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Stella Batts – Book Review

August 20, 2012 by Dawn

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Third grader Stella Batts has completely charmed my children. We’ve read the first two chapter books in the new series from Sleeping Bear Press, and when number three found its way to my house, my six year old daughter squealed with delight, for she has had so much fun spending time with this character. She wasn’t disappointed in the third installment, Stella Batts: Pardon Me, once again feeling a strong connection to this delightful literary character.

What do you need to know about Stella? Well, in her first book, Stella Batts: Needs a New Name, young readers discover that Stella loves to write, and in fact, the books are her very own autobiographies! With Stella as the storyteller, kids quickly come to like her, for she’s funny and realistic. She has a little sister with whom she bickers, especially when she copies her (which seems like all the time, at least to Stella). But in that first book, she has a problem– her name. Thanks to a terrible nickname that a mean classmate has given her, Stella hatches a plan to change her name, but she doesn’t anticipate all the confusion that ensues.

By book two, Stella Batts: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow, the name issue is finally cleared up, but she’s got an even bigger problem on her hands. Well, in her hair, actually. Did I forget to tell you that Stella’s parents own a candy store in town? And that she and her sister Penny get to sample new products sometimes? It’s definitely a sweet situation to be in, until a piece of candy causes Stella to have some serious hair problems. I can tell you that my daughter was so invested in this story when we read it over the course of a week– she couldn’t stop wondering what was going to happen to Stella!

As book three opens, readers are reminded of another sad happening from the previous installment. Stella’s best friend Willa has moved away, all the way across the country, in fact. Stella Batts: Pardon Me introduces a new character, one who speaks with an English accent (that most folks will be able to feign better than I could!) and who uses many words and phrases that cause simple misunderstandings (that are actually quite fun to read about and explain!). Stella is struggling with the absence of her friend Willa, and she’s not even sure that they are still friends when Willa doesn’t want to take her phone call. Starting a friendship with someone new can also be tricky, as Stella soon finds as Evie joins her class. As in the previous two books, by the end of ten chapters, Stella has found resolution to the problems at hand, and this time around, Stella learns that friendship is something you can never have too much of. Each book also includes a sneak preview of the next installment, so my kids are already excited for book four: Stella Batts: A Case of the Meanies, to be published early next month.

For newly independent readers, the Stella Batts series offers some fun stories with simple but relatable conflicts, believable young characters, and engaging sketch-like illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell scattered throughout each chapter. I’ve enjoyed reading these aloud with my six and four year old children, for each chapter is the perfect length for bedtime reading, and my daughter has joyfully re-read them on her own again after we finished.

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About Dawn

When she's not reviewing books, 5 Minutes for Books contributor Dawn (and her online alter ego, morninglight mama) can be found blogging at my thoughts exactly and contributing to The DC Moms.

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73 Comments

  1. Kimberly Amici says

    March 19, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Just stumbles upon this series and really enjoyed reading the first book with my 8yr. old. We will be discussing it with her book club today after school. thanks for the review! Our group will be reading the follow-up books as well.

    Reply
  2. Carol W says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    I would love to win these for my niece. thanks
    carolwegs at gmail dot com

    Reply
  3. Carole I says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    For my 6 year old girl 🙂

    Reply
  4. shirley zolenski says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    My niece would love this

    Reply
  5. Kathy Pease says

    September 1, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    my niece would love these 🙂

    Reply
  6. mike b says

    September 1, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    my niece would like this.

    Reply
  7. Jennifer Peaslee says

    September 1, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    I think my niece would love this set!

    Reply
  8. Teresa Thompson says

    September 1, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    My granddaughter would love these books.

    Reply
  9. cassandra (rab pom) says

    September 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    My niece would love this series thanks!

    Reply
  10. Jessica Rose says

    September 1, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    My younger cousin would love this!

    Reply
  11. Ann Council says

    September 1, 2012 at 3:06 pm

    My niece would be happy with these books.

    Reply
  12. Sandy V. says

    September 1, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I would give this to my niece’s daughter.

    Reply
  13. Susan Smith says

    September 1, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    My daughter would love these books

    Reply
  14. Joan Troche says

    September 1, 2012 at 11:11 am

    My 3rd grade daughter would love this!

    Reply
  15. Angela W says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:02 am

    I would love to win this for my daughter, thanks!

    Reply
  16. Karen Gonyea says

    September 1, 2012 at 7:04 am

    My niece would LOVE this 🙂

    ktgonyea at gmail.com

    Reply
  17. kendra W says

    September 1, 2012 at 1:25 am

    My 2nd grade daughter would adore this

    Reply
  18. Valerie Taylor Mabrey says

    August 31, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    my granddaughters
    vmkids3 at msn dot com

    Reply
  19. shawna says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    My daughter would love this.

    Reply
  20. polly says

    August 29, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    i know my niece would just love this series to read

    Reply
  21. Diane Baum says

    August 29, 2012 at 11:24 am

    My sons would love this

    Reply
  22. Angela E. says

    August 29, 2012 at 10:53 am

    Such cute little books.

    Reply
  23. Tamar says

    August 29, 2012 at 10:08 am

    My daughter would love it.

    Reply
  24. Caitlin McClure says

    August 28, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    My niece would like it

    Reply
  25. Staci A says

    August 28, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    My niece would love it!

    Reply
  26. Shannon F. says

    August 28, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    My daughter would!

    Reply
  27. Chuck says

    August 28, 2012 at 11:09 am

    For the grandchildren.

    Reply
  28. Wendy M says

    August 27, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    This would be a great series for my niece.

    Reply
  29. Heather says

    August 27, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    I hope my younger daughter would like them. I’m having trouble finding books that interest her.

    Reply
  30. Lori D. says

    August 27, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    These books sound great.

    Reply
  31. Thao Nguyen says

    August 27, 2012 at 12:46 am

    My 5-years-old Niece would love this one

    Reply
  32. Chelsea says

    August 27, 2012 at 12:40 am

    My oldest daughter would really enjoy this series

    Reply
  33. Minty Patterson says

    August 27, 2012 at 12:27 am

    My nephew would like this and then when my twins get old enough I am sure they would too. My addiction is children’s books. I have so much fun reading them to my twins.

    Reply
  34. angie says

    August 26, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    my niece would love this book

    Reply
  35. Kristi says

    August 26, 2012 at 10:34 am

    I am always looking for new books to read with my son!

    Reply
  36. LT says

    August 25, 2012 at 11:55 am

    My 8 year old daughter would love this!

    Reply
  37. benita says

    August 24, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    My niece would love this series!

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  38. Beth C says

    August 24, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    My granddaughter would love this!

    Reply
  39. Robert Pyszk says

    August 24, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    My niece would love this series a lot

    Reply
  40. Janie says

    August 24, 2012 at 11:44 am

    My grand daughter Allie would love these books

    Reply
  41. Heidi B says

    August 24, 2012 at 10:16 am

    This series looks like something my second grader would love!

    Reply
  42. Heidi says

    August 24, 2012 at 10:15 am

    My second grader would love this series!

    Reply
  43. Molly Collins says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:53 am

    My daughter would love these books. I am always on the lookout for fun books for her to read and look like they fit the bill!

    Reply
  44. Jacquelyn Cannon says

    August 24, 2012 at 1:16 am

    My niece would love this, she’s a realy girly girl.

    Reply
  45. Charlotte Padgett says

    August 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    My great-granddaughter would love these.

    Reply
  46. Kristi C says

    August 23, 2012 at 8:54 am

    My niece would love these.

    Reply
  47. Kimberly B. says

    August 23, 2012 at 2:41 am

    My niece would love his series.

    Reply
  48. Miranda Ward says

    August 23, 2012 at 1:44 am

    My niece

    [email protected]

    Reply
  49. Denise M says

    August 22, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    my daughter would definitely enjoy these stories

    Reply
  50. Hoa Le says

    August 22, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    My granddaughter would love this.

    Reply
  51. Steph says

    August 22, 2012 at 11:35 am

    My daughter would enjoy these books.

    Reply
  52. E.S. Ivy says

    August 22, 2012 at 10:41 am

    I think my 7-year-old niece would love this – but my daughters still enjoy remembering their younger selves with a quick read. There is no book too long or short for them!

    Reply
  53. Patty Schuler says

    August 21, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    My granddaughter would love it

    Reply
  54. Kimberly says

    August 21, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    My 7yr old daughter and I have caught your excitement! We are looking forward to meeting Stella. Thanks for suggesting this series.

    Reply
  55. Idaho Jill says

    August 21, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    My 5 year old daughter!

    Reply
  56. Kathy Stevenson says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    My 6 year old daughter would love this series!

    Reply
  57. Terra Heck says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    My youngest step-daughter would enjoy these books. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  58. LaVonne says

    August 21, 2012 at 11:55 am

    I think my daughter would love this.

    Reply
  59. lana says

    August 21, 2012 at 7:50 am

    for a friends little girl

    Reply
  60. Cheryl Rahkonen says

    August 21, 2012 at 3:34 am

    I have a granddaughter that loves to read – she would love this series of books.

    Reply
  61. Jessica T says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:00 am

    My daughter would love this!

    Reply
  62. Kela says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    My ten year old daughter would enjoy this series!! 🙂

    Reply
  63. Patricia Crowley says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    My nieces would love it!

    Reply
  64. Serendipity is Sweet says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    My 7 year old daughter would love these. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  65. Carolyn says

    August 20, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    I bought the first one for a friend! Love to get them for my girl!

    Reply
  66. Lauren says

    August 20, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    I have a daughter who would love to read these. Thanks, Dawn!

    Reply
  67. Jenny says

    August 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    My daughter would love this.

    Reply
  68. HappyMomC says

    August 20, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    my niece & daughters would love this!

    Reply
  69. gail says

    August 20, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    my niece would love it

    Reply
  70. april yedinak says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:00 am

    My youngest daughter

    Reply
  71. Mia Dentice Carey says

    August 20, 2012 at 8:13 am

    My son would love these books!

    Reply
  72. Natalie says

    August 20, 2012 at 5:41 am

    My daughter would love this. She just finished the Ivy and Bean series and we are always looking for more books for her. PLus I think this would be fun to read with her and to my 5 year-old as well. Whether I win or not, thanks for sharing – I have a new series to check out!

    Reply
  73. Heather Hayes Panjon says

    August 20, 2012 at 12:52 am

    My Niece Would Love This Book !:)

    Reply

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