August 27, 2007
5 Minutes for Books–Meghan Rose Early Readers
First came Ramona. Then Junie B. Jones. Now meet Meghan Rose. She’s just as spunky, but not quite as sassy. She’s a first grade girl who finds herself getting into some fixes, in spite of her heart of gold. Lori Z. Scott is a mom and a former first grade teacher who wrote these books in response to the lack of Christian-based chapter books for her seven year old daughter.
In the first book in the series, Meghan Rose On Stage!, Meghan Rose desperately wants to be in the school talent show. The problem is that she has no talent. She asks God to help her figure out what it is. Even when her original plan is thwarted, she comes up with an idea by thinking on her feet, and ends up learning that working as a team with others, instead of competing against 
them, results in good feelings for everyone involved.
The second book in the series, Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants, deals with a common childhood problem. Meghan sees a commercial for the new Kangaroozies shoes. She wants them. Her desire for them increases when her friend gets a pair. She tries to convince her mom she needs them. She tries to earn enough money to buy them herself. She tries to make them herself. Finally, she learns to wait.
There are a few qualities of these books that sets them apart from other offerings. One is that they are faith-based. Meghan mentions God and asks Him for help. In fact, in the second book, she learns a lesson about patience and why God doesn’t always give us what we want right away. These lessons come about naturally and are presented in a non-preachy, age-appropriate way. This is no easy feat, and something that Christian Fiction adult novelists struggle with incorporating naturally into a novel. The other thing that I love is that there are a few discussion questions for parents and kids at the end of the book, along with a couple of ideas for crafts or activities related to the story. The illustrations by Stacy Curtis are fun and whimsical and add to the story, instead of just being a distraction.
My daughter Amanda read both of these books on our vacation. She is about to start fourth grade and is a strong reader, so she thought that these books were a little young for her. However, she did go on to read the second one, and I even heard her laugh out loud while she was reading them, so she did like them. I think that these books would be best for Kindergarten up through third grade, but the way that they are written makes them something that can be appreciated by adults and would probably span quite a few years as a family read-aloud selection. All children deal with friendship concerns and competition, patience and not getting everything you want. Even though the main character is a girl, one of her best friends is a boy. Much like Ramona Quimby, I do think that this book would appeal to boys as well as girls.
For more info, check out the really great website for the series which has jokes, links, and parent/teacher activities, as well as information about the next two books in the series, which are coming soon.
The author has donated three copies of Meghan Rose On Stage! to be sent to winners in the U.S. or Canada; however if there are at least 30 people who comment to win, she will send out five copies, and if there are over 100, she’ll give away seven copies! So, spread the word, and come back next week to see who the winners are.
Congratulations to the winners of last week’s books:
Lean Mommy: 71-Amanda, 11-Oh Amanda, 48-Amy
Hormones, Health and Happiness: 37-Dawn, 81-Mama Zen, 18-Debi
Jane Yolen’s book Baby Bear’s Big Dreams: 27-Katrina
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Children's Books, Christianity, Contests by Jennifer
63 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books–Meghan Rose Early Readers »
#1 - Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings @ 12:21 am
Enter me please! Sounds like it would be a god gift for a young friend.
#2 - Deb @ 12:25 am
I have a first grader this year and I know she’d love these - please count me in!
#3 - Adria @ 12:35 am
This is a timely recommendation for me! I’m getting tired of Junie B Jones and my 1st grader is an avid reader who needs something new.
These books sound wonderful.
#4 - Nikki @ 12:43 am
These books sound great! Please count me in!!
#5 - Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings @ 12:46 am
Sounds like this would be a great gift for a young friend. Enter me please!
#6 - Karen @ 12:52 am
Another great selection, please count me in:-)
#7 - bree @ 12:57 am
How wonderful of her!!! count me in!! thanks so much!
#8 - Bev @ 1:19 am
I would love to win, here is my entry!
#9 - Christelle @ 2:34 am
How cute!!! I would love this!
#10 - Melissa Markham @ 6:40 am
My 2nd grader is an avid reader and I think she would love these books! Thanks for offering them!
#11 - emily @ 7:20 am
These sound like books my daughter will love in a few years.
#12 - Kim @ 8:16 am
Oh, how I would love this book for my kids..
#13 - Ruth :) @ 8:22 am
Looks like a alot of fun! And just in time!! I have a five year old who is beginning her journey to chapter books.
#14 - stephanie @ 8:30 am
Me, please! I’d love to win one of these for my neice.
#15 - Michelle @ 8:31 am
We are always looking for great books to add to our collection. I would love to be entered.
#16 - Donna @ 8:52 am
My daughter is learning to read this year so this would be great!
#17 - stacey @ 8:53 am
these look perfect for my daughter!
#18 - Sara @ 9:53 am
This would be a great gift for my friend’s daughter.
#19 - Mama Zen @ 9:53 am
These sound great!
#20 - Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry @ 10:09 am
These books sound perfect for my girls. Thanks for another great giveaway!
#21 - Laura @ 10:47 am
Those sound fantastic, please include my name Jennifer!
Laura
#22 - Susie aka Mayangel523 @ 11:31 am
Please enter me! My daughter is much too old for these,but my nieces are not. I think my mom and I like Junie B more than any of the kids… we have to read them first so as not to bust out laughing when we read to the younger kids
#23 - oh amanda @ 12:23 pm
I won a book last week?! Yee-haw! What do I need to do?!
#24 - oh amanda @ 12:24 pm
I’m so glad she’s written these books! That is definitely a missing genre in Christian kids books!
#25 - Andrea @ 12:25 pm
Awesome!! I would love this for my little boy!!
#26 - Ginny @ 12:28 pm
Enter me please
#27 - jenna @ 12:37 pm
So cute! Enter me please.
#28 - TheAngelForever @ 1:34 pm
As a teacher and mother I love these types of books. They help kids to enjoy reading. I loved Ramona as a kid and my students still do. Junie B was great and I hope to enjoy Meghan with my little guy.
#29 - Michelle @ 2:04 pm
Please enter me. These books would be perfect for my 9 year old daughter. She has Down syndrome, and LOVES to read. But she likes most to read about little girls getting into trouble, lol.
#30 - Sara @ 2:09 pm
My brand-new first grader would LOVE these books. Thanks for the heads up and the review!
Sara
#31 - Shauna @ 2:31 pm
These sound perfect for my 6YO!
#32 - Elaine @ 2:37 pm
Oh, this is a godsend! I was just at the library this morning asking, “What do we read when we’ve read all of Junie B. Jones?” It would be sooo nice to have a Christian chapter book to start on next!!!!
#33 - Melinda @ 2:42 pm
I’ll make it 30. I need a good chapter book for my third grader.
#34 - peppylady @ 5:14 pm
What a great Christmas Present for one of my grand niece or nephew.
Please add my name to the drawing
#35 - lace @ 5:41 pm
What a great looking book. This would be a good read aloud for my niece who is not quite ready to read this level of book
#36 - Richelle F @ 8:12 pm
Enter me please!
#37 - Taowyn @ 8:58 pm
Come on one hundred comments. We want 7 copies sent out!.
#38 - Carolyn @ 9:09 pm
These sound great! My daughter will love these when she’s ready.
#39 - Doreen @ 9:54 pm
Yes, would love to receive this book!
#40 - Doreen @ 9:55 pm
e-mail: purposedrivenlife4you [at] gmail.com
#41 - Jessica @ 9:56 pm
count me in for kids books!
#42 - Jen in MS @ 10:22 pm
Please put my name in the hat! Thanks!
#43 - Caryn @ 10:23 pm
I LOVE the books you spotlight! Enter me please!
#44 - Myrna @ 10:24 pm
Have we hit 100 yet? Enter me please.
#45 - Christy @ 10:35 pm
They sound great! Enter me
#46 - JewelsHud @ 10:45 pm
This sounds like a great read.
#47 - Melissa Roth @ 1:44 am
I’m so glad you introduced me to these Meghan Rose series! My 5 year old reader will really enjoy them and I love books that have a good message for her. THANKS for a chance to win:)
#48 - Ashley Rutherford @ 2:48 am
Enter me Please!!
#49 - Kim @ 9:21 am
I think my kids will love these books. Thanks for introducing me to them.
#50 - Amy A. @ 9:29 am
Thanks for the chance to win. Thanks to the author for her many donations.
#51 - Karla Meachem (Empowering Christian Women) @ 10:59 am
Thanks for sharing a review on Christian books for kids!
I will post this on my blog (http://EmpoweringChristianWomen.com).
Count me in! My daughter would love getting a new book in the mail!
#52 - Emily S @ 11:45 am
Sounds like a great book for kids
count me in for this one as well
#53 - Jen @ 12:10 pm
These look so awesome. My daughter just started first grade and is an awesome reader. We’ve read a few Ramona Quimby and Junie B. Jones, and I am thrilled to learn there is an equivalent with a Christian perspective without the “sassiness”.
I’d sure love to give my daughter these books!
#54 - Angela @ 12:15 pm
Could be a cute book. We’d love a copy.
#55 - megan @ 2:02 pm
I hope I win!
#56 - Storm @ 2:02 pm
My daughter started first grade today and I know she’d love these books.
#57 - Heather @ 11:03 pm
Awesome. My daughter and I have read Ramona the Brave together and just finished Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus.
I’d love another series to read too!
#58 - Melody @ 10:21 am
My first grader would love to read these!
#59 - Chelsey @ 2:43 pm
These books sound wonderful. Count me in!!
#60 - Tricia @ 8:00 pm
Oh how exciting I hope that I win.
#61 - Selina @ 1:11 am
My daughter is just entering 1st grade and loves to read - I would love to check out this series for her. Thanks for the chance!
#62 - Cath @ 10:53 pm
I have one avid reader and one not-so-avid reader and a Kindergartner who wants to be read to. We could really use something new for all three of them! Please enter me in the drawing.
#63 - Shannon @ 11:32 am
These sound great. My girls loved Junie B Jones books. I love the lesson on Patience. Count me in for the drawing. Thanks for writing great books for kids.