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Book review: ELLIE ULTRA

Posted on January 28, 2019January 24, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ANDI, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Ellie Ultra by Gina Bellisario, ill. Jessika Von Innerebner, Stone Arch Books, ISBN 9781496531445

Do you like books with superheroes? Well, if you do, you should read Ellie Ultra. It is about a family of superheroes; a mum, a dad, and a daughter. An example of how they are superheroes is they have super vision and save their town, Winkapolis. I think it is great because it is a series of chapter books. (If that isn’t exactly your style, that’s okay.)

The illustrations are great, mostly funny and the names are cute, like Ellie, who is the main character. I really think you should read this book.

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup this month. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book review: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE

Posted on January 25, 2019January 24, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY HATTIE, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone* by JK Rowling, Scholastic, ISBN 9780545582889

Do you like books about wizards? I’m reading a book about wizards called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling. I think you should read it if you like castles, spells and magic.

Harry Potter is a boy who lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin, Dudley. They are mean to Harry. They made him sleep in a closet. On his birthday they never gave him presents. One day he starts getting letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a wizard school. The letters say to come to the school. Harry was confused, because he didn’t know he was a wizard. Hagrid, another wizard, tells Harry that he is a wizard.

Harry goes on a train to Hogwarts. He meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They become friends. When Harry gets to Hogwarts, he puts on the Sorting Hat. The hat tells them what house they will live in. Harry Potter is put in Gryffindor House.

At Hogwarts he learns about being a wizard. At his first class he was really good at flying on brooms. His teacher tells him he should play quidditch, a game where wizards fly on brooms. Harry finds out he is famous because Voldemort gave Harry a lightning scar on his forehead. Voldemort is an evil wizard. Lily, Harry’s mum, tried to keep Harry safe but Voldemort got her when Harry was a baby.

This book is awesome because it teaches you about wizards. My favorite part is is the feast because there is a lot of tasty food. The feast is in a big room where there are tables for each house. I wish I could be there. You should read it because it is exciting and it feels like real life.

My favorite character is Hermione Granger. Her and I are alike because we are both really smart and we both like books. Also her parents are not wizards (my parents are not wizards either). I also like this book because the author made the book really good by using her imagination and lots of creativity.

The Harry Potter series is a really good series. I think kids that are 8 and older would like this book because littler kids may be scared.

I give this book ten stars.

*In Australia this book is published as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: DOG MAN

Posted on January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

DOG MAN by Dav Pilkey. REVIEWED BY ISRA’EL, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, Koala Book Company, ISBN 9781742766027

I think you should read the Dog Man books by Dav Pilkey. They will take you on many adventures. It’s about a dog that is a cop that doesn’t speak at all. Sorry to disappoint you, but he does have a helpful Dog Man. His boss gets mad at him too. Especially when Dog Man jumps on his boss and licks his face. I think you should read the Dog Man series for lots of reasons. He is a hero that saves people from bad guys. He has awesome family and friends.

It is a good book and fun to read. I hope you have fun reading it.

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: THE BAD GUYS

Posted on January 23, 2019January 24, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY BECKETT, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

The Bad Guys, written & illustrated by Aaron Blabey, Scholastic Australia, ISBN 9781760150426

If you like talking animals, you will like this series. It is called The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, and the characters are Piranha, Mr Shark, Legs, Mr Snake, and Wolfie. They saved 10,000 chickens from a hamster. In book 6 you will find out that the hamster is an alien with 6 butts and 3 mouths, and he turned every cat into a zombie kitten. Then he made a cute-zilla ray and turned every dog, bunny, pony, and dolphin into a zog, zunny, zony, or zolphin.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5 stars. This book is good for ages 3–10.

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup this month. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book review: ROSE RIVERS

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 12, WA

Rose Rivers by Jacqueline Wilson, ill. Nick Sharratt, Doubleday Children’s, ISBN 9780857535184

This book is set in the world of Hetty Feather, a previous series by the author. Rose Rivers is 13 years old. She and her twin, Rupert, have always been inseparable but Rose becomes increasingly frustrated once Rupert is sent to school. Rose’s passion for learning is no use as she is kept home with her younger siblings, to learn to become more ladylike. One day she discovers Rupert has a sweetheart from a snobbish family, and Rose is in despair.

I loved this book. The characters were familiar from previous books, but it was a totally different perspective (of the more privileged family). The characters were likeable, but the book was constantly changing your views on them. You are shocked when Rose is shocked, and surprised when she is surprised.

I would recommend this book for ages 10+, and for fans of previous Hetty Feather stories. This is also the book for you if you like historical fiction. I highly recommend it!

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Young writers in action: My Pink Dog

Posted on December 17, 2018July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

MY PINK DOG
by Elizabeth, 5, NSW Dog being held in the arms of someone wearing a jumper. Photo from pexels.com

My perfect pet is a little pink dog. My dog likes bows! My pink dog likes pink dresses! We run to our house. We like to sleep in my bed.

This is Elizabeth’s first story for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Young writers in action: I promise

Posted on November 26, 2018July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

I PROMISE
by Koko-Rose, 11, QLD

As a child I promised to pick up my toys,
Brush my hair and not kiss boys.
Growing up it was to be a good friend,
Be strong, be proud and not follow the trend.

I promise I won’t stay out late,
I will be kind and not stand up my date.
I‘ll do my best your words I’ll hear,
“Be true to yourself keep loved ones near.’’

If I marry I promise to be a good wife,
To love and not get my kids in too much strife.
I will try to be happy just like you,
The lessons you taught me will shine through.

You always kept your word you see,
I believed that would never leave me.
But there was just one promise you could not keep,
Your body, your mind slipped into eternal sleep.

You fought so hard for me, my Mum,
Cancer you could not overcome,
So I promise not to say goodbye,
For in my heart you will never die.

—

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Young Writers in Action: How to Make a Friend

Posted on November 22, 2018July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

HOW TO MAKE A FRIEND: A PENGUIN’S GUIDE

by Aaron, 6, New York, USA

Pengy is a penguin for sure. He lives in the New York aquarium. He is trying to find a new friend but he can’t. He is on a different schedule to all the other penguins because he goes swimming while they eat. And when they go swimming, Pengy goes to nap and he naps for the rest of the day. So Pengy wanted to switch his schedule so he could be with the other penguins longer.

One day, Pengy the penguin was swimming around looking for friends. They all swam and dropped their eggs in the water and Pengy went to save them. The other penguins knew that Pengy took their eggs so then they started a fight. Next, they found that the other penguins laid eggs so they also took them. Then the zoo keeper finds out that the penguins are having a fight and then they separated all the penguins so they are separate from Pengy.

So because of the fight, one of the zookeepers decided to take one of the penguins and train them to be on the same schedule as Pengy. But when Pengy and the other penguin had eggs at the same time, they had a fight because there were penguins falling in the water and they didn’t know whose was whose so they fought over them.

So they split all the penguins away from Pengy and his friend to a different enclosure while all the other eggs were hatching. Then one of the eggs started to hatch but they didn’t have any water or ice to slide on. The enclosure was warm to keep the penguin eggs warm because they didn’t have feathers yet. But once they started hatching, they were moved back to be with Pengy.

Pengy was happy because they were all on his routine so he got a lot of friends to swim with.

The end … for now.

This is Aaron’s first story for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines.

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Young Writers in Action: Ballet

Posted on November 12, 2018July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

Ballet
by Hannah, 12, QLD

Pointe shoes made of pink satin I love Ballet class, for all the wrong reasons.
It’s like a comedy with varying seasons.
I watch Miss Lavender, all duck face
Boom 1. 2. 3. while watching dancers at fast pace.

There is perfect Darcy strutting around.
Nose in the air, toes pointing to the ground,
Sniffing competition, having beaten everyone.
Leotard sparkling and her hair in the latest bun.

Then there is Porscha running in late,
one ballet shoe on, and that is her fate.
A black jelly bean has stained her leotard.
Her tight bun has stopped Miss from frowning hard.

And Alena is the class clown, cunningly,
waiting for Miss Lavender to turn around.
Pulling faces and not a care in the world.
While putting a smile on every girl.

One time Miss caught Alena in the act,
but she made a quick recovery with tact.
“Sorry I just got something caught in my teeth!”
immediately turning to first position with her feet.

Ava is nowhere to be seen when class starts.
“Where is that child?” Miss Lavender asks.
“Hiding in the dressing room” Darcy tells.
Ava says Pointe class is like going to hell.

Kayla is a beautiful dancer but she is full of doubt.
She sneaks to the back but the teachers still shout.
Always trying her hardest, this girl is strong.
Tears always rolling, she is proving them wrong.

Of course Zoe is still off with the fairies.
“Child, do you even know what a Pas de duex is”?
“Um, er, um…and she trys, landing flat with a… no Miss.”
She always looks away and blushes while saying this.

We have such different lives, personalities and bodies.
But when we dance we come together like sisters at ease.
We compete in the Eisteddfods and win.
Blending together as one, limb within limb.

This is Hannah’s first poem for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines.