EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays!

by Sally Warner, Brian Biggs (Illustrator)

The small kid with big problems returns in the seventh cook of this beloved series!
 
It’s almost Christmas and school is going great for EllRay. He’s “blending in” just the way he likes. So when his father tells him he should be proud to be part of the African-American “community,” EllRay isn’t so sure he wants to call attention to his differences. After all, he’s only one of two boys in his class with brown skin. And then, totally by accident, he insults the other boy—one of his best friends—and all at once EllRay’s back to being the center of attention. And not exactly for good reasons.
 
With Sally Warner’s trademark sense of humor and spot-on dialogue, EllRay confronts questions about race and how it impacts both himself and everyone around him.
 
“Kids of all stripes will identify with EllRay and his unwittingly hilarious antics.”—Booklist
 
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Scholastic Book Club selection
A Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 2012-13

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Holiday

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Sally Warner is a writer of fiction for children and young adults and of books on creativity. She made the Lily series and Emma series for children's books. Sally Warner was born in New York City and grew up in Connecticut and California, where her family moved when she was eight years old.

Reviews

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 3 out of 5]

EllRay is coming to terms with his place in the world as a person of color as he also navigates school stuff and family stuff. He has some good talks with his dad and his teacher along the way. IMHO, it's pitched appropriately for his age--3rd grade I think?--there's lots of other topics about his life in there, too--and could be a good entry point for any family wanting to enjoy a realistic story together about a family of color.

[Naisha Jhunjhunwala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about what Ellray went through... I recommend this to book to kids aged 8-12.

[Katherine Munoz]

Summary:
EllRay Jakes is in the third grade at Oak Glen Primary School. He and Kevin McKinley are the only brown kids in Mrs. Sanchez’s class. That’s only one of the reasons why they are friends. During this time, everyone is getting ready for Christmas. When the students in Mrs. Sanchez’s class are told to pick a partner to clean their classroom with, there a few misunderstandings. This leads to Kevin being accidentally embarrassed by EllRay in front of the class. To “get even”, Kevin wants EllRay to complete some challenges.After EllRay is chosen to be emcee at their Winter Wonderland holiday assembly, Kevin gives him his last dare. If he completes this dare, he will save his friendship with Kevin, but he will ruin the assembly and be in big trouble. Maybe this Christmas won’t be so merry this year.

Discussion Questions:
1. Was there ever a time you felt different than the people around you? Explain.
2. Draw a self-portrait and write words that describe you around it.
3. Have you ever been challenged or dared to do something you didn’t want to do?
4. What do you predict would happen if EllRay would’ve completed the dare?
5. Describe what your “not-so-perfect Christmas” would be like.

Citation:
Warner, S. (2014). EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays! New York, NY: The Penguin Group.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

EllRay finds himself as the Emcee for the Winter Wonderland assembly, and he has been challenged by Kevin to prove his friendship by doing three challenges of Kevin's choosing, one of which is to take place while EllRay is on stage that will ruin the assembly. Ms. Sanchez reveals some of her challenges during her childhood to EllRay, and his dad also shares a childhood story as well. EllRay is torn between keeping his friend, or showing some self-respect and making the right decision no matter the cost.