The Brand New Kid

Rating:
Summary: badly rhymed+badly written+famous author=published!
Review: A story about a boy, Lazlo, who is new in school. The kids in his class make fun of him. I think we can all relate to Lazlo in all different ways. People have made fun of you, and you have also made fun of other people. But in Lazlo's case, the students in his class mocked him constantly, and that can really hurt. But there is always one person at least who has a good heart, and in this case, it is Ellie. Ellie is the only one who gives Lazlo a chance, and finds out that he really is a great guy. This story teaches you that looks can be decieving. Don't judge someone by what they look like, they could be a really great person deep down. Kids can be really mean to a person, and people are afraid to say anything. Don't be.

Rating:
Summary: A Winner!
Review: Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole find lots of fun and surprises in second grade, the first of which is a brand new kid. He's different, very blond and blue-eyed with a funny accent and funnier name, Lazlo S Gasky. Instead of welcoming him to his new school and class, the kids in second grade tease and taunt Lazlo, isolating and ostracizing him. That is, until Ellie sees Lazlo's mother walking out of school one day, looking very worried and sad. At that moment she begins to understand what it's been like for Lazlo, to be "the strange, new kid" and decides to reach out to him. They play together and as she tells her friends the next day, Lazlo's not so different, we just didn't get to know him. He's really just like us..... Katie Couric has written a delightful, thoughtful story of tolerance that should open lots of discussions at home and in school about not belonging and feeling scared and lonely. Though her writing at times is awkward and her rhymes forced, the heartwarming and important message of this book far outweighs its flaws. Margorie Priceman's charming, expressive illustrations really capture the essence of the story and together, these two let youngsters know in a gentle, yet powerful way that our differences are what make us interesting and we all have a lot more in common than we might think at first glance. The trick is to get to know each other.

Rating:
Summary: Whew, tough crowd!
Review: I bought this for a friend of mine who grew up as a Swedish foreign exchange student in a California school. To be honest, she really can't stand Katie Couric from the today show, but I thought she could relate to the story told here. Forget that this is written by a celebrity...also look passed the forced rhymes and awkward phrasing used here, and there. The pictures are great and there is a nice message here...that different is good, and that children should be accepting of other cultures. I love the ethnic mother depicted here, she reminded me of my grandmother, who was also teased in school by having an accent and having lived abroad. I think this would be a great book for any kid starting at a new school, or any child that may be different for any reason. It just shows that it takes all sorts of people to make the world interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Well Intentioned But Not Well Written
Review: I was greatly disappointed in this book. The rhymes are forced and awkward - I had to read one page to my son several times and it still didn't have any flow. One review suggests that we shoud give Katie a break because her heart was in the right place. Well I disagree. A book should stand or fall on its own merits, not because of whose name is on the cover. If she is truly concerned about putting the message of tolerance out, why doesn't she become a patron to a young author with some real talent. I'm afraid this is just another example of a celebrity who thinks they can write. 2 stars for the illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: Read This Ms. P.
Review: The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric

4 paws

The genre of The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric is realistic fiction. It's realistic fiction because it charactorizes a way a student might feel when they first move to a new school. Poor diminutive Lazlo gets teased and taunted by all of the 2nd graders. No one dares talk to "Lazlo the wierdo". Then a sweet girl does something nobody expects.

This story shows what new kids are going through. Even if they seem weird at first, they could be nice people. It helps kids underside what it's like to go to a new school.

Rating:
Summary: The Brand New Kid
Review: The Brand New Kid is about a boy named Lazlo who moved from another country and joined Mrs. McSnellys second grade class at Brookhaven Elementry school until he wasn't happy because he didn't fit in with all the other kids . Until finally a girl named Ellie came to his locker and asked him to play.

I think This book is a good book because it's not and it's not boringand you should read it when your board.

Rating:
Summary: The Brand New Kid
Review: The Brand New Kid is about a boy named Lazlo who moved from another country and joined Mrs. McSnellys second grade class at Brookhaven Elementry school until he wasn't very happy and he didn't fit in with the other kids. Until finally a girl named Ellie came to his locker and asked him to play.

I think this book is a good book and it's not tight and it's not boring and you can read it when your board.

Rating:
Summary: badly rhymed+badly written+famous author=published!
Review: This is an example of what happens when good people write bad books. I have nothing against Katie Couric herself, and I realize that she had good intentions, but this book is so badly written, the rhymes are so forced, and the moral so obvious that it just overrides any intent she may have had. Books should be published based on the merit of the writing, not on the celebrity of the author. At best, it is a sophomoric effort (and I'm being kind). There are better books for kids about acceptance/tolerance out there. Save your money - it is a waste of paper.