Customer Reviews

Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The flashiness quotient has been upped for the first ever team-up between Judy Moody and her younger brother Stink. How does that flashiness make itself known? Well,

Exhibit A: A holiday theme. This makes it clear that, just like Christmas, this sort of thing doesn't happen all the time.

Exhibit B: Color illustrations. A first for the Moody family. This is especially different for Judy herself, who's simple brown paper bag covers stood out precisely for their lack of a wide color palate.

Exhibit C: Sparkly cover. This would normally not be a good thing for me (just call me Glitter Magnet), but the saving grace is that it's not the rub off on your hands kind of glitter - it's a permanent, part of the paper sparkle. (Note to book cover designers: consider this technique for new glitter-applying standard?).

But enough of that - on to the story. The Holidays are nigh and the Moody children are making their Christmas wish lists. Judy's is a sprawling masterpiece that cannot be contained by standard paper, while Stink (spurred on my an unexpected visitor) has just one gift in mind - snow. Judy takes great big sisterly pleasure in telling Stink that in Virginia, there's no such thing as a white Christmas.

In the meantime, Judy and Stink take part in the annual Holiday program at their school. Judy's class puts a new spin on Christmas with a Hawaiian theme, while stink puts his own unique stamp on the event.

On the Eve of the big day, Judy and her brother place a bet on the likelihood of snow by midnight. All they have to do is stay awake to find out.

While not quite as winning as previous Judy Moody and Stink solo adventures, "The Holly Joliday" will be read eagerly by fans of the series. Some good fun.

All the Jody Moody and Stink books are loads of fun for my 8 year old son. This book is another keeper and has a very cool sparkly cover!

Christmas is zooming up on the Moodys' calendar. Stink is glued to the Weather Channel hoping to get good snow news. When he meets the new mailman, Mr. Frost, Stink is told to call him Jack, as in "Jack Frost." Jack Frost has a big white beard and a round tummy. He also has a great sense of humor (he tells Stink that if a dog bites him, he'll get "frost bite"). Stink immediately puts two and two together and pleads for Jack Frost to deliver snow since that is all he cares about this Christmas --- even as Stink's sister Judy informs him that it never rains in Virginia, so he's out of luck.

But Jack Frost claims he might be able to arrange a snowstorm. He seems to know quite a lot about weather and reminisces about a huge snowstorm in 1980. This gives Stink hope, although Judy teases him unmercifully when he tells her that Jack Frost is their new mailman and might help them get snow.

Meanwhile, Judy is busy composing her T.P. (totally presents) list, which she actually writes on toilet paper. Her list is very long, but when she tells Stink to write his, he prints out one word: "SNOW." Later, when Judy informs her mom about her class's Hawaiian Christmas party, Stink tells how his class made a snowflake field guide and learned about the famous snowflake photographer named Snowflake Bentley. At the school play, the parrot in Judy's class makes everyone laugh by belting out "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in Spanish, while Stink stuns the audience (and his teacher) by not appearing as the "Night Before Christmas" mouse, but as a blinding white snowflake.

On Christmas Eve, the Moody house is a scene of wild gift-wrapping and pizza eating. The doorbell rings, and Jack Frost appears with a package. But Stink answers the door, and so he is the only one to see him. The package is addressed to them but has no return address. When Judy and Stink tear it open, they find a pair of mittens for each of them. Stink is intrigued by the mystery, while Judy thinks it's silly.

Judy returns to decorating the entire house in a Hawaiian holiday motif with pink flamingo lights, a blow-up palm tree and paper surfboards, while Stink stares longingly out the window, hoping and wishing for snow clouds. He bets Judy that it will snow by midnight; whoever loses has to eat the terrible fruitcake that Grandma Lou makes and sends to the family. The two siblings determine that they will stay up until midnight to see who wins the bet.

They try everything in order to stay awake: sips of coffee (blech!), loud Christmas carol CDs, reading out loud every book about snow the family owns, and playing card games. Their mom and dad even let them crawl into their sleeping bags in the living room. Unfortunately Stink falls asleep. Judy manages to stay awake until she hears something completely unexpected.

THE HOLLY JOLIDAY is another fun book in this series, with an additional enjoyable smidge of holiday magic and wonder. The many fans of Judy Moody and Stink will adore joining the Moody clan for the holidays and will root for Stink's Christmas wish to come true.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Son, 8, is not a big fan of reading when time could be better utilized by video games. He loved reading all of the Stink books. By virtue of Stink being Judy's younger brother, he also wanted to read the Judy Moody books. I would find him laughing hysterically at many times. A wonderful thing to see. Any series that can inspire children to want to read is fantastic. This series opened the door to enjoying reading for my son.

This was a good addition for anyone who likes Judy Moody books. Both my 6 and 9 year olds liked it.

I credit the Judy Moody series (as well as the Ivy and Bean series of books) as the reason my daughter has enjoyed reading so much. She is currently in first grade and loves reading these chapter books which revolve around a young girl named Judy Moody and her friends. Judy Moody is imaginative and fun-loving, and very intelligent though she can also be a tad unfocussed and overly excitable.

Judy Moody and her younger brother Stink are all excited about the upcoming Christmas holiday. Judy has her wish list and so does Stink but what he really wants is snow, something that is rare in Virginia. Then they meet a mysterious mailman, Mr. Jack Frost and begin to have a glimmer of hope!

The charm of the Judy Moody series of books is the use of humor that engages both children and older readers. I am always chuckling as my daughter reads the books out loud to me, and it was no different this time. This title is printed on high quality paperback, and adding to the book's charm is the fact that there are many illustrations peppered throughout, all in glorious, vibrant color!

I think that it's a good book and I like the pictures. I also think this is a funny book. My favorite character is Judy Moody.

Anais

Great Book. My daughter wanted Judy Moody and Stink Books for Christmas. This combination book with a Holiday theme worked out perfect for her Christmas gift! Great Book!

This was a delightful holiday addition to the Judy Moody and Stink series. A lot of fun and a little touch of magic. We look forward to the next adventure.