Third Grade Angels

Brief Description: "The long-awaited prequel to the bestseller FOURTH GRADE RATS George, aka "Suds," has just entered third grade, and he's heard the rhyme about "first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats," but what does this mean for his school year? It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded "the halo" - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he's finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated. Does he have to be good even outside of school? (Does he have to be nice to his annoying little sister?) And if Mrs. Simms doesn't actually see him doing a good deed, does it even count?"--Brief Description: "George 'Suds' Morton competes with his third-grade classmates to earn the first 'halo' of the year for good behavior, but being good turns out to be more stressful than he anticipated"--Brief Description: Includes an excerpt from "Fourth grade rats."Review Quotes: Praise for THIRD GRADE ANGELS: "Spinelli doesn't miss a beat in recreating the characters from [Fourth Grade Rats]... Sweet and funny." -- KIRKUS REVIEWS"Third-graders are notoriously competitive, and Spinelli has his finger on the pulse of that age group. Suds's first-person account rings true." -- HORN BOOK"This beginning chapter book moves at an enjoyably brisk pace; readers will appreciate the familiar school and home settings, and they'll look forward to meeting the characters again in a forthcoming book. A story kids will relate to, with valuable, down-to-earth messages about character and motives." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALBiographical Note: Jerry Spinelli won the Newbery Medal in 1991 for Maniac Magee, one of his more than 25 acclaimed books for young readers. He now lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Eileen Spinelli, who is also an author of children's books. Marc Notes: ; The long-awaited prequel to the bestseller FOURTH GRADE RATS George, aka Suds, has just entered third grade, and he's heard the rhyme about first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats, but what does this mean for his school year? It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded the halo - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he's finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated. Does he have to be good even outside of school? (Does he have to be nice to his annoying little sister?) And if Mrs. Simms doesn't actually see him doing a good deed, does it even count?--; Provided by publisher.. Publisher Marketing: The long-awaited prequel to the bestseller FOURTH GRADE RATS George, aka "Suds," has just entered third grade, and he's heard the rhyme about "first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats," but what does this mean for his school year? It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded "the halo" - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he's finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated. Does he have to be good even outside of school? (Does he have to be nice to his annoying little sister?) And if Mrs. Simms doesn't actually see him doing a good deed, does it even count? A warm, funny return to elementary school from master storyteller Spinelli. Review Citations:

Booklist 09/15/2012 pg. 72 (EAN 9780545469609, Open Ebook)

Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2012 pg. 107 (EAN 9780545469609, Open Ebook)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2012 (EAN 9780545469609, Open Ebook)

Booklist 09/15/2012 pg. 72 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 07/23/2012 pg. 56 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 12/01/2012 pg. 100 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2012 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2012 pg. 107 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2012 (EAN 9780545387729, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 04/01/2013 pg. 58 (EAN 9780545466219, Compact Disc)

Contributor Bio:  Spinelli, Jerry Jerry Spinelli received the Newbery Medal for Maniac Magee and a Newbery Honor for Wringer. His other books include Smiles to Go, Loser, Space Station Seventh Grade, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, Dump Days, and Stargirl. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his real-life experience as a father of six children. Jerry lives with his wife, Eileen, also a writer, in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Contributor Bio:  Bell, Jennifer A Jennifer A. Bell is an illustrator whose work can be found on greeting cards, in magazines, and in over a dozen children's books. She lives with her husband, son, and cranky cat in Minneapolis, Minnesota.