Clementine, Friend of the Week

Clementine #4

by Sara Pennypacker, Marla Frazee (Illustrator)

This delightful  New York  Times bestselling chapter book series, from the award-winning author of  Pax , is a modern classic that has been keeping readers engaged and laughing as they follow the hijinks of Clementine, a clever and quirky third grader who’s the most spectacular friend around. Perfect for fans of Amelia Bedelia and Ivy + Bean!

Clementine has been picked for Friend of the Week, which means she gets to be line leader, collect the milk money, and feed the fish. Even better, she'll get a Friend of the Week booklet, in which all the other third-grade kids will write why they like her.

Clementine's best friend Margaret has all sorts of crazy ideas for how Clementine can prove to the class she is a good friend. Clementine has to get a great booklet, so she does everything Margaret says she should do. But what begins as one of the best weeks ever starts turning into the worst, and being a good friend might turn out harder than Clementine thinks.

READ MORE!
Clementine 
The Talented Clementine
Clementine’s Letter
Clementine and the Family Meeting
Clementine and the Spring Trip
Completely Clementine
 

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Humor, Friendship

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Some of my favorite readalouds, especially after trudging through a half dozen of those goddam Rainbow Fairy books.

[Teodora M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me feel like a kid again!!

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Love. Clementine.

The End.

Okay, here's a little more: Clementine is chosen as her classroom's Friend of the Week, which means her classmates are going to think of things that make her a good friend, and write those things down in a booklet they'll give to her on Friday. Exciting! Now Clementine just has to figure out how to impress everyone in her class so they give her glowing "reviews". (Minor Spoiler: The "free tattoos, courtesy of a box of markers and her artistic talents" plan does not work out so well.)

Add one best friend who's mad at her, and one beloved kitten who goes missing, and you can see why Clementine is a little stressed out. Thank goodness she has such a terrific family to help her through times like these (and I do love that family).

Bonus: We get to see Clementine use her "the best names are found in the bathroom" method of naming pets again in this book, which made me very happy. Kittens Mascara and Moisturizer got nothin' on the name she comes up with for a friend's gecko. :)

This fourth Clementine book is just as good as the first three, and I just love-love-love this kid.

And I want Sara Pennypacker to let me be Clementine's librarian. Just sayin'.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Clementine story contains a mystery. What happened to Moisturizer? Will Clementine ever get to see her kitten again? How will they distribute the 300 posters to help find Moisturizer? On top of that, Clementine is the 3rd grade Friend of the Week. Will her booklet be even better than the one Margaret's mother has been keeping with all her trophies and ribbons? Read the book and find out!

[Phillip Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I've been putting off an "it was amazing" rating since I've started reading this series. Upon finishing this 4th entry, I can't help myself; I must sing praise for these books. The author has really captured something special in Clementine and company. Their story is magical and I'm charmed chapter after chapter. If you haven't read any Clementines, you need to start.

My hope is that the author and illustrator will take their time if and when they pen more of these. I've been apprehensive each time I've started a new Clementine since the first because I've been worried they'd fizzle out. That hasn't been the case. These books have consistently warmed my heart and kept me chuckling. For that, I've upgraded my rating. :)

I've used these books in a 4th grade classroom (they're 4th grade+ reading levels) and the students have enjoyed them. Partly because I laugh so much reading them, but also because they're silly and fun and light. Students who've borrowed them from my mini classroom library have brought the open book to me, pointing at an illustration, giggling. It's a good feeling finding a book students connect with and want to share.

[Carrie Rolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clementine and Mitchell are the best. This is the great thing about Mitchell. Whenever I ask him to do something, he says, "Sure!" even if it's something he could get in trouble for. If I ever want a boyfriend -- which I will not -- he will say "Sure!" to anything I suggest.

[Samu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kissanpentu katoaa, mutta muuten tässä on todella monia hyvän mielen asioita ja niin ihania ystävyyshetkiä, että sydän itkee kultaa. Edelleenkin olen sitä mieltä, että Klementiina on mainioin lapsi ja kirjasankari ikinä.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my Children's Literature class -- so adorable!
Fans of Ramona Quimby will be delighted with the tales of third grader Clementine and her adventures in Boston . In Friend of the Week, Clementine is chosen as her class’s Friend of the Week, an honor that includes being line leader and having a book of compliments written by her classmates. In order to ensure the best book, Clementine decides to win her classmates hearts with gifts and flattery. But when tragedy strikes and her beloved kitten Moisturizer goes missing, Clementine learns what true friendship is and repays her classmates' kindness in her own unique and artistic way. Charming pictures by Marla Franzee accompany the witty dialogue of this great story. For children 7-10 years old.

[Cristi-Lael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadn't planned on finishing this tonight, but we couldn't stop reading until we learned what happened to Moisturizer! I love that Pennypacker put that in this book. It could be very helpful for kids who have lost a pet. Clementine's feelings were very real as she looked for her beloved cat. And there's a love of good tips on being a true friend, which I thought was awesome.

[Katie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have honestly fallen in love with a fictional, crazy eight year old girl. There are worse things.

So far this one's my favorite (Yes, I will most likely, probably, read the rest of the Clementine books. Even though I'm seventeen. Hush.)

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clementine is friend of the week in class. She loses her cat Moisturizer. She thinks Margret is breaking up their friendship but she is trying to help find her cat. She found her cat in Boston and gets her friend of the week book signed.

[Presleyannelegreen123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book is a fantastic novel for kids and groun-ups espesaily

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am crazy about Clementine. What fun books.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful addition to the Clementine series featuring an interesting variation on "Student of the Week."

[Shayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Question: how can I marry Clementine's dad?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite of the series so far. I love how gently Clementine’s parents dealt with her really big feelings. And I like how it described how sad she felt. And I loved how her family, classmates, and even Margaret rallied together to help Clementine. The ending was really satisfying and sweet. The kids (9 and 7) are loving this series on audio.

[Steph Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little read, read to my students and finished it on my own before finishing it with them. Loved the friendship and cat saving storyline.

[Treasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clementine is thrilled that she has been chosen as the "Friend of the Week" in her class. This means that she gets to do things like be line-leader and collect the milk money. It also means that her classmates will create a book all about what they like about her. Clementine is determined that her book will be filled with notes about how amazing she is, and she has a plan to make her classmates love her. When her kitten, Moisturizer, goes missing, though, she forgets all about this plan and can only think about finding Moisturizer. Thanks to her classmates and one special friend in particular, her kitten is found, and Clementine learns an important lesson about friendship.

Clementine cracks me up. There were many times when this book made me laughed out loud. And I really liked the basic lesson of the book - I liked how Clementine got to see how much happiness she brings to people just by being herself. But for some reason, as a whole, I just didn't like this book as much as the other Clementine books I've read. It had wonderful moments, and Clementine was just as hilarious and unpredictable as ever. I think perhaps there was too much going on in the story: Friend of the Week, problems with Clementine's friendship with Margaret, the missing kitten... I think maybe if the story had focused more on one or two of those things rather than bringing in all three major plot points, I might have liked it more. I know all three worked together to make the whole story, but it still felt like a little too much - the same conclusion could have come about without the kitten being lost, for example.

Nevertheless, this is still a great addition to the Clementine series.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another Clementine story. In this book, Clementine has been chose to be the friend of the week and will get a book Friday filled with all the good things her classmates have to say about her. She is very excited and tells her mom and dad and her friend Margaret. Of course, since Margaret has already been in the third grade and been friend of the week she’s not that excited. Then Margaret reads what her class wrote in her book. Clementine is worried about what her class will write. So Margaret tells her some ideas. Later Margaret gets mad at Clementine and says they aren’t friends anymore. First Clementine is very complimentary. Everyone she sees gets a compliment so that they will have something nice to say about her. Then when she runs out of compliments she moves on to her next idea. TATTOOS. She gives all her class tattoos on the playground. OF course, she ends up in the principal’s office for this. The teacher reminds the class about the bike rally on Saturday. Clementine has another great idea to get more good things written in her book. She tells the whole class that she will bring decorations for their bikes too. Then, Clementine starts worrying about how to decorate her bike. She’s so excited about decorating her bike she loses Moisturizer.Clementine is so upset she misses school and the bike rally. Clementine knows all her friends will be mad and she doesn’t even want to know what the book will say. In the end, Margaret had helped all the class put “Lost” poster signs on their bikes and helped find Moisturizer. Margaret and Clementine were still best friends and Clementine’s class wrote a lot of nice things about her!

[Megan Moriarty]

"Clementine, Friend of the Week" is about a third grade girl, named Clementine, who is going to be friend of the week. Her best friend Margaret got friend of the week when she was in third grade. When Margaret sees Clementine handling her friend of the week booklet, she gets so mad at Clementine and they never want to speak to each other again, even though Clementine never opened the book. She just wanted to take the tape off of it that Margaret's brother had stuck on it. One day, Clementine finds that her cat is missing. Margaret hands out the "Missing Cat" flyers to children at the bike rally and has them stick the flyers to their bikes. In the end, Margaret and Clementine forgive each other, the missing cat is found, and Clementine gets a wonderful friend of the week booklet. This book would appeal mostly to third or fourth grade girls. They would enjoy it because most of them could probably relate to having a best friend and suddenly being so mad at that person that they never want to be friends with them again.

Pennypacker, S., & Frazee, M. (2010). Clementine, Friend of the Week. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books.

[Shayla.boyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clementine’s name was drawn for Friend of the Week during class at school. She is very excited about this and is determined for her book to be filled with good compliments from her friends. So, she begins to compliment them and give them presents, hoping this will make them all feel that she is a really nice friend. However, when promising to help all her classmates decorate their bikes for the bike rally, Clementine is unable to follow through because of her lost kitten. Her outside world comes to a stand-still because she cannot find her beloved kitten. Clementine learns, however, that even though she was not able to do this one deed, she is still a good friend to her classmates and it is past memories that they had of Clementine that had an impact on their lives. To critique this book, it shows students how one aspect of life can put a block on things altogether. Her parents did not push her to try to fulfill her previous promise to her classmates, and instead fell to her every need in trying to find her kitten. Therefore, it shows how a child may be able to manipulate their parents.

[Courtney Umlauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an excellent series, featuring a main character with a truly unique voice and personality. I highly recommend it to all readers, but especially those needing books for advanced little ones. These are cleverly written but the content is still age appropriate for the very young

Clementine has been designated Friend of the Week in her class at school, which means for a whole week she gets to be the leader of several classroom activities and on Friday, all of her classmates will write nice things about her in her Friend of the Week booklet. Clementine sets out to be extra nice to her friends that week to be absolutely sure they all remember one nice thing about her for her booklet. But when her precious kitten, Moisturizer, goes missing, Clementine's plans for helping out her friends go awry. Her best friend, Margaret, comes to the rescue.

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[Elza Kinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clementine is excited to be chosen as Friend of the Week in her class and see what nice things her classmates will write about her at the end. But after seeing some of Margaret's Friend of the Week booklet, Clementine begins to worry that she hasn't done enough to bring home compliments that will make her parents proud.

Compared to the first Clementine book, I really liked this one. Harmless misadventures, friendship struggles, and sweet family moments are tangled together in a zippy and exciting adventure. Clementine's attempts to give meaningful gifts to her classmates provide a positive message about using your talents to make a difference, and I liked that her parents had more presence in Friend of the Week compared to the first volume.

Adorable illustrations, relatable childhood issues, solid family values, and Clementine's quirky perspective make this a fun and positive story for fans of Junie B. Jones or Ramona. I look forward to finding more of these adventures.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clementine is a character ... and I mean that in the funniest and best sense of the word. Book one Clementine will always be my most favorite (this is book four) but that doesn't mean this one wasn't cute.

"Here is how you look holy: First--everyone knows this part--fold your hands like a steeple. Then roll your eyes up as far as they will go, cross them slightly, and let your lids flutter a little bit. Finally, imagine yourself doing something extra kind, like giving away your ice-cream cone to a really skinny dog even though nobody is watching." (62-63).

Marla Frazee's illustrations are a major part of the fun of Clementine.

Not to give anything away ... but Clementine's conversations with her friend Margaret and Margaret's brother Mitchell are priceless.

Must reads for any kids' lit fans.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clementine, Friend of the Week is a very cute story about a little girl by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine was picked to be friend of the week in her third grade class! She got to be line leader, collect lunch money, tell the class her life story, and she received a friend of the week book with compliments from all her classmates. Her older, somewhat rude of a friend Margaret is in fourth grade, and she was friend of the week, too when she was in third grade. Margaret is good at everything, so Clementine knows her booklet must be filled with wonderful things. Clementine has a cute little cat that gets a bit too curious, and Margaret ends up surprising Clementine by helping her and her cat a great deal. This book is intended for about third grade and up. It's a great book to read for fun! It also has a great message on friendship.

Pennypacker, S., & Frazee, M. (2010). Clementine, friend of the week. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books.

[Esther]

12 chapters, 10ish pages per chapter.

Chapter One: Problem: Clementine creates a problem with her friend Margaret.
Chapter Two: Clementine excited about being friend of the week, even if M is annoyed with her.
Chapter Three: C looks for ways to get good reports during Friend of the Week
Chapter Four: C prepares for bike rally and tries to win M back.
Chapter Five: C looks for more ways to get good reports during Friend of the Week
Chapter Six: C has an idea for how to make everyone like her.
Chapter Seven: New Problem: C works on her plan. Her cat goes missing.
Chapter Eight: Search for cat.
Chapter Nine: More search
Chapter Ten: M reminds C about bike rally. Takes some cat posters to help with search. Gives C her Friend of the Week book but does not return extra posters.
Chapter Eleven: C discovers M had kids at bike rally advertise missing cat. Gets phone call about cat.
Chapter Twelve: C finds cat and writes in M's Friend of the Week book so she can be proud of hers too.

[Julia Tsang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the entire Clementine series (please don't kill me), but I remember this used to be one of my favorite books as a child, and it was really intriguing even to someone who hadn't even read the previous stories and just decided to grab this book off a nearby shelf for a quick read.

The eponymous main character Clementine is quirky and funny enough that readers genuinely get a laugh out of reading about her adventures, but real and relatable enough that we, no matter what age, completely understand the reason behind why she does what she does throughout the book. While being a lighthearted story, the last part about Clementine's search for her lost cat really touched me. In my opinion, a good writer is one that can write a story that can draw laughs out from their readers, yet pulls on their heartstrings at the same time.

Like a previous reviewer said, if you haven't read any Clementines, you really should start now :)

[Brittany May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Books about friendship are on the top of my list when to children's books, this one caught my attention by the cover. By listening to her friend, is Clementine doing all the right things? I would recommend this book to kids who suffer socially and let their friends run their life for them.

Summary: Clementine gets chosen as friend of the week, which means being the line leader and getting the milk and feeding the class fish. All the things that kids would want to be in charge of she gets to do for the whole entire week. But when her best friend steps in and tells her how she should do things, Clementine isn't sure if she should go with her gut or listen to her best friend Margaret.

Citation: Pennypacker, Sara, and Marla Frazee. Clementine, Friend of the Week. New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2010. Print.

[Disney Princess Recovery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these audio stories. C and I listened to them on a road trip and I got hooked on Clementine, who takes notes by writing on her person (inscribing a question on her arm for later clarification) and earlier, by Harriet the Spy, who records all her questions in a notebook. Spunky delightful girls.

Clementine on losing her cat:

"I don't want to talk about Friday because there was so much crying. I did not know one person could hold that much water. That's all I am going to say about that.
Okay, fine, I'll tell about some of Friday. The parts that weren't as bad."

When I stopped the car to gas up, I noted that C had drawn all over her arms. Fiction makes an easy impression, it seems.

There was also a term Clementine used that sparked a good 20 minute discussion: "braggy"

I prefer this word to braggart.