Andy and Tamika (Andy Russell) [Paperback]

David A. Adler (Author), Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 9, 1999 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Andy Russell

Andy Russell’s misadventures continue when his gerbils escape once again, this time at the school carnival. Meanwhile, Andy’s friend Tamika prepares to move in with the Russells temporarily, and Andy and his sister, Rachel, will try anything to find out if they are going to have a baby brother or a baby sister.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4-Andy Russell's active brain is always busy but rarely tuned into what is going on in his fourth-grade class. While the other students are hard at work, he chooses names for what he hopes will be a new brother, worries about a stray cat hanging around the playground, and thinks about his pal Tamika or his enemy Stacy Ann Jackson. Fractions may not be Andy's bag, but he makes top grades at caring for animals and for friends in need. He willingly offers some of his 50 baby gerbils as prizes for the school carnival but insists the new owners sign a contract promising proper care for their new pets. When Tamika loses her foster family, Andy's family takes her in and he arranges a celebration to welcome her. Andy is an unusual male character because his exploits deal with emotions and relationships rather than physical challenges. Adler does his usual competent job of gearing his writing to readers just beginning novels, but the plot lacks the tension found in his "Cam Jansen" stories (Viking). Hillenbrand's full-page, black-and-white illustrations nicely reflect the humorous tone of the text. Readers looking for a relatively tame home/school story with a warm family background but few surprises will enjoy Andy. Children hooked on fast-paced plots will have to look elsewhere.
Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Plenty of humor and action...lively drawings. Children ready to tackle something a bit more challenging than the average beginning chapter book will find the longer length and multiple story lines in this selection to be just the thing. —Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; 1 edition (August 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152019014
• ISBN-13: 978-0152019013
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,328,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Andy is back, April 22, 2005

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Andy and Tamika (Andy Russell) (Paperback)

Andy tried hard to focus in school. But it's so hard when he tried to plan out the school carnival and think of a name for his new baby brother. And if all this wasn't enough his gerbils have escapes in the school AGAIN! This keeps him in trouble all the time. His best friend Tamika is going to try her best to help him stay out of trouble.

This is the second book in the Andy Russell series. Kids will enjoy this and look for the others that follow it.

I would recommend this book. I feel that kids can relate to the characters in the book well.

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, easy reading for young children or struggling readers., March 14, 2003

By 

Kim Creech (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Andy and Tamika (Andy Russell) (Paperback)

Andy & Tamika is a realistic fiction trade book that is centered on the experiences of a young boy named Andy. This book includes many elements of the different types of realistic fiction such as, relationships with the nuclear family and alternative family situations, relationships with peers, relationships with animals, cultural diversity, and a slight element of suspense. In addition, periodic illustrations throughout the book provide appealing representations of the characters and settings that are involved. This book is part of a series by David A. Adler that follows The many troubles of Andy Russell and proceeds School Trouble for Andy Russell.
This book is recommended for 9-12 year old readers but would probably appeal more to the younger children in this age range and/or benefit struggling readers at the older end due to its limited vocabulary, larger font and shorter sentence structure. Since this story is part of a series, young readers who identify with the characters and like the variety of story details, would most likely enjoy reading the other books offered by this author. I liked this book for its variety of realistic fiction elements but would prefer a book with greater vocabulary and more advanced writing structure for children of its intended age.