Third Grade Angels

by Jerry Spinelli Narrated by Johnny Heller

Overview

FORMAT: UNABRIDGED



George, aka "Suds," has just entered third grade, and he's heard the rhyme about "first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats," but what does this mean for his school year? It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded "the halo" - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he's finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated. Does he have to be good even outside of school? (Does he have to be nice to his annoying little sister?) And if Mrs. Simms doesn't actually see him doing a good deed, does it even count?



A warm, funny return to elementary school from master storyteller Spinelli.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

In this peppy prequel to Fourth Grade Rats (1991), Spinelli builds on the childhood rhyme from that novel (“First grade babies!/ Second grade cats!/ Third grade angels!/ Fourth grade rats!”) as George (aka Suds) eagerly tries to earn the first cardboard halo that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will award throughout the year for good behavior. Spinelli’s careful characterizations give the story its emotional honesty, and Suds’s obsession with snagging the halo—and his resulting angst—inspire some genuinely funny moments. In fact, he surprises even himself at the lengths he’ll go in pursuit of a halo, progressing from holding the door for girls to a far more angelic gesture: “I hold the door for boys.” Nicely developed adult figures, including Suds’s mother and Mrs. Simms, add to the story’s comedy and warmhearted quality. A climactic good deed by Suds takes place just before the announcement of the first halo award, the results of which few readers will see coming. An entertaining lead-in to this earnest hero’s fourth-grade year. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

Praise for THIRD GRADE ANGELS:"Spinelli doesn't miss a beat in recreating the characters from [Fourth Grade Rats]... Sweet and funny." — KIRKUS REVIEWS"Third-graders are notoriously competitive, and Spinelli has his finger on the pulse of that age group. Suds's first-person account rings true." — HORN BOOK"This beginning chapter book moves at an enjoyably brisk pace; readers will appreciate the familiar school and home settings, and they'll look forward to meeting the characters again in a forthcoming book. A story kids will relate to, with valuable, down-to-earth messages about character and motives." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

School Library Journal - Audio

Gr 2–4—George's nickname is "Suds" because he heads for a bubble bath whenever he's feeling "chipmunky." He's in the third grade now, and the schoolyard chant goes: "First grade babies! Second grade cats! Third grade angels! Fourth grade rats!" The quest to be the first to earn the class cardboard halo for angelic behavior drives Suds headfirst into the competition—picking up trash, mastering cursive, and holding doors open, even for boys. He dives into the street to save a dog, but wonders if anyone saw it. Was his "slam dunk" of a good deed wasted? The race for the halo is further complicated because Suds can't see the progress of his opponents—err, classmates. As listeners are questioning Suds's motivation, the story ends with a magnificent act of selflessness and purity of spirit. Spinelli's prequel (2012) to Fourth Grade Rats (1991, both Scholastic) is as sweet and amusing as it's almost perfect hero. Johnny Heller's enunciation is slightly too precise for a third grader, but his expression is perfect. At the end of the story, there's an interview with Spinelli that might be above the heads of the target audience. An enjoyable chapter book.—Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA

Kirkus Reviews

Suds Morton is not yet a "Fourth Grade Rat." In this prequel to Spinelli's 1991 standby, he is a year younger and, according to his school's traditional chant, he aspires to the sobriquet of "Third Grade Angel." When his teacher announces her intention of rewarding angelic behavior with a halo, Suds decides he wants to be the first angel. Between his cool new friend Joey, his wise mom and a little conclusion-jumping, he comes up with a plan. But, of course, his results are just a little off-kilter. Suds, nicknamed for his preference for calming soaks in bubble baths when he gets "chipmunky," needs all the help he can get to deal with the various disasters and tribulations that threaten to overwhelm him. Along with the angel chase there's a pesky little sister, a fifth-grade bully and total rejection by the girl he adores. Spinelli doesn't miss a beat in recreating the characters from the earlier work and never reveals any hint of Suds' fourth-grade future. He lets readers into Suds' 8-year-old mind without condescension. His problems and concerns are treated comically but with genuine kindness. Suds is innocent, gullible and trusting; he is also entirely good-hearted. Young readers will recognize Suds as one of their own and will gladly follow him to fourth grade. Sweet and funny. (Fiction. 7-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171292119
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Read an Excerpt

from THIRD GRADE ANGELS:It was a warm and sunny day, but really windy. Swings were flapping even when nobody sat on them. Basketball shots were curving. Besides the wind, everything was going along pretty normal until a yellow baseball cap came flying onto the playground. On the other side of the fence a lady in a sweat suit was stopped, jogging in place. She was pointing to her hat, which had blown off and landed among a bunch of us third-graders. For a second nobody moved. And then it hit all of us at once: Good deed! About ten of us pounced on the hat. There were so many hands the best I could do was grab somebody's wrist. We were wrenching and pulling and twisting ten different ways.“I got it!”“I got it!”“Let go!”“I was first!”“I was first!”“Oww!”Suddenly we all snapped apart like a broken wishbone. Eddie Shank was holding the rim of the cap. Diana Briggs was holding the rest. Somebody said, “Uh-oh.”

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