The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane (Azaleah Lane)

Description

Azaleah can't wait for her class field trip to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., especially when her teacher announces the chance to earn extra credit. But when Azaleah gets home, she quickly realizes extra credit isn't as easy as she thought. Azaleah's younger sister Tiana can't find Greenie, her stuffed animal, and she's sure he's been stolen. With Mama at the restaurant and Daddy at work on a big case, it seems Azaleah is the only one available to track down the stolen stuffie. Can Azaleah get to the bottom of the mystery in time to finish her extra credit?

Nikki Shannon Smith is from Oakland, California, but she now lives in the Central Valley with her husband and two children. She has worked in Elementary Education for over twenty-five years, and writes everything from picture books to young adult novels. When she's not busy with family, work, or writing, she loves to visit the coast. The first thing she packs in her suitcase is always a book.

This enjoyable chapter book revolves around Azaleah and her upper-middle-class African American household and the ups and downs of family life in a Washington, DC suburb. Azaleah works well as an appealing character full of zeal and enthusiasm. The bright, cheerful illustrations add to the book's appeal. A good choice for libraries that need more light, realistic mysteries for the early middle grade crowd.-- "School Library Journal" This inaugural book in the Azaleah Lane series is a fast-paced and fun read, and Azaleah is a sympathetic, likable narrator who, like readers, is learning new vocabulary all the time. . . .Lobo's playful, full-color illustrations every few pages are just enough to give transitioning readers needed rests so they'll keep going. . . .Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah's acquaintance.-- "Kirkus Reviews"