Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

Amber Brown is a 3rd grader who's a little messy, lives with her single mother, and is best friends with Justin Daniels. Amber's mother is even best friends with Mrs. Daniels. The only problem is Justin and his family are moving to Alabama because his dad found a really great job there. Amber worries that everything will change when she's stuck in New Jersey without her best friend to help her with fractions or to know what she's thinking.

The two friends get into a silly fight over a chewed gum ball and refuse to talk to one another. They make up and vow to see each other over the summer.

Amber Brown is an alternative to Junie B. Jones and will appeal to the same audience. What gives this book its strength is the creativity of her teacher Mr. Cohen who simulates world travel in the classroom to teach a unit on China and the sensitivity of her mother in dealing with Amber's feelings about Justin and his family moving away.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Danziger, P. (1994). Amber Brown is not a crayon. New York: Scholastic.