Title: Breaking News (Frankie and Friends #1)
Author: Christine Platt, Alea Marley (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a charming new chapter-book series by a social-change advocate, young Frankie emulates her journalist mama by reporting on household news with the help of her sister and an unlikely news crew.
Frankie’s mama is leaving to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, Papa, and Frankie’s teenage sister, Raven, are all proud of Mama, even though they miss her when she’s away. But Frankie has a great idea: she can make her own news show! After all, Mama has told her that news is happening around her all the time. With a little assistance from her friends–including her doll Farrah, Robert the toy robot, and her tabby cat, Nina Simone–Frankie prepares for her first “broadcast.” And when she hears someone crying in the house, she knows that’s the developing story she must cover. With humor, empathy, and imagination, Frankie gets the scoop–and learns that even mature older sisters can miss Mama sometimes. With sweet illustrations throughout, this engaging new series embraces communication and compassion and is a refreshing portrayal of Black women in journalism. Young reporters will learn the terms of the trade, which are clearly presented in the text and reinforced in a glossary at the end of the book.
Review:
Frankie’s mom has to leave home suddenly to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, her sister Raven, and her dad all miss her mom when she travels for work. Frankie decides to create her own news station with her toys including her doll Farrah, toy robot Robert, and cat Nina Simone. When Frankie hears some mysterious crying in her house, she decides to investigate it for her own breaking news story. She discovers that her older sister misses her mom just as much as she does.
This is a great early chapter book. Like Frankie, my dad travelled a lot for work, so I had to get used to that at an early age. I liked how she coped with it by trying to learn more about her mom’s job and making her own newsroom. The story was accompanied by vivid illustrations. I’m excited to read the next book in the series!
Breaking News is a great chapter book for young readers!
Thank you Walker Books US for sending me a copy of this book!
Other books in the series:
- The Big Protest (Frankie and Friends #2)
Have you read Breaking News? What did you think of it?
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