| Title | : | Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat (Violet Mackerel, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781921529191 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 111 |
| Publication | : | First published November 1, 2011 |
Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat (Violet Mackerel, #3) Reviews
-
I do love this series. Violet is a little bit too good to be true, but she feels more real than some brats in some children's books. I am glad that the school judges gave Nicola the certain recognition that they did.
-
Violet's sister Nicola is in a ferociously bad mood. She'a working on a project in Natural Science and, not only is nothing going right but Violet isn't helping with her suggestions. Especially the stupid ones about ladybirds.
Violet decides to help some small things and ladybirds, come to think of it, might be a good place to start. She finds a tiny one she dubs Small Gloria and then builds it a nice dry habitat in a bottle with many brilliant things like tinsel and her special rainbow wishing stone she was given at a fairy party. She also put in some sweetpeas and cheese on toast.
In the morning, Small Gloria is dead. Violet feels terrible and there's only grumpy Nicola for company. But Nicola helps her bury Small Gloria and then Violet comes up with a wonderful idea. Nicola, who is good at jewellery-making, should make a display of the life cycle of the ladybird in which no ladybugs are harmed.
Another warm fuzzy of a book. The relationships seem to be becoming more realistic as the series progresses and thus the books feel more accessible. The delicate illustrations still capture a soft mood and the interesting fonts are well... still interesting. They add something emphatic to the book but I'm still not quite sure what.
This is a book for young girls though, again, I sometimes wondered about the level of the vocabulary. -
This is a lovely story about a girl trying to do something nice, build a new habitat for a small ladybug (and Violet, as youngest in her family, feels a real affinity for small things). But she doesn't learn enough about what ladybugs like instead of what Violet likes. She leaves the lid on, and Small Gloria dies. Ack! The other plot is about her big sister's Science Fair project, and the book weaves the two together beautifully. The story feels organic and real. It's a little quiet, with not as much overt humor as Remarkable Recovery had, but I like it much more (no reliance on huge coincidences to make the plot work).
-
Darling and sweet, just like the other Violet Mackerel's.
7-year-old Violet understands the small things in the world because she is the smallest in the family. She makes a lovely habitat for a ladybug she finds in the yard and is
Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat packs a lot of issues into one little tiny book, but it never feels like it's too much or overbearing. Lovely. -
Someone recommended this series to me and so this is my first ever encounter with this delightful character. Violet is kind, inquisitive, creative, understanding, thoughtful and loyal. The plot revolves around her investigation into what a natural habitat means. She begins to wonder about this when she sees a tiny sparrow trapped inside a shopping mall. Her big sister, Nicola, is causing much family tension because she cannot think of what to display for her Natural Science display. Will Violet's care of a tiny ladybird save the day? Read and find out.
-
Loved the nature/science/ecology connection. Perfect for my Grade 2/3 readers just beginning to read chapter books.
-
In this third installment of the Violet Mackerel series, Violet continues her theories of Small Things. The author cleverly sets an everyday event—a bird trapped in a mall—as the catalyst for an authentic 7-year-old journey. With a gentle message and a heart wrenching twist, this Violet book surprised me, but in an inevitable and completely age-appropriate way. She and her siblings grow throughout the series and experience the monumental drama of humble everyday life. This amazing author trusts the young reader and respects them to the last. With sparkling charm and irresistible voice, this may not be my favorite in the series, but it is expertly crafted.
-
The author did a lovely job of weaving the topic of natural science into the the context of Violet's family relationships. The overriding theme of stewardship of nature is strong without being heavy-handed. I can imagine children feeling inspired by this book to do some nature exploring, crafting and science experiments of their own. The illustrations are sweet but lackluster, better ones could have greatly enhanced the book, especially in the sections on the ladybug's life cycle.
-
Violet learns lessons about "life" in this one the third entry in the charming series about Violet and her life. She is a memorable character, and whilst some of the stories blend together after a while, they are certainly warm and give the feels so to speak. Another great read in a good series.
-
Cute book with a dose of realism. Small Gloria doesn't like grilled cheese and sometimes it's best to leave nature alone. A good intro for Eco-literacy for preschool and lower elementary students.
-
Adorable. Recommend to kids reading beginning chapter books. Cute voice and plot and very well written for the age.
-
cute and touching
-
Violet Mackerel has just learned that all animals have a natural habitat. When she discovers an unusually small ladybug in her garden, she decides that it would have an even better life in a fancy habitat inside a jar. She puts the ladybug in the jar, takes it into her bedroom, feeds it, and goes to bed. When she wakes up in the morning, she learns what her habitat has done to the ladybug. Thankfully, Violet's older sister, who is in desperate need of a creative science project, is there to help Violet learn from her mistake and turn her hard lesson about habitats into something beautiful.
There are two things that make me really like this book: its delicate treatment of the difficult lesson many kids must learn about the fragility of wildlife, and the blossoming of the relationship between Violet and her usually moody big sister. Violet is at every moment an authentic seven-year-old filled with curiosity, hope, and ideas. Her observations about the world around her, from her sympathy for the tiny ladybug in the garden, to the disappointment she feels when all she gets at the shopping center is a pair of socks make her an endearing character the reader wants to befriend. Young readers will find it easy to step into Violet's shoes and they will empathize fully with her sadness at the loss of her ladybug and her simultaneous excitement about enjoying time with her big sister. Budding naturalists will also learn important lessons about leaving creatures in their natural habitats and not trying to cage wild animals, however small.
Recommend the Violet Mackerel series to new chapter book readers who like nature, crafts, and family stories. Violet will especially appeal to readers who have enjoyed books about Clementine, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones. -
This was one of the first books that I read when I was just trying to get into reading and it was such a cute story about a girl and a ladybug.
-
Ten chapters, 10ish pages, 7-year-old protagonist, wide text spacing.
Chapter 1: Violet starts thinking about the benefits of helping small things and learns what a natural habitat is.
Chapter 2: Violet sees a ladybug outside and wonders how she can help it. Her older siblings make fun of the idea.
Chapter 3: Creation of new habitat
Chapter 4: New problem: Dead ladybug, BUT sister wants to help her.
Chapter 5: New solution for both of them: learn about ladybugs and use this knowledge for older sister's science project.
Chapter 6: Work on solution
Chapter 7: Solution: want to have a funeral for ladybug.
Chapter 8: Ladybug funeral, together as sisters
Chapter 9: Sister wins small prize for her project
Chapter 10: Violet helps small bird she saw in chapter 1, to get back to its natural habitat, without really planning to. -
My daughter found this book just browsing through the library. We read it together and really enjoyed the story of Violet and her attempt at helping a ladybug. Of course, her help turned out to be more of a hindrance, but it was a good chance for my kids to learn about pets, nature, and leaving creatures in their natural environments.
I liked the chapter where Violet helps her sister come up with a display for the Natural Science Fair. Besides being educational, it shows that science and creativity can go together beautifully. I also liked the way the two sisters worked together to achieve something better than either one could come up with on their own.
Violet Mackerel’s Natural Habitat is a sweet chapter book about a girl learning about the natural world. It will appeal most strongly to girls, but boys will like it too. -
My daughter found this book just browsing through the library. We read it together and really enjoyed the story of Violet and her attempt at helping a ladybug. Of course, her help turned out to be more of a hindrance, but it was a good chance for my kids to learn about pets, nature, and leaving creatures in their natural environments.
I liked the chapter where Violet helps her sister come up with a display for the Natural Science Fair. Besides being educational, it shows that science and creativity can go together beautifully. I also liked the way the two sisters worked together to achieve something better than either one could come up with on their own.
This is a sweet chapter book about a girl learning about the natural world. It will appeal most strongly to girls, but boys will like it too.
My blog:
Batch of Books -
Violet Mackerel’s Natural Habitat by Anna Branford - Early Chapter Book- Realistic Fiction, 1st-4th grade, good for a read aloud- I bought this book because of some positive reviews, and because I liked the connection to habitats since my Year 2 students study about them during the year. I thought that perhaps this might be a good title either to share during that time or to have for a teacher to read aloud. I loved how the story came together with a little girl who learns to think outside her own needs and understand her impact on a creatures habitat. Especially appreciated how some of her actions were negative so that you could discuss choices as well. Great, cute book. Sibling issues also were an important component of the story and it was lovely to see how those developed too.
-
This is the third book in the Violet Mackerel series and it is as good as the first two. Violet is a delightful character who enjoys the small things in life. Reading her story makes the reader slow down and think about those small things as well. Anna's writing is simple and evocative and Sara's illustrations bring that extra magic to the book. Together they create a dreamy and magical reading experience.
-
The first-grader in me related to this storyline of wanting to help small things and adopting a ladybug more than to the first in the series (I haven't read the second). The adult I am thinks this is one of the sweetest, most tender early chapter books I've ever read. The very end is slightly unrealistic, but a nice way to tie the end to the beginning.
Art not seen. I received this ARC electronically through Edelweiss and Atheneum Books for Young Readers. -
A sweet beginning chapter book. Violet Mackerel is interested in an indoor sparrow at a mall. The idea of a natural habitat versus an unnatural habitat floats through her head with the Theory of helping small things. Violet gives the bird a bit of hot dog and some sweater thread for its nest. She tries to give a ladybug a great life but kills it. She helps her older sister with an important science project and strengthens their weak relationship. Nice child. Bird flies out of mall.
-
I liked this story because I think it showed off sibling relationships, creativity and hard work paying off, and animals living in their natural habitat - all topics relevant to elementary school kids. I think the thoughts that went through Violet’s head about wanting to take the animal home and caring for it is an idea that pops into a lot of kids' heads. I also really enjoyed the family dynamic in this book it was written very realistically.
-
Cute chapter book with a science connection. I read it aloud to my 5yo, and we will probably read the next one too.
Pay no attention to the reading level on this one. AR has it at 9.2. I assume the science words (larva, pupa, etc.) bumped it up. 2nd graders are probably the primary audience for this book. -
Short and sweet. This is the third in the series but the first one I've read. There is an innocence about it that is endearing. The illustrations are really nice and fit the story. It IS about natural science (habitats in particular) but it is mostly about sibling relationships. I would say it is best for second graders.
-
its about Violet sees a ladybug out in the rain so she gets the poor ladybug and puts it in the jar with food and plants but the next morning she discovers that the ladybug is dead so she makes a burial for it and helps her crying older sister with her project.
-
Sisterly love was a main theme in this book as Violet helps her sister Nicola with her science project. Nicola realizes that even though Violet is only seven she has a lot to offer. I loved how Nicola dedicated her science project to Small Gloria.
-
Violet tries to make a ladybug happy, but she accidentally kills her. Violet’s sister desperately needs an idea for her science fair project. These two little plot lines twist and curve around each other and result in a wonderful little story.
