Clementine (series) facts for kids
| Author | Sara Pennypacker |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Marla Frazee |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Realistic fiction |
| Publisher | Disney/Hyperion |
| No. of books | 7 |
The Clementine book series is a collection of seven exciting chapter books for kids. They were written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee. The first book, Clementine, came out in 2006. The series follows an eight-year-old girl named Clementine. She is a lovable and unique character who often gets into funny situations without meaning to. The books show her adventures as she goes through third grade.
Contents
About the Books
The books are all about Clementine, an eight-year-old girl with bright red curly hair. She loves art and is very creative, but she can also be quite impulsive. This means she sometimes acts without thinking things through. Even though Clementine always means well, she often finds herself in trouble. She might even get sent to the principal's office because people don't always understand her good intentions.
Other important characters in the series include Clementine's kind and understanding parents. She also has a younger brother, whose real name is never said. Clementine gives him many funny nicknames, usually related to vegetables! Her sister is named Summer, and she has a pet kitten named Moisturizer. Margaret is Clementine's best friend. Margaret can be a bit strict and sometimes a little snobby, but she has a kind heart. The stories in the series take place in the city of Boston.
Main Characters
Clementine
Clementine is the main character of the series. She is a kind, talented, and artistic girl. She is also very impulsive and a bit unpredictable. Clementine has many unique personality traits. Even though she means well, grown-ups often misunderstand her actions. This leads to her frequently ending up in the principal's office. Clementine often talks about how much she loves gorillas. She even dreams of having one as a pet someday! She is very good at drawing, and her drawings are often shown in the books.
Margaret
Margaret is Clementine's closest friend. She is about a year older than Clementine. Margaret sometimes doesn't have much patience for Clementine's quirky ideas. She also likes to be in charge, especially with people younger than her. Margaret can seem a bit uptight or snobby at times, and she enjoys showing off. But deep down, she is a very good friend. She has shown great kindness to Clementine in the past. Margaret has a teenage brother named Mitchell who loves baseball. He appears often in the books. In the first book, Clementine accidentally cuts off a lot of Margaret's hair, which causes a very messy week at school.
Mitchell
Mitchell is Margaret's older brother. He is a big fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. Mitchell has a funny sense of humor and enjoys teasing Margaret a lot. He gets along well with Clementine, who sometimes thinks he might be "trying to be her boyfriend." He seems to enjoy spending time with her. His sister, Margaret, often gets annoyed by his jokes.
Bill (Clementine's Father)
Bill is Clementine's father. He works as the manager of the apartment building where most of the characters live. Bill is fun-loving and very understanding with his daughter. In one book, he asks Clementine to help him with the "Great Pigeon War." This was about finding a way to keep pigeons away from the stone statues on the building. Clementine successfully solves the problem, and they even have a celebration for her! While Clementine's antics can sometimes make him a bit annoyed, he is always very forgiving. His name, Bill, is mentioned several times, unlike his wife and son, who remain unnamed.
Clementine's Mother
Clementine's mother is an artist, and her name is not mentioned in the books. She is shown as being very understanding and kind to her daughter. However, she can also get frustrated with Clementine's uncooperative moments. For example, in the first book, Clementine keeps getting into trouble during one school week. In the book Clementine and the Family Meeting, Clementine's mother becomes pregnant. This makes Clementine a bit worried about the changes to their family.
Clementine's Younger Brother
Clementine's younger brother is a toddler, and his name is never revealed. Clementine thinks it's unfair that she has a "fruit name" (Clementine). So, she gives her brother many different nicknames, all related to vegetables. Because of this, his real name is never used. He has a serious peanut allergy and enjoys playing with his own feet.
Book Titles
- Clementine (2006): Clementine accidentally cuts most of Margaret's hair. This leads to her getting into several punishments at school.
- The Talented Clementine (2007): Clementine is worried about her school's upcoming talent show. She isn't sure what special skill she can show off.
- Clementine's Letter (2008): Clementine's teacher might win a trip to an Egyptian archaeology dig. His students need to write letters explaining why he deserves it. Clementine worries he will be picked and writes a negative letter.
- Clementine: Friend of the Week (2010): Clementine is chosen to be "Friend of the Week" in her class. Her classmates will make a book about her good qualities. Then, her kitten, Moisturizer, disappears. After seeing Margaret's amazing book, Clementine worries hers won't be as good.
- Clementine and The Family Meeting (2011): Clementine's mother announces she is pregnant. Clementine is not happy about this. She worries about how a new baby will change her home life.
- Clementine and the Spring Trip (2013): Clementine is excited for her school trip to Plimoth Plantation. But she is also worried about lunch, learning "Olive-language," and surviving "The Cloud" on Bus 7.
- Completely Clementine (2015): Clementine isn't ready for summer. She's also mad at her father for eating meat and doesn't want to talk to him. She's also not ready for the new baby or to say goodbye to her third-grade teacher.
Awards Received
- 2007: Clementine, Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor
- 2007: Clementine, Sid Fleischman Award, SCWBI
- 2007: Clementine, Josette Frank Award
- 2008: Clementine, Rhode Island Children's Book Award
- 2009: Clementine, William Allen White Children's Book Award (Grades 3-5)
