Another wonderful story from Deckawoo Drive. Courage and Curiosity are probably two of the most important things for children (and adults!) to have in spades. This sweet story follows Stella, full of imagination, and a boy who might be a bit too literal, as they learn a bit more about metaphors, themselves and each other. Wonderful imagery paired with amazing pictures, as always. A great story to add to your child's library!

Curiosity and courage. Anything is possible.

These tales are always adorable. They each carry a lesson. I love the sneaky learning slipped in. Perfect for beginning readers, even advanced readers. DiCamillo is a favorite in our house and never disappoints.

I loved this book! The story was great and can make people think about not judging people you don't know. I loved the pictures and the characters. I think my students would like it, especially if they liked Mercy Watson's books because there is a glimpse of her in it.

3.5*

I loved discovering the Deckawoo Drive and Mercy Watson books years ago by Kate DiCamillo. I loved reading out loud to my children. We had many laughs and giggles while reading them. This is a fun addition to the Deckawoo Drive series and has a cameo by Mercy Watson who endeared herself to my family with her adventures.

Stella is a determined little girl. I thought this was written very well from her perspective. Especially as she is trying to make sense of things happening around her. From school and her teacher, to her classmate. She takes experiences and moments from her life and processes them into the situations she finds herself in. With a writing assignment given to her class by their teacher, Miss Lilliana, Stella sets out to understand and write a poem. What she thinks is wonderful isn't always thought of as wonderful by others. There's moments of hurt and uncertainty. But I loved Stella's tenacity to power through thanks to her friends and their past conversations.

Stella finds herself learning, going on a mini adventure and developing friendships where she didn't know she would. I think many kids will thoroughly enjoy this adventure. I was a little unsure about some of the adult characters on my initial read through. But after thinking about it some more, we all encounter many different personalities throughout our lives and this shows Stella doing that very thing.

Content: Clean

I received a copy from the publisher, Candlewick Press, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Another great story told by Kate DiCamillo! I would recommend this book to elementary school libraries and language arts teachers. It makes a great read aloud, but it would also make a great introduction to poetry and writing lessons. Students in grades 1-4 will identify with Stella’s brainstorming process and her initial struggles to write. The book is also a great way to initiate conversations about individual differences and friendship.

This book filled my heart so full I thought it just might burst with happiness. Truthfully almost all of Kate DiCamillo’s books leave me feeling like this, but her Deckawoo Drive series is especially endearing. I am a serious fan.

Stella Suzanne Endicott thinks her second grade teacher, Miss Tamar Liliana, is a “Good Fairy Who Vanquishes Old and Irritated Wizards.” She’s not so fond of Horace Broom who knows the answers to every question Miss Liliana asks.

When she lets Horace read her poem, they get in an argument over where pigs live. Horace insists that they live on a farm so Stella cannot possibly have a pig friend who sits on couches. The two end up in a shouting match and are sent to the principal’s office.

On the way Horace falls apart emotionally and Stella tries her best to encourage him to face what is to come. Before their day is over, the two of them end up trapped in a janitor’s closet. What we discover is that as these two children face adversity, they survive because of their combined different strengths.

Although the ending was not unexpected, I was still delighted by it. Not only do they become friends, they learn that life is all about patterns and surprises. All of us, no matter our ages, can stand to be reminded of this jewel of truth.

I love that Stella lives on Deckawoo Drive and through her, we readers get to spend time with Mercy and find out how things are going with Baby and Eugenia Lincoln.

I love Chris Van Dusen’s art in all the other books in the series and am looking forward to seeing the finished illustrations for this one.

Stella is an endearing little girl who is learning about poetry with her class. She has an active imagination and that often causes problems with Horace Broom, who is in her class, because he is very literal. One day, big problems ensue, and both children are sent to visit with the principal.

A very sweet beginning chapter book for early readers by amazing author Kate DiCamillo. Recommended for early readers with no hesitation.

When my son was in 2nd grade he was a reluctant reader and I found the Mercy Watson series. He and I fell in love with them and I was excited to see that stories about Deckawoo Drive were still be written. The stories of the residents of the neighborhood always makes me smile, but it's really the illustrations that bring the books alive. Stella Endicott is no exception with a delightful story of a 2nd grade girl writing about everyone's favorite pig, Mercy.
I received a complimentary copy of Stella Endicott and Anything is Possible Poem, but all opinions are my own.

This book is so cute- I loved reading it with my kids. Even my 10 year boy loved it! As always, Kate DiCamillo can do no wrong. She maintains her high quality yet entertaining here.

My daughter and I have read all the Mercy Watson books so we were very excited about this Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is_Possible_Poem! We both loved it! There is just the right amount of humor to keep both children and adults entertained. I love the all the great vocabulary and although it had some challenging word for my 7 year old to read, it we had lots of great discussion about new vocabulary words and poetry. I can't wait to read this to my students too as it would fit so well with our poetry unit. The characters are relatable and lovable. I would highly recommend this book, it was SO fun to read!

If you are not familiar with the neighborhood of Deckawoo Drive, then you are missing out! The fun and interesting characters that DiCamillo invented in the Mercy Watson series are revisited in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, and are still as loveable in this new installment. Perfect for kids beginning to read chapters, this latest book in the series follows one of the children in the neighborhood, Stella, as she tries to impress her teacher and create the perfect poem. However, her annoyance with classmate Horace Broom's know-it-all attitude lands the two of them in trouble, and they learn a lesson about friendship neither of them would have ever expected.

DiCamillo's genius shines through once again in this book. Though written for a younger audience, the book is just as enjoyable to read as an adult. Her deceptively simple storylines hold deep meaning, and her vocabulary is spectacular. I laughed and smiled my way through the whole thing. Van Dusen's illustrations once again bring this neighborhood to life, and the combined talents of author and illustrator make this book a must for those searching for feel-good early chapter books.

This is a cute addition to the Deckawoo Drive series. There were quirky characters, a relatable problem (which could make this a good book for helping kids deal with their own frustrations with other kids), and awesome illustrations. While I personally didn't like it quite as much as the previous book, my seven-year-old daughter said she did like it as much as the others. She also said she couldn't pick a favorite part because she liked the whole thing. Her twin brother liked it, too, and said it was funny.

(I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but ended up reading a finished print copy from my local library in order to see the finished illustrations. All opinions are my own.)

4.5 stars. This was so cute! I loved Stella. She's bright and creative. She's not afraid to ask questions if she doesn't understand something. And she's also brave enough to stand up for herself.

The emphasis on poetry and writing and metaphors was great. I could see this as a kick off for a poetry unit or a writing unit in classrooms.

Great friendship story! Fans of the Mercy Watson or Deckawoo Drive series will see familiar faces/names. Those who haven't read any of the other books won't have any trouble reading this on its own, but you should check out both of the other series because they are so fun.

I was so excited to see that Kate DiCamillo had written another book in the "Tales from Deckawoo Drive." We love all things Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive in my house!

In this book, which tells the story of 2nd grader Stella Endicott, we are once again entertained by the antics of our favorite Deckawoo Drive characters. While the story is humorous and silly, making it fun for readers of all ages, there is always a lesson and learning intertwined. Stella and her enemy turned friend learn about courage, curiousity, and friendship. Well, along with learning about poetry, pigs that live in houses, and janitorial closets. :)

Kate DiCamillo has done it again, writing another incredible book to be enjoyed by all.

Stella Suzanne Endicott has just started the second grade with a new teacher. Miss Liliana has given them the assignment to write a poem with a metaphor. Stella writes her metaphor poem about a couch-sitting pig, an accordion playing wizard, and leaves dancing like ballerinas to the ground. The next day, her classmate, Horace Broom, reads her poem and declares the pigs do not sit on couches. This starts an argument that causes them to be sent to the principle’s office and on an adventure to discover patterns and surprises, courage and curiosity.

Kate DiCamillo is on the top of my families list. We’ve always loved and enjoyed her stories, and Stella’s story was no exception. She was adorable and a joy to read about as she explored metaphors, made new friends, and learned important lessons along the way. Chris Van Dusen’s drawings are delightful in this story, especially the ones of Horace. My girls giggled every time his picture came up. Appropriate for elementary-aged children, Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is a delightful read and one that can be read over and over again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have not read any of the Mercy Watson books so this was my first time reading about her and her human friends. Mercy only makes a brief appearance in this book, but she manages to stir up some real controversy between Stella Suzanne Endicott and her classmate Horace Burton Broom. Teachers will love this book because of the great vocabulary and opportunity to talk about metaphors. Kids will love it because the characters are fun and relatable. It surely will make them want to read more books featuring Mercy and her friends.

As always, Kate DiCamillo writes sharp, memorable, unique characters with witty and clever storylines that I would recommend to every child in my life., adults, too.

When my bigger little ones (my first and second graders, usually) come into the library, many of them automatically ask me for Mercy Watson books. They love Kate DiCamillo, they love Mercy Watson and all her friends on Deckawoo Drive, and they love Kate DiCamillo at an early age; when they're a couple of years older, and come in looking for Tales of Desperaux, I remind them that this is the same author they've been reading since they picked up Mercy Watson, and that smile, that book hug, it makes every day I'm there fantastic.
Okay. So, let's talk the newest book in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Stella Endicott loves school and loves her teacher, Miss Liliana. She's so excited to work on her assignment, to write a poem, because she knows just who she's going to write about: Mercy Watson, the pig who lives next door and relaxes on a couch! She creates a lovely poem, but class know-it-all Horace Broom insists that she's lying: wizards don't play accordions, and pigs don't live in houses! Annoyed not only by Horace's lack of imagination, but the fact that he called her a liar, Stella shouts back at him, and the two are sent to the principal's office, which leads to an adventure where the two will learn to see things from the other's point of view. 

The Deckawoo Drive books just make me happy. They're funny, upbeat, and always have a good message to share. Here, we learn that it's good to be literal and metaphorical. It's balance! Stella is smart and spirited, and Horace may have learned his lesson about offering uninvited criticism. Gouache artwork from Chris Van Dusen is automatically recognizable: kids will spot this book on a bookshelf (literal or virtual) a mile away. Mercy's cameo is adorable - if you have the space in your reading area, stick some cushions or pillows on the floor with a stuffed pig and let your kids curl up with their Mercy to read, imagine, and create with.

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem has a starred review from Kirkus. Want to visit Deckawoo Drive and spend some time with Mercy? Visit the Mercy Watson website for information about the books, resources for parents and educators, join the fan club, and play some games.

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is a cute story. Even as an adult, I thought Horace Boom was a know it all tool lol - that sounds so awful and I should probably just delete it - but it's seriously what I thought. As an animal lover - it's pretty easy to figure out that my favorite character was Mercy the pig - that DOES sit on couches. Loved the janitor too!! He seems like a really cool adult that can talk to children and is able to get the point across without speaking down to them. All in all, a pretty cute book. I received a copy of this book from Candlewick/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Anything can happen, Stella Endicott, anything at all.”

Stella Endicott loves second grade and is looking forward to writing a poem with metaphors that will impress her teacher, Miss Liliana. Things don’t go as planned when Horace Broom, second grade know-it-all and the bane of Stella’s existence, calls her a liar.

An argument ensues, which results in Stella and Horace being sent to the principal’s office. While Stella is determined to meet her fate with curiosity and courage, Horace isn’t so sure.

While facing fears and finding metaphors, Stella and Horace find some common ground and an unexpected new friend.

This is a sweet story that includes a few words that the target audience may find difficult. Chris Van Dusen’s illustrations are as wonderful as I’ve come to expect, with expressive characters and humour.

Leroy Ninker’s story felt unfinished to me in ‘Leroy Ninker Saddles Up’ and Stella’s story feels unfinished here. Although there is a conclusion, I’m left with unanswered questions. Did Stella ever get to share her poem with the class? What did Miss Liliana think of it?

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.