Sylvia Jean, Drama Queen [Hardcover]

Lisa Campbell Ernst (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2005 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Wildly costumed for every occasion, Sylvia Jean is famous for always having the perfect outfit. She’s a superhero when she wants to be brave, a swan when she must be elegant in ballet class, and a clown when people need cheering up.When a town-wide costume contest is announced, everyone assumes Sylvia Jean will be triumphant. But Sylvia Jean panics. How will she ever top her previous performances? After some musing and mulling (and not a little moaning), she once again conjures up an astonishing way to amaze the crowd—by going as herself.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–Sylvia Jean, a piglet, is always in costume, whether visiting the dentist, attending school, or gardening with her mother. Everyone in town is used to seeing her dressed up, so when the announcement for a costume party with a grand prize for the best outfit is posted at the grocery store, Sylvia Jean is considered a shoo-in. All week, she conjures up and discards ideas. As the pressure mounts and everyone keeps quizzing her on her choice, she locks herself in her bedroom, where she is in tears. Suddenly, she smiles. When the event rolls around, no one recognizes her until she speaks up, as she is wearing the most spectacular costume of all–she is dressed as herself. Happily, she wins the grand prize–a trunk filled with costumes. Ernst's familiar, homey illustrations fill the pages with a lovable little pig surrounded by warm pastel colors outlined in black. An enjoyable tale that subtly shows how special it is to be true to oneself.–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Few can match the flair of little piglet Sylvia. For every activity, she has a perfect costume. When Mom gardens, Sylvia wears a bee suit; at the grocery store, she shows off a headdress of cascading fruit. When a local shop announces a costume party, a thrilled Sylvia resolves to find the perfect disguise. "It will be my best costume ever," she promises her piggie friends. "You'll never recognize me." As the day approaches, though, Sylvia is without an idea, and she takes to her room in tears. Then she hits on the one costume no one will expect: she goes to the party as herself--and wins the prize. Ernst's lively text bounces with dialogue and rhythm, while the Easter egg-colored illustrations extend the humor in detailed scenes of expressive Sylvia and her wild ensembles. This is a good choice for costume-shy children anxious about Halloween as well as young dress-up fans, and like Amy Schwartz's Begin at the Beginning (2005), it sends a reassuring message about exploring creativity and overcoming creative blocks. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469621
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469629
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #932,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's the belle of the ball!, November 10, 2005

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sylvia Jean, Drama Queen (Hardcover)

Sylvia Jean is a young piglet who has Miss Piggy's flair and wardrobe but thankfully not her overbearing and entitled attitude. She loves to dress up for every occasion, be it big or small. Her family and friends take it for granted that Sylvia Jean will show up in something marvelous every time. When the announcement comes that a costume party and contest will be held in town, everyone assumes that Sylvia Jean's outfit will be the biggest and best one of all. Surprise! A wonderful story accompanied by colorful illustrations that match the mood of this porcine community. This little piggy teaches both young and old that sometimes the best way to stand out in a crowd is simply to be yourself.