One of the most recent hot graphic novels is the Ellie McDoodle series. That's not her real name, but that's what everyone calls her, because she is never without her trusty sketchbook and pen, capturing her thoughts and experiences. Here is what happens to her in the third book of the series, Ellie McDoodle: Best Friends Fur-Ever by Ruth McNally Barshaw.
The story starts out with her older brother, Josh, and sister, Risa, playing a prank on her. Their family is trying to decide on what kind of a pet to get. Risa wants a cat, Josh wants a dog, Dad seconds that, Mom says they are not voting, Ellie is happy with her pet rat, and baby brother Ben-Ben is happy with his pet pinecone!
Lately they have been in a strange mood and everyone is talking in rhymes. It makes for an interesting dinner discussion.
In school, her teacher, Mrs. Whittam assigns them a project. They have to each choose different animals, study them, then do a multimedia presentation. Nobody can do normal animals, like dogs, cats, rats, or hamsters.
Just thinking about giving another presentation makes Ellie start to itch. In the second grade, she gave a presentation and started to get hives on her neck. The class laughed at her, but she hadn't said anything funny. She starts to scratch, then scratch some more, and then her stomach gets sore.
As luck would have it, her neighbor, Mrs. Morrow, needs someone to birdsit her African Gray Parrot, Alix, while she goes away. How perfect. Ellie will get to birdsit, and while she is doing so, she will get information for her school project. She might even be able to take the bird to school with her, and let the bird do all the talking. That would eliminate her hives problem.
Things look like they are going to work out great, but then Ellie runs into a problem--a huge one. One day, while in her care, Alix flies away! Ellie is worried and feels horrible. How will she get Alix back. Will she get Alix back? And what happens to her project in the meantime?
Each page of this graphic novel has at least one sketch on it, and most pages have multiple illustrations to grab kids' attention. This is great for reluctant readers who like animals, because there are other animal facts included.
Like the other books in the series, this one has directions for some extra fun stuff, too. There are a couple projects you can do, like make a geodesic dome and a leopard puppet.
If you've ever had to pet sit and had something similar happen to you, you will totally relate to Ellie McDoodle: Best Friends Fur-Ever by Ruth McNally Barshaw. It might make you start to keep a sketchbook yourself.
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