The students were squirming
but none made a sound,
as the spelling bee entered
its championship round.
It's right before recess, and the annual school spelling bee is down to
just three spellers: Cornelius the Genius, Smart Ruby, and The Slugger,
who never strikes out. Round after round, the words whizz at them, but
with one minute left until recess, there's still no winner. Who will
triumph? It all comes down to one final word, and a curveball that no
one sees coming!
Deborah Lee Rose's clever rhyming text packs a laugh-out-loud wallop
with words that young readers will enjoy spelling and reading aloud
again and again. Fun and whimsical illustrations by Carey F.
Armstrong-Ellis provide the perfect balance of humor and suspense as
readers find out whether The Slugger will hit a grand slam or finally
strike out.
The book includes three spelling lists that can be used for spelling
bees at home, in school, at the library, or for community events. An
author's note describes why and how words were chosen.
Praise for The Spelling Bee Before Recess
I enjoyed and laughed my way through this epic spelling bee story.
--USA Today
Cute characters, lively rhymes, ample word lists and a good level of
dramatic tension bolster the clear message that to succeed, you must
understand the meaning of words - not just memorize spellings - and the
key to that is reading.
--San Francisco Chronicle
Colorful, expressive illustrations support the excitement and
anticipation created through the text. This story will fill a need in
school libraries for books about spelling, vocabulary, sportsmanship,
and school community-building.*
--School Library Journal*
The book's potentially static topic yields some dynamic, imaginative
illustrations, created using ink, gouache, and colored pencils in a
quirky style that suits the story's tone quite well. A lively picture
book.
--Booklist
Fun-filled illustrations bring this book to life. A vocabulary list at
the end of the book emphasizes the importance of learning words and
reading. This is a great addition to any library.
--Library Media Connection
