Stacey's Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams

Stacey's Extraordinary Words Reviews

• 
  Jeimy

  1. I love Stacey Abrams.
  2. I love Spelling Bees.
  
  It’s no surprise then that I absolutely loved this book.
• 
  Moonkiszt

  Featured in a grandma reads session.
  
  In this story we found words (and we lOVE words), a spelling bee (and we love spelling bees) and an ending that doesn't have the princess winning (which we think is fair), but had resilience, and encouragement to keep on keepin' on (a favorite filosofy of ours). . .
  
  voted a 5 star read by our participants. . . .and from me? GO Stacey!, Go! Stacey!, Go, Stacey! I'd vote for you if you were in my state! Sorry. Couldn't resist. You can always stop reading if you want. ;-}
• 
  Joan

  This is a darling children’s book that speaks to my adult heart. An avid reader since age twelve, worlds are my world and this lively book inspires young and older readers alike. Bravo Ms. Abrams.
• 
  James Klagge

  A neat book about a child's love of words: Big words, but also when parents say to a frustrated child "use your words." Also about words (and attitudes) like "persistence" and "perseverance."
  The listing for amazon says for children 4-8 years old. But I would say more like 7-10 years old. There are a lot of big words and concepts.
• 
  Amy

  I absolutely loved this book. Stacey loves words, all kinds of words. She feels that words sometimes understand her more than people. People weren't always kind-teasing her for being quiet, for being "studious." The author writes, Sometimes Stacey thought that words understood her better than people did. When she sat by herself during recess, they never teaser her about being quiet. Or about being clumsy when she fell or awkward when the joke in her head came out wrong." Her teacher asks her to join the school spelling bee. Stacey is excited but the only other student who will be participating from her class is one of those bullies that teases her. How wonderful it would be to show him that loving words doesn't make you a loser. There are all kinds of different lessons to be learned though.
  
  Stacey Abrams does a beautiful job of sharing the joy of words and books. This book will be going on my classroom shelves-right after I read it aloud!
  
  
• 
  Elizabeth

  Based on Stacey Abrams childhood, this delightful book is about a young girl’s love of words. A teacher encourages her to enter a spelling bee.
• 
  Cara Byrne

  A wonderful picture book about a love of words, perseverance, and overcoming challenge. My favorite lines in the book were: "If today were like one of the stories Stacey loved most, she would have won [...] But things didn't always happen that way in real life. Sometimes change was harder. And it didn't happen right away."
• 
  Sarah H

  "And Jake would have learned that words were a gift that shouldn't be used to hurt people."
  
  Preach!
• 
  Imani Carter

  This is not my first book that I read from Stacey Abrams. Last year I read "Lead From The Outside (Previously Known as "Minority Leader") and in it she recalls the time of her competing in spelling bees. She is an excellent writer, very gifted and I'm glad she has expanded her audience to children. In the book she has different words that may be challenging to little ones -- one of the things that I really liked about the book. This book will definitely help expand children's vocabulary. Another thing I like about this book is in the very back she includes all of the challenging words with how to pronounce them and what they mean. Lastly, I really appreciated the author's note. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.
  
  Favorite quote out of the book: "You only fail if you stop,' her mother reminded her. 'I know there's a word for that. You know it too.' Stacey thought about one of her favorite words. 'Perseverance. P-E-R-S-E-V-E-R-A-N-C-E.' 'Exactly. So let's go home and learn more words. There's always next year."
• 
  Mindy Alyse Weiss

  This story is so powerful, I teared up. There are so many sayings in the book that resonated with me, like:
  
  “Whenever Stacey learned a new word, it was like making a new friend.”
  
  Now I need to create a Notebook of Extraordinary Words!
  
  This is the perfect book for anyone who loves words—and anyone you hope will discover a love of words.
• 
  Brandy

  Perfect read-aloud that I wish I had to explain the annual spelling bee. Great for lots of different reading/writing classrooms, and the sincerity of Stacey and her love of words is so sweet. I loved the vocabulary included here, that classrooms will benefit from too. Great read!
  
  (Read the ebook on Libby)
• 
  Max at Completely Full Bookshelf

  ... This book starts with the beauty of words, and Stacey’s love of collecting, learning, and spelling new ones. But then the story expands, and words become a safe haven, a way of expressing oneself, or—most fittingly for Abrams’s present activism—a way of speaking out against injustice.
  
  This story is beautifully orchestrated, with all kinds of wonderful details in the writing to adore (as one example, I love the description of the word onomatopoeia as “a funny word to describe the sounds of other words”). And seeing a quiet girl who loves words learn to speak out and eventually become the Stacey Abrams we know today is truly impactful.
  
  Kitt Thomas’s illustrations seal the deal, with luminous, vibrant colors and rich, sometimes surreal details that immediately pull readers into the story.
  
  
  – A quote from my review (click here to see the full review on my blog!)
• 
  Alix

  This picture book was so nicely drawn and well-written. Even though the audience is meant for kids, the message that was given by Abrams extends out to all ages. I especially love the last part of the story:
  
  

  Stacey imagined all the words she had yet to meet--new words and new ways to speak up and help others. She'd find them all.

  
  
  With the above quote and the drawings at the end of Stacey growing up, graduating, and becoming a spokesperson, it really illustrates how wonderful reading and words can bring to a person.
  
  

  And Jake would have learned that words were a gift that shouldn't be used to hurt people.

  
  
  Words can either bring someone up or tear someone down and I'm glad that Abrams also included this part in the story; it teaches kids to be mindful of what they say.
• 
  Marathon County Public Library

  This is a heartwarming story for all lovers of reading, about a little girl who loves to discover new words and loves how words help her express herself. When Stacey's teacher signs her and a fellow student up for a spelling bee, Stacey's knowledge and courage are put to the test.
  
  I absolutely adored this picture book and the lessons it'll teach the children who read it!
  Sarah M. / Marathon County Public Library
  
  Find this book in our library catalog.
• 
  Robert Ellington

  I really enjoyed this book (it was a present for our children, but I couldn't resist!). I remember my mother using one of the words from the story - "persnickety", which I always thought sounded funny! And I learned a new word - sesquipedalian (a word with lots of syllables).
  Happy New Year, everyone!
  
• 
  hailey

  Such a great children's book! I loved the illustrations and the underlying message of the story. Her love for words, standing up for herself, and picking herself up after failing is something every young reader/child should learn at a young age. The author's story was also relatable and enjoyable to read.
• 
  Julie

  I have always been impressed with Stacey Abrams, and this book just made me love her even more. I loved the author’s note and the page that is an excerpt from her extraordinary words notebook. Such a fun book!
• 
  Amanda Brooke

  I'm really happy to find this book. Abrams has a lot of stories to tell and I hope she keeps sharing. I wish her success in her career. Young women all over the world can look to her for inspiration. This book along with the Word Collector by Reynolds make great prompts for vocabulary activities.
• 
  Erin

  Excellent message, extraordinary word used and great illustrations.
• 
  Kay

  I loved it--it seems autobiographical and is about a lost-spelling-bee experience as a child--highly recommended! Her bio photo-->probably the age of the "heroine" in the book!! Inspiring about the love of words, their deliciousness, and how they work. The story verges on chapter book rather than picture book and I imagine having children listen to it while reading would be wonderful.
• 
  Toni

  If you, like me, like Stacey, are a word bird--this book is for you. And you'll love every last second.
• 
  Liz

  Stacey's love of words prompts her teacher to enter her along with the class bully into the town spelling bee. Despite her best efforts, she comes in 2nd place. But, Stacey knows that even if you can't spell every word, it's more important to know that words have power, like "courteous" and "perseverance."
• 
  Mildred Stewart (EDUC378)

  Text-to-World Connection: Stacey's Extraordinary Words book shares the importance of words, their meanings and variations. I connect this book to the world today because so many incidences have appeared where bullying has been an issue to eradicate. Stacey's love for words and the the variety to express is very important, especially females of color. I believe this book was Stacey Abrams' way of showing a small window to the experiences she has encountered campaigning and the characteristic of those person(s) she endured as well. In the end although Stacey came in second place and Jake still being a bully for is first place placement she reminded him that respect and courtesy carries more value than a trophy for first place.
• 
  Shaketta

  Lover this children's book! It has some many gems! I listened to this through libro.fm and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed it! She said the lesson is to continue trying no matter what and don't tease others.
  Great book about reading and learning new words! Great read!
• 
  Richard

  An amazing woman writes a great kid’s book that is based on a true story from her own life. Doesn’t get much better than that!
• 
  Stacie

  Super cute and I loved the art (favorite scene: reading under the covers). I wasn't sure that it would hold my great-niece's (4.5 year old) attention because of all of those 'extraordinary words', but the simple explanations tucked into the story itself, were all she needed (and they actually supported the flow of the story). It was lovely little story that let me spend a bit of time sharing my love of words and reading with one of my favorite humans.
• 
  Dawn Foster

  I love Stacey Abrams' life story but this picture book left me feeling as if something were lacking. I know the story of how Abrams loved words & reading at a young age, but this book just didn't connect that passion for words with her passion for reading. I felt the Spelling Bee subplot was too contrived & that the story may have been better if Ms. Abrams herself hadn't written the book!!
  
  What I DID like, no LOVE, is the "Author's Note" that better explained the inspiration for this book. I think that a book for children (perhaps geared toward 3rd-5th graders), that tells this story would be more interesting & encouraging. That story would impact the right age group to better understand the 'extraordinary words' that Abrams introduced in this book and perhaps even inspire readers.