Review by Booklist Review
Ava Lin is setting a high goal: receive the most tickets in her classroom's kindness bucket. If she receives the most, she'll have the chance to win an amazing prize at the end of the week! Ava's heart is set on the new narwhal eraser prize and knows she can be the kindest person in class. She can help her classmates, feed her class pet, and be a good friend. But her plans, though ambitious, are also a bit selfish, and Ava learns that being kind for that purpose doesn't always pan out, especially when it ends up hurting your best friend. Ava is an endearing character, filled with heart and silly energy. When she gets excited or overwhelmed, she "meeps" and uses her alien language. With sweet illustrations throughout, Ava's hilarious lists and her excitability are sure to win over emerging readers. A great choice for fans of Dawn Quigley's JoJo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend (2021) and Abby Hanlon's Dory Fantasmagory (2014), readers will look forward to more of Ava's adventures and learning opportunities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--Ava Lin is a first grader who is "really good at making things, eating snacks, and making lists." Each week, Ava's teacher and classmates can award each other tickets for acts of kindness. The student with the most tickets by Friday gets to pick a prize. When Ava spots a narwhal eraser in the prize bucket, she's determined to win it. With the help of her best friend Kushi, she comes up with a plan to earn as many tickets as possible. But as the week goes on, Ava realizes that kindness isn't about rewards--it's about being kind just because. Ava's quirky habits, like keeping bits of food in her pockets and "meeping" like an alien instead of saying yes, make her an especially endearing and believable six-year-old. VERDICT A sweet and engaging story about friendship and kindness, perfect for any collection.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Now a seasoned first grader, Ava Lin returns to deliver new laughs and misadventures. Six-and-a-half-year-old Ava is good at many things: making lists, coming up with new games, and treating her classmates respectfully. She has a new opportunity to show off this last skill; her teacher has found a way to reward kindness in the classroom. Each time someone is nice to a peer, they receive a ticket in their bucket. At week's end, the student with the most tickets gets to select a prize. Ava is determined to win, especially once she spots a narwhal-shaped eraser in the bin; narwhals are her very favorite! At first, being extra kind is easy. Ava is polite on the playground, compliments her friends, and shares her treasures. Soon, however, her fixation on victory makes her irritable, and her ticket-collecting efforts stall. When her best friend, Kushi, offers to help with her plan to win over their classmates, Ava is relieved. The tickets come pouring in for Ava, but Kushi's hurt that Ava takes full credit. Will Kushi forgive her? Ava's world is full of silly humor and big feelings that will land with young readers navigating complex priorities of their own. Though occasionally exasperated with her antics, the adults in Ava's life are supportive of her imaginative, unconventional problem-solving skills. Ava and her family are of Chinese descent, while Kushi is brown-skinned; their class is diverse. This series continues to charm.(Chapter book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
