Publisher Description

Finley's best friend Henry is about to turn nine, and Finley has a major problem - she has no idea what to give him for his birthday. He already owns all of her best creations! The school cook-off might be the perfect solution. The grand prize is a year's worth of Flying Pie Pizza, Henry's favorite. But coming up with something original and tasty is harder than it looks. As one crazy concoction leads to another, Finley discovers that cooking is just like the rest of life - things don't always turn out as planned and friendship is the real prize.

Author Biography

Jessica Young's award-winning picture book My Blue is Happy (2013) was included on the 2014 Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults list and the Texas Library Association's 2014 2 x 2 Reading List, and was chosen to represent Tennessee on the Library of Congress/Center for the Book's 2013 52 Great Reads list. Finley Flowers is her first chapter book series. Jessica grew up in Ontario, Canada and currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. with her family, where she teaches elementary and middle school art.

Table of Contents

Big news -- fin-spiration -- Taste test -- Secret recipe -- Spin to win -- Dinner in a glass -- Ka-pow! -- Bugs on a log -- Thirst for first -- Sweet success -- Oh, brother -- Birthday boy.

Review

Charming illustrations accompany this sweet story of friendship.-- "Imagination Soup"
Children will relate to Finley's industriousness. . . .Young writes in a spirited style that displays Finley's seemingly unbounding optimism, but she also shows that her bravado masks a lack of confidence and fears about her truths being exposed. Recipes don't always turn out as planned, but Finley discovers her strengths and what matters most in life. . . .a good addition to a school or home library for kids learning to read independently. Recommended.-- "CM Magazine"
Full of fun and flavor, Original Recipe is a book that my girl could really sink her teeth into.-- "BookTrib, 3 Spunky heroines to share with your daughter for Women's History Mon"
Third-grader Finley Flowers stars in this entertaining series opener. . . .Secheret gives the characters oversize heads and dainty, doll-like features in her full-color spot illustrations, helping highlight their personalities. As friendship and family dilemmas spike the plot, Young avoids handing easy victories to her determined and undeniably creative heroine.-- "Publishers Weekly"
This is a light, endearing story of friendship that will work well as a read-aloud or for a newly solo reader. For the more adventurous child (and parent), several recipes from the story are included in the back.-- "Booklist Online"
Young creates memorable characters in Henry and Finley. . . .young cooks who are comfortable with chapter books will identify with Finley's energy and may even want to try her recipe for PB&J Pasta. . . .a promising-enough start.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Review Quote

Young creates memorable characters in Henry and Finley. . . .young cooks who are comfortable with chapter books will identify with Finley's energy and may even want to try her recipe for "PB&J Pasta." . . .a promising-enough start.

Promotional "Headline"

Fun, quirky stories for creative readers interested in arts and crafts. Strong female protagonist. Strong cross-gender friendship and family relationships. Teaches creativity, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box. Curriculum tie-in: logical progression, experimentation, food pyramid.

Feature

Discussion Questions, Glossary, Illustration(s)/Drawing(s), Pronunciation Guide, Table of Contents, Writing Prompts

Details