Publishers Weekly
Together Again Beginning readers will welcome the return of several favorite characters. Amber Brown stars in two titles by Paula Danziger, illus. by Tony Ross. In It's a Fair Day, Amber Brown, the heroine and her best friend, Justin, enjoy a vacation with their families. Unfortunately, things turn sour when Amber's parents start arguing and she gets lost at the county fair. Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown focuses on first-day jitters that are quickly quelled. (July) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-From the beginning of his first day of first grade at his new school, Marvin feels as though he is "one too many." First, he gets lost at school, then when he finds his class, his teacher isn't expecting him so he doesn't have a name card or a place to sit. As the days go on, things only get worse for Marvin because everyone in his class can read the new words that they are learning except for him. When his teacher sends a note home asking the parents to read with their children, Marvin doesn't show it to his parents because he thinks they are too busy with their farm and he doesn't want to be a bother. Finally, during a snow storm when everyone is stuck inside, Marvin's family realizes that Marvin can't read. Marvin's dad tells him that he was the last one in his class to read, and Marvin and his dad sit down and read together. Christina Moore uses a variety of voices to distinguish between the various characters in this beginning reader written by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Jane Clark Brown (HarperCollins, 2001). Her narration reflects all of the dejection, sorrow, pain and, eventually, joy that Marvin experiences. Occasional moments of background music enhance the story by accenting the emotions and actions. A great choice for individual or class use with beginning readers.-Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
It's always a fair day or better with the irrepressible Amber Brown around. In this third addition to the easy reader A Is for Amber series, Danziger (Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown, above, etc.) sends Amber and her best friend Justin off to the Poconos (or Poke-a-Nose, in Amber-speak) with their families on vacation. Amber's parents have been fighting (in back-story development that foreshadows their divorce in the Amber stories for older readers), and she hopes that will stop and everyone will have a perfect day at the county fair. They all have fun on the rides, but another parental fight erupts, and Amber, feeling lost and rejected, really does get lost when she tries to find Justin's happier family. Her parents see that their fighting has hurt their child, and the tension is resolved in a satisfying conclusion with some tears, hugs, and a teddy-bear prize from Amber's dad to her mom. Ross provides her usual cheerful and humorous illustrations in watercolor and ink, with lots of funny faces from the children. Danziger shows her usual deft touch with childhood feelings and family dynamics, adding another original story with genuine humor and emotion to the growing chronicle of Amber's life. (Easy reader. 5-9)
