Published: 2023
Series: N/A
Author: Ines L. Oliveira
Illustrator: Carol Baltese (Balezza)
Genres: Picture Books, Middle Grade, Family, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Animals, Childrens, Fiction
Audience: Mid-Elementary (Grades 3-4 featured)
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Calvin and the Sugar Apples
Triggers: Death of a pet, loneliness, grief, friendship conflicts
Review By: Jacqueline Wolken
Publisher’s Summary:
A relatable early reader that taps into important life lessons about friendship, grief, and talking through feelings.
Eleven-year-old Amelia has always had Calvin to talk to, but Amelia has no idea where he is. Calvin is a twenty-one-year-old chinchilla and has always been there for Amelia whenever she needed to talk about her problems—but he is no longer in his cage, and her parents just say he’s in a “better place.” Everything seems to go wrong now that she and her best friend Camilla have had an argument, and Amelia has missed the school talent show. Without Calvin, who does she talk to about her disappointments at school? Without Calvin, who does Amelia talk to about missing Calvin? She vows to become like the sugar apples in her backyard, rich on the inside and always hard to find.
And just when Amelia thinks there’s nobody she can talk to, a new student, Iris, arrives. Amelia learns that it’s always possible to meet new friends that can teach you that expressing oneself can happen in different ways, but it always starts with talking it out.
Review:
Although the story has many different plot points, I found that it didn’t hold my attention much of the time. I always look for a book that I can’t put down or that I am anxious to pick up again, but for me, this was not one of those books. As an adult, the character of Amelia felt whiny enough I didn’t always find myself rooting for her. Although this book was not one my preferred texts, I do think it will be enjoyable for students.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): This novel functions as a deeply accurate, profound tool for exploring the complex processing of grief, specifically the trauma associated with the death of a beloved family pet. It serves as a great launchpad for discussing coping mechanics, emotional management, peer loneliness, and self-worth.
- English Language Arts (ELA): Ideal for mid-elementary writing units to study internal character dialogue, plot points, and the realistic portrayal of grief within children’s fiction. The text also provides opportunities to examine cultural settings and descriptive prose styling.
- Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Express Yourself” School Talent Show Activity: Mirroring Amelia’s journey toward locating her inner worth, librarians can host a low-stakes, highly inclusive classroom workshop or library activity where students showcase unique hobbies, non-traditional skills, or write out alternative artistic expressions.
- Grief & Separation Counseling Support Circles: Librarians can partner this book with counseling toolkits or specialized independent reading lists to support elementary school children actively dealing with separation anxiety, pet loss, or major friendship adjustments.
- Diversity & Representation: By utilizing a lush, distinct European backdrop set in Portugal, the text broadens cultural horizons for readers, presenting global diversity in a modern landscape. Furthermore, it highlights vital emotional diversity by honoring the gravity of a child’s sorrow, validating the difficult feelings of young individuals who feel isolated or rejected by their immediate peers.
Readalikes:
- The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
- Pax by Sara Pennypacker
