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Keep Ms. Sugarman in the Fourth Grade
No teacher has ever appreciated Jackie's excessive enthusiasm, until Ms. Sugarman. When Ms. Sugarman leaves the fourth grade to become principal, Jackie is devastated. "The honest and caring relationship between [Jackie] and Ms. Sugarman is one that every student and teacher might envy. Solid characterizations, with good insight into the difference an understanding teacher can make." —SLJ. "A funny, heartwarming story with a very real little girl at it heart. Any student who has ever idolized a wonderful teacher will sympathize with Jackie." —ALA Booklist 1995 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Honor Award (AR)
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Levy
196 books66 followersElizabeth Levy has been writing and publishing books for over thirty years and sometimes now she meets kids whose parents read her books when they were children! She has written over 80 books, a number that continues to surprise her, as it surprises her how long she's been at it.
Over the years they've printed lots of her books - over five million of them.
She loves to try writing different types of books - everything from funny mysteries to novels about kids who get in trouble to history.
One of the most pleasant surprises about writing is that she's been invited to travel all over the country and even the world speaking to children, teachers, and librarians. She's made some wonderful friendships and gotten lots of ideas for her books. One of the most special treats is that kids have drawn wonderful pictures of one of her favorite characters, Fletcher.
She grew up in Buffalo, New York, then went to Brown University, where she majored in history. When she graduated, she came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. She has lived in New York ever since, and she loves it. She knows all the best places for salami, she has run four marathons, and she has completed many 5-borough bike tours, so she thinks she really knows this place well.
At certain times of the year, she can be found out at Shea Stadium watching her team, the New York Mets. She has always loved baseball.
Mostly she enjoys hanging out with her friends. They spend lots of time going to movies or plays, playing sports, having meals together.
When she's alone and not writing, she is usually reading. She reads mysteries a lot, always has, which is probably why many of her books are mysteries.
Over the years they've printed lots of her books - over five million of them.
She loves to try writing different types of books - everything from funny mysteries to novels about kids who get in trouble to history.
One of the most pleasant surprises about writing is that she's been invited to travel all over the country and even the world speaking to children, teachers, and librarians. She's made some wonderful friendships and gotten lots of ideas for her books. One of the most special treats is that kids have drawn wonderful pictures of one of her favorite characters, Fletcher.
She grew up in Buffalo, New York, then went to Brown University, where she majored in history. When she graduated, she came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. She has lived in New York ever since, and she loves it. She knows all the best places for salami, she has run four marathons, and she has completed many 5-borough bike tours, so she thinks she really knows this place well.
At certain times of the year, she can be found out at Shea Stadium watching her team, the New York Mets. She has always loved baseball.
Mostly she enjoys hanging out with her friends. They spend lots of time going to movies or plays, playing sports, having meals together.
When she's alone and not writing, she is usually reading. She reads mysteries a lot, always has, which is probably why many of her books are mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2008
The dad was a total jerk - and so were some of her fellow classmates - See how much impact one teacher has
October 28, 2012
Elizabeth Levy writes some of the finest high interest/low level children's fiction.
July 13, 2023
I love that this is a refreshing change from "kid and teacher hate each other" trope. Jackie quickly falls in love with Ms. Sugarman, who teaches more free thinking than the rote memorisation or drills that everyone loathes in school (except folks who love memorising tables, I guess).
I don't love that Jackie as drawn on the cover looks more like a teenager than a fourth-grader. Like, rough measurement, she's barely taller than Ms. Sugarman, which seems weird, but if so, why does she let Seth bother her?* Maybe she's tall for her age? (I suppose that might be why her dad wants to play her in basketball...)
*Granted, I'm short and always have been, but I also don't remember any of my classmates being taller than the teacher until at least sixth. Also, I was pretty thick in school, and if any bullies were after me, I had literally no idea.
The book does feel strangely fixated on "sheep and goats" without explaining which is better, until the end when Jackie pulls out her own meaning. That strikes me as strange that her dad would say such a thing at the start of the book... but then, no one ever said he was a genius or anything, haha.
On the whole, cute story with a nice moral about acceptance, and possibly about loving someone TOO much that it interferes with your relationship with them. Recommended for young readers having teacher problems (which is most of them, probably!).
I don't love that Jackie as drawn on the cover looks more like a teenager than a fourth-grader. Like, rough measurement, she's barely taller than Ms. Sugarman, which seems weird, but if so, why does she let Seth bother her?* Maybe she's tall for her age? (I suppose that might be why her dad wants to play her in basketball...)
*Granted, I'm short and always have been, but I also don't remember any of my classmates being taller than the teacher until at least sixth. Also, I was pretty thick in school, and if any bullies were after me, I had literally no idea.
The book does feel strangely fixated on "sheep and goats" without explaining which is better, until the end when Jackie pulls out her own meaning. That strikes me as strange that her dad would say such a thing at the start of the book... but then, no one ever said he was a genius or anything, haha.
On the whole, cute story with a nice moral about acceptance, and possibly about loving someone TOO much that it interferes with your relationship with them. Recommended for young readers having teacher problems (which is most of them, probably!).
August 16, 2021
Fuck this book for real damn where the answer a son
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 24, 2013AR Quiz No. 7150 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews