Mindy Kim, Class President (Mindy Kim #4)
Written by Lyla Lee
Illustrated by Dung Ho
Published by Aladdin, September, 2020
Review
We have enjoyed the Mindy Kim series; T has blossomed into a fluent reader of early chapter books, reading several pages of each chapter himself (and then trading off with me). He likes Mindy as a character and enjoys the stories about her. He has strong opinions on the problems she has faced. Mindy Kim, Class President was just as positive of a reading experience, but the subject matter was not such a great fit. Mindy, in a run for class president, fears public speaking and works to gain confidence and oratory skills. Mindy is not set on winning as much as running a good campaign and simply participating. Spoiler Alert: She doesn't win. She does set an excellent and believable example as a gracious loser, though. The whole process she goes through is empowering to readers, emphasizing the journey and personal achievement.
T's lesser interest in this story line is, I think, a result of T being in kindergarten and not having experience with student government. However, reading about Mindy's platform and campaign did prompt a fair amount of conversation about her candidacy and promises. Mindy's platform is friendship, kindness, and snack sharing. As a former student-council moderator, I found myself critical of her teacher's allowance of campaign swag (like edible treats given out on election day) and compensatory promises (of more snacks from Mindy upon her election). This contributed to our conversations and helped T to view campaign promises critically. In all, Mindy Kim, Class President was a tense and uplifting story about a complex and relatable character. I recommend the series and look forward to reading the next two installments with T!
Extra:
Book 1: Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business
Book 2: Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade
Book 3: Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy
Note: A review copy was provided by Simon and Schuster upon request and used for the purpose of this honest review.
Written by Lyla Lee
Illustrated by Dung Ho
Published by Aladdin, September, 2020
Review
We have enjoyed the Mindy Kim series; T has blossomed into a fluent reader of early chapter books, reading several pages of each chapter himself (and then trading off with me). He likes Mindy as a character and enjoys the stories about her. He has strong opinions on the problems she has faced. Mindy Kim, Class President was just as positive of a reading experience, but the subject matter was not such a great fit. Mindy, in a run for class president, fears public speaking and works to gain confidence and oratory skills. Mindy is not set on winning as much as running a good campaign and simply participating. Spoiler Alert: She doesn't win. She does set an excellent and believable example as a gracious loser, though. The whole process she goes through is empowering to readers, emphasizing the journey and personal achievement.
T's lesser interest in this story line is, I think, a result of T being in kindergarten and not having experience with student government. However, reading about Mindy's platform and campaign did prompt a fair amount of conversation about her candidacy and promises. Mindy's platform is friendship, kindness, and snack sharing. As a former student-council moderator, I found myself critical of her teacher's allowance of campaign swag (like edible treats given out on election day) and compensatory promises (of more snacks from Mindy upon her election). This contributed to our conversations and helped T to view campaign promises critically. In all, Mindy Kim, Class President was a tense and uplifting story about a complex and relatable character. I recommend the series and look forward to reading the next two installments with T!
Extra:
Book 1: Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business
Book 2: Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade
Book 3: Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy
Note: A review copy was provided by Simon and Schuster upon request and used for the purpose of this honest review.
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