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Title details for Shrinking Violet by Cari Best - Available

Shrinking Violet

by Cari Best
Giselle Potter
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
"In another romp from the creators of Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!, Best zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion with insight and flair." - Publisher's Weekly

Whether she's impersonating Elvis, swaggering like Captain Hook, or imitating the sounds of a cricket, Violet is expressive and funny—but only when she's alone or with her best friend, Opal. At school, especially around class bully Irwin, who teases her nonstop, she retreats into a shell of shyness. But when Irwin, playing the part of Planet Mars in the class play, begins to spin wildly out of control and threatens to ruin the entire production, it's Violet who saves the day—managing not only to give Irwin his comeuppance but to find her own unique way of surviving the spotlight.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 1, 2003

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781339049595
      • File size: 14412 KB
      • Duration: 00:30:01

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • ATOS Level: 4.2
    • Lexile® Measure: 600
    • Interest Level: K-3(LG)
    • Text Difficulty: 2-3

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This story astutely captures the painful shyness of those who are, like Violet, "allergic to attention." Actress Calista Flockhart's surprisingly empathetic reading (was SHE once shy?) creates a spirited, likable Violet who will do anything to avoid the spotlight. Flockhart's characterization of pesky classmate Erwin, who keeps calling attention to Violet just to torture her, is equally believable. Great background music and other sound effects enhance this fine reading without distracting attention from the story of how Violet finds her own way to participate in the school play. Listeners will enjoy learning how the shy Violet triumphs--all from her hidden place in the wings! J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 2, 2001
      Potter's piquant watercolors put the crowning touch on this humorous tale of a shy child who saves her school play from disaster. The aptly named Violet hates to be the center of attention. It makes her "itch and scratch and twirl her hair" and wish she could shrink away. Though she has other talents—she's observant and a great mimic—she opts out of the school flag parade and avoids making waves in the swimming pool or "swallowing sounds at snack time." She especially dislikes it when Irwin draws attention to her, announcing that she has fat knees and smells like "deadly sewer gas." But during the class play about the solar system (for which her teacher assigns her the offstage part of the narrator, Lady Space), Violet chooses the high road: when Irwin forgets his lines, she mimics his voice and saves the day. In another romp from the creators of Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!, Best zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion with insight and flair. Potter's whimsical characters, with their toothpick legs, tiny feet and expressive faces, cavort across the pages in a flurry of muted colors (don't miss Violet's impersonation of the Statue of Liberty). Ages 4-8.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:4.2
  • Lexile® Measure:600
  • Interest Level:K-3(LG)
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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