Christina Katerina and the Time She Quit the Family

Christina Katerina

by Patricia Lee Gauch, Elise Primavera (Illustrator)

"Irrepressible Christina Katerina returns, this time with a rebellion that a patient family allows her to pursue for a week--before luring her back with unusual tact that allows her to come with good grace . . . A picture book that will be enjoyed by young readers."--Kirkus Reviews. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 1987

About the author

Patricia Lee Gauch is an author who has written over 30 works of children's literature. In 1993, Gauch was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. She has been a resident of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg and Christina Katerina were separated at birth!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

At one point or another, as children, there was a time when we wanted to quit our family, or be able to do whatever we wanted. Christina Katerina, the main character in the story, is at this point with her family. After she gets wrongly blamed for something that her brother and his friends did, she decides to quit her family. The person she once called "Mom" is now "Mildred", and now she is no longer Christina, rather Agnes. Agnes has her own separate areas in the house, and she loves it. At first she enjoys no one telling her what to do, and the freedom she has. However, as time goes on she begins to feel lonely, and miss her family. This story is great for children in Kindergarten to about second or third grade. This is a good story for teachers to use in their classroom because it talks about some of the issues that kids often face. Teachers can use this story to start great discussions and projects about family.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved CK and the Box, but I had no idea there were more books about this strong-willed girl. I'm glad to learn about them, though, and will seek the others. This one, hm, not sure. I mean, there's letting a kid learn a lesson on her own, and there's being indulgent... not sure where this one falls. Will the girl remember this lesson when she's a teen, or will she rebel against curfew in order to take more consequential risks?

[Krystal F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina has had it with her family and makes a deal with her mom--she doesn't have to be part of the family. She can do what she wants with her own stuff and no one tells her what to do. Now she's got it all...or has she?

Category: Picture Book

[Clairissa D]

This text is about a little girl by the name of Christina who has hand enough of the rules and complaints her family members have given her. And she decides to quit her family. In her efforts to rebel she begins to call her mom "Mildred" and she proceeds to change her name to "Agnes". According to her ruling she has her own specific areas in the house, she is able to eat when she wants, and she doesn't have to follow anybodies rules but her own. This goes own for about a week and she realizes that she is lonely without her family and decides to reconsider.I would use this text to teach my students about character traits and sequencing.

[Kathryn Eder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very realistic story that's about a little girl that hates to be told what to do. So she wants to do whatever she wants and quits her family. What child wants to do what they are told? This is a great book for children to learn that quitting our families my not be such a great idea. Great and realistic story.

[Karol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christina Katerina learns that her carefree behavior isn't always appreciated by her family. With her family's support Christina's decision to be independent from her family shows her that she and they are exactly what she needs.

[Zoraida Rivera Morales]

Great book! What kid hasn't felt she doesn't like her family and it's realities? It explores this in a funny and interesting way from a kid's point of view.