'I' words etc from Clarice's reading of the dictionary. I spoke about these with my daughter and she loved these too.
My daughter loved the ending too - sadly she finished it first and then swapped it at school so I didn't get to read the last 30 pages!
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