{"product_id":"vera-vance-comics-star-isbn-9780823447428","title":"Vera Vance: Comics Star","description":"\u003cb\u003eThird grader Vera Vance has signed up for the comics camp after-school program, but her mother would much rather she focus on academics, athletics, music. . . \u003ci\u003eanything\u003c\/i\u003e but comics! Now in paperback.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVera loves all things comic books, so she can't wait for the comics after-school class to start--even though her mother wonders whether it's educational enough. But Vera is determined to participate, and starts developing her own comic about Big Spoon and Little Spoon with the encouragement of her enthusiastic friend Nixie and instruction from teachers who are accomplished cartoonists themselves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the weels go by, the after-school teachers announce that for the final class, students will go on a field trip to a local comic-con--and they can even enter a page from their comics in a contest that will be judged there! Vera isn't surprised when her mother says she can't go. But maybe Big Spoon and Little Spoon can convince her mother to accept her passion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eVera Vance: Comics Star \u003c\/i\u003efollows\u003ci\u003e Nixie Ness: Cooking Star \u003c\/i\u003ein the After-School Superstars chapter book series. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eJudy Moody, Ivy and Bean, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Clementine\u003c\/i\u003e, the series is illustrated in black and white and each book includes a bonus activity that corresponds to the book's plot.\"Vera's shyness will be appreciated and understood by many readers. Her character stays real throughout, and the lovely wrap-up shows how every personality type and situation can find a way to use their strengths to reach their goals. . . . Readers who stick around to see Vera become her own hero are in for a satisfying read.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \"This is a welcome addition to the 'After-School Superstars' series and a lesson in family love and self-expression.\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Heartfelt moments between Vera and her single-parent mother mix with their struggles over the value of comics to create a realistic family dynamic, and honest moments among the third-grade campers keep the chapter book from becoming overly pat. Spot illustrations and an appended list of Vera’s favorite comics and graphic novels add extra punch.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \"Readers will enjoy the discussions of comics, the moments of classroom drama, and the fine-tuned, sensitive depiction of Vera's relationship with her mother. It's no surprise that Vera's comic reflects her own situation, emotions, and hopes. The unexpected twist here comes when Little Spoon triumphs by creating a happy ending for Vera's story as well as her own. A rewarding addition to the After-School Superstars series, which opened with \u003ci\u003eNixie Ness, Cooking Star\u003c\/i\u003e (2019).\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \"Students who love comics in any form can relate to the realistic and varied characters that depict typical students and personalities. The vocabulary is simple enough for early chapter readers and the interspersed pencil drawings add to the compelling storyline.\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—School Library Connection\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"In her usual assured and friendly style, Mills respectfully tackles some common elementary-grade dilemmas; the confident, funny, and capable characterizations bring Vera’s explorations to vivid life, as Vera worries, new friend Nixie sunnily beams, and Vera’s mother keeps a tight rein on everything. Budding artists will appreciate the respect for and information about the comics process and relate to Vera’s joy at immersing herself in her beloved pastime.\"\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eClaudia Mills has written many children's books including\u003ci\u003e 7 x 9 = Trouble!,\u003c\/i\u003e the Franklin School Friends series, and the Mason Dixon series, among other chapter books and books for middle-grade readers. She lives in Boulder, Colorado. www.claudiamillsauthor.com\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrace Zong has illustrated many books for children, including \u003ci\u003eOur Food: A Healthy Serving of Science and Poems \u003c\/i\u003eby Grace Lin, \u003ci\u003eGoldy Luck and the Three Pandas\u003c\/i\u003e by Natasha Yim, \u003ci\u003ePippa and Percival, Pancake and Poppy: Four Peppy Puppies \u003c\/i\u003eby Deborah Diesen, and \u003ci\u003eMrs. McBee Leaves Room 3\u003c\/i\u003e by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan. She divides her time between South Korea and New York.","brand":"Margaret Ferguson Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46299812004069,"sku":"NP9780823447428","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780823447428.jpg?v=1767743414","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/vera-vance-comics-star-isbn-9780823447428","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}