Star of the Week

I picked this book, Star of the Week by Barney Saltzberg, to read with my second grade reading buddy. He really seemed to enjoy the book and was especially interested in the illustrations. The story is about Stanley Birdbaum who is so excited to finally be chosen as star of the week. He couldn't wait to share his favorite things with his class. The week wasn't going as Stanley planned and just as he was about to share no more, Stanley, with the help of one of his classmates begins a new class craze. I like the message that the book portrays as it encourages children not to back down or give up if things aren't immediately going their way. It is important to stick out what you have begun because as Stanley Birdbaum found out you never know what will happen in the end!

I thought the illustrations were fitting and added to the story. The illustrations were very useful for the end of the story when Stanley was showing the class how he draws. My reading buddy was amused by the illustrations of Stanley's "squiggle drawings." Instead of just reading about the squiggle drawings, the illustrations allowed us to see what these new drawings are. My reading buddy was entertained and enthralled by Stanley being able to turn two squiggles into a picture of a bird looking for lunch. Good job, Stanley! I knew you had it in you!