Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple by Dung Ho, Liz Garton Scanlon
Series: Bibsy Cross #1
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 11, 2024
ISBN: 0593644417
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Bibsy Cross is an active third grader who loves to share her thoughts. Her teacher, Mrs Stumper, just thinks she goes on too much and that she is a bit extra, and not in a good way. Bibsy also loves her parents, her cat, and her best friend, Natia. She is excited when she and Natia, who is in Mr Moon’s class, not Mrs Stumper’s class, can work together on their science fair project together.Bibsy and Natia work through their project together and Bibsy’s feelings when Mrs Stumper makes her feel rotten for being too extra. Bibsy is an excellent communicator and models how to trust talking to your friends, parents, and teachers.

Bibsy Cross is a chapter book in verse that catches a reader’s interest and moves along quickly. The story has lots of action to maintain engagement until the end. Bibsy and her quandaries are relatable to students. The text is crisp and the pages are bright white making the story easier to read and comprehend for emerging chapter book readers. The illustrations, which are grayscale with pops of red to highlight, are interspersed effectively throughout the book to showcase main features in the story.

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston