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Judy Moody & Friends #4
Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle
Frank Pearl is chasing a prize in this Judy Moody® story for newly independent readers.
Just once, Frank Pearl would like to win at something! He is going to win a prize if it’s the last thing he does. Could an amazing yo-yo trick or Cookie the parrot land him a prize? Could a blue ribbon be his at the Great Third-Grade Breakfast Bash? With three shots at a prize and Judy Moody cheering him on (sort of?), there’s no way that Frank can miss out on a trophy this time.
Just once, Frank Pearl would like to win at something! He is going to win a prize if it’s the last thing he does. Could an amazing yo-yo trick or Cookie the parrot land him a prize? Could a blue ribbon be his at the Great Third-Grade Breakfast Bash? With three shots at a prize and Judy Moody cheering him on (sort of?), there’s no way that Frank can miss out on a trophy this time.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2014
About the author
Megan McDonald
321 books751 followers"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 31, 2025
It was okay. I liked when I saw the waffle. It made me think about eating a rainbow.
February 29, 2016
Frank Pearl wants to win a contest in the worst way. But after losing in the Fro-Yo Yo-Yo contest and the Kooky Cookie Contest, can he manage to win the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle Contest?
Megan McDonald has created a new series of books featuring the ever popular Judy Moody character. Aimed at the beginning reader, there is plenty of white space and lots of colorful illustrations to keep the reader occupied. Lots of funny situations will keep the reader amused. This will be a hit with the young reader who is past the primer-type books but not quite reader for chapter books. Recommended. Grades 1 through 4.
I love this series I read this book from the library and it was a quick read I really recommend this series for lovers of Judy moody this series talks about Judy moody and her friends ❤️
Megan McDonald has created a new series of books featuring the ever popular Judy Moody character. Aimed at the beginning reader, there is plenty of white space and lots of colorful illustrations to keep the reader occupied. Lots of funny situations will keep the reader amused. This will be a hit with the young reader who is past the primer-type books but not quite reader for chapter books. Recommended. Grades 1 through 4.
I love this series I read this book from the library and it was a quick read I really recommend this series for lovers of Judy moody this series talks about Judy moody and her friends ❤️
June 12, 2015
Frank Pearl wants to win a contest in the worst way. But after losing in the Fro-Yo Yo-Yo contest and the Kooky Cookie Contest, can he manage to win the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle Contest?
Megan McDonald has created a new series of books featuring the ever popular Judy Moody character. Aimed at the beginning reader, there is plenty of white space and lots of colorful illustrations to keep the reader occupied. Lots of funny situations will keep the reader amused. This will be a hit with the young reader who is past the primer-type books but not quite reader for chapter books. Recommended. Grades 1 through 4.
Megan McDonald has created a new series of books featuring the ever popular Judy Moody character. Aimed at the beginning reader, there is plenty of white space and lots of colorful illustrations to keep the reader occupied. Lots of funny situations will keep the reader amused. This will be a hit with the young reader who is past the primer-type books but not quite reader for chapter books. Recommended. Grades 1 through 4.
November 3, 2017
I really like the Judy Moody series of books. I have read a handful of them to my kids and they are always a delight to read. They are short, but long enough to read over 2-3 bedtime stories. This one was 3 chapters, but after the second the kids (as they often do) beg to read just one more chapter, so I did.
I personally prefer the older style of illustration, but this was good too. There is at least some picture on every turn of the page to keep the youngest kids interested.
I personally prefer the older style of illustration, but this was good too. There is at least some picture on every turn of the page to keep the youngest kids interested.
April 28, 2015
I definitely rate this book five stars because of its chapters and all the charters and description that they used in the book my favourite chapter would be all of them because they are all out standing I very much like when frank wins in the last chapter but I'm not going to tell you any more you will have to read this excellent book
January 24, 2015
Perfect for budding readers! Three short episodes about how Frank is desperate to just once win a blue ribbon and be the best and just how spectacularly he fails along the way. But like many a children's story there is a lesson and happy ending to be found.
January 8, 2015
If you like Judy Moody books, these are shorter books about her friends. My kids (5&9) both enjoyed it.
November 28, 2023
Hockessin Library 5&6 Year Old Book Group - November 2023
December 23, 2020
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I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others in the series, but it was still a fun and interesting read.
This one focuses on Frank Pearl and his desire to win a contest. Each chapter documents his attempts at winning a different contest from yoyo tricks to talented pets to waffles. I especially enjoyed the yoyo and waffle contests but the second chapter ended rather abruptly and I honestly felt kind of bad for Cookie by the end of it. I wanted a bit more resolution than was given. Still overall a fun read.
This is a nice short chapter book with episodic chapters, simple text, and lovely full-color illustrations that pair nicely with narration.
Fun to see some of the adventures of the other characters from the Judy Moody books in this spin-off series.
I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others in the series, but it was still a fun and interesting read.
This one focuses on Frank Pearl and his desire to win a contest. Each chapter documents his attempts at winning a different contest from yoyo tricks to talented pets to waffles. I especially enjoyed the yoyo and waffle contests but the second chapter ended rather abruptly and I honestly felt kind of bad for Cookie by the end of it. I wanted a bit more resolution than was given. Still overall a fun read.
This is a nice short chapter book with episodic chapters, simple text, and lovely full-color illustrations that pair nicely with narration.
Fun to see some of the adventures of the other characters from the Judy Moody books in this spin-off series.
April 7, 2018
This book is part of the "Judy Moody and Friends" series. I picked up several of them at the library because of the big colour illustrations and because there are a variety of characters but they're still linked from being in the same group of friends. This one has Frank desperately wanting to win something like his friends. There's a kind of bottled up angst in the text but the ending is sweet with Frank so genuinely happy with his 'One of a kind' rosette.
March 13, 2019
Frank Pearl has never won a contest of any kind. He wants to win one badly, so he enters into a yo-yo contest, a pet contest with his parrot cookie, and finally a waffle-off contest. Read along and see how he fairs in each of them as his friend Judy Moody is there for morale support.
November 18, 2024
I have fun reading these with my daughter. Frank tries to enter three contests: a yo-yo contest, a pet contest, and a waffle contest. He doesn't have a lot of success, but the ending is good. Such great characters!
February 28, 2018
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September 12, 2018
I read this in fourth grade, great book for young audience.
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January 27, 2021AR 3.1
August 14, 2023
Lo unico que no me gusto, fue esa necesidad intensa de ganar algo y hacerlo solo por ganar
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April 6, 2016Title: Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle
Author:Megan McDonald
Illustrator: Erwin Madrid
Genre:Transitional Chapter Book
Theme(s):trying hard, winning a competition
Opening line/sentence: (type directly from text)
Brief Book Summary: Frank really wants to win a trophy. He has never won anything and is willing to try everything in order to win one. This book includes characters such as Judy Moody and is the story of Frank winning a trophy.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Illustrated by Erwin Madrid. Judy Moody and Friends series. Judy Moody's friends take center stage in two more spinoff transitional readers. As Judy provides ideas and support, budding journalist Amy hunts for news stories and Frank attempts to win a contest. Series illustrator Madrid brings the original characters to full-color life. The breezy, humorous books are great stepping stones for kids on their way to independent chapter-book reading. Review covers these Judy Moody and Friends titles:Amy Namey in Ace Reporter and Frank Pearl in The Awful Waffle Kerfuffle.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Frank Pearl is a friend of Judy Moody s and he is determined to win at something. In this chapter book he has three contests to enter, and each one has a chance to win a ribbon. Maybe he will win with a yo-yo trick. Or maybe Cookie the parrot will help him win. There is also the third-grade breakfast bash. Maybe that’s the winning ticket. Frank’s hard-working and humorous outcomes will have readers laughing and applauding him. Fans of the Judy Moody books will enjoy this new series. This is a book for newly independent readers. They will meet Judy Moody who is cheering on her friend--at least sort of cheering him on. Madrid s bight and colorful illustrations fill the pages. And the text is in a large font for this young audience. This is a fun book full of lessons about not giving up and trying our best. Children will enjoy it. 2014, Candlewick Press,, $12.99. Ages 4 to 8.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the professional reviewers because it is a perfect definition of a transitional book. The parts I agree with most are when the reviewer talks about the large font and the colorful illustrations. The illustrator uses bright colors to grab the attention of young readers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book is perfect for students who are transitioning out of picture books into chapter books. It has characters that are relatable and the storyline is great to show when you persevere and try it, it tends to pay off.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would have my students write goals on a piece of paper before the book. Then after the book I will have them each come up with a plan to fulfill one of their goals. They will be matched with a partner to keep them motivated.
February 15, 2017
This felt so real and hilarious.
I really love it!
I really love it!
September 14, 2014
Judy Moody's friend Frank Pearl is intent on just one winning a prize for something. He gives his best shot with a yo-yo trick and his talking parrot, but each time something goes wrong. When his Exploding Volcano Waffle goes awry too, he figures he might as well give up. But sometimes prizes are awarding for being a little bit different. Fans of Judy Moody will enjoy this title and this new series. While Frank's problem is resolved nicely and he comes out of things a winner, it isn't necessarily the way he expected to win.
October 10, 2014
Judy Moody spends time with her friend Frank as he tries to win a contest. First, he fails dismally at a yo-yo contest. Next, a vacuum scares his parrot and costs him a win. Finally, Frank has success in a waffle contest at school.
This book would be appropriate for readers between six and nine years old. The large print and colorful illustrations help to break up the text for young readers. Young readers will also enjoy the humorous story lines as Frank manages to create chaos in each contest he enters. Readers that enjoy contemporary realistic fiction may also enjoy this book.
This book would be appropriate for readers between six and nine years old. The large print and colorful illustrations help to break up the text for young readers. Young readers will also enjoy the humorous story lines as Frank manages to create chaos in each contest he enters. Readers that enjoy contemporary realistic fiction may also enjoy this book.
October 12, 2014
Frank Pearl wants nothing more than to win a contest-ANY contest. He craves the recognition and won't stop until he turns up a winner. Fortunately for him, being one of a kind may just be the win he's looking for.
Megan McDonald's sense of humor is spot on and Erwin Madrid's illustrations capture that beautifully. Siblings of those reading Judy Moody, but aren't quite ready for them, will adore this series.
Megan McDonald's sense of humor is spot on and Erwin Madrid's illustrations capture that beautifully. Siblings of those reading Judy Moody, but aren't quite ready for them, will adore this series.
October 6, 2014
Shorter chapter book that transitioning readers will enjoy.
May 6, 2015
Easy peasy beginner chapter book.
May 17, 2015
Good early ch bk for grades 1-2.
January 5, 2017
Good chapter book. Reads more like short stories.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews