As a mom of three girls from ages one to four, I was excited to read the Ambitious Abbey books to my children, especially because I have seen how schools welcome author Abbey Duplaga to share her wise stories with kids! I read all 3 books in the series to my two older girls in one afternoon! I am so delighted with the books, both from a mom's and fellow writer's perspectives that I wanted to write a review for Abbey so that others would be encouraged to read her series!
Ambitious Abbey, the 1st book in the series, opens with an immediate and precise depiction of who and how the main character is! She is of course ambitious – choosing to work instead of playing on a beautiful Saturday. At a young age, the character Abbey is already entrepreneur-minded in a very relatable way – by managing her lemonade stand. This introduction is sure to draw young readers into Abbey's world and character. Character Abbey is adorable as illustrated – she is super cute with her pigtails, approachable, and gives off a kind demeanor. I love how this first book showcases a precious bond between mom and daughter by using words such as “Sweetie,” and phrases such as “Abbey watches closely at her mother in awe.” As readers, we can see how Abbey's mom – an entrepreneur and leader – influences and will continue to influence Abbey. I especially love all the details about what Abbey's mom does at the Bakery because they make the story detailed, relatable, and interesting to read! One thing that stands out to me is the vulnerability shared about how the Bakery is a new endeavor for Abbey's mom, so we get to see how Abbey's mom handles a new type of situation that requires impromptu leadership decisions. This is another insight into how Abbey will learn from her mom how to handle new challenges that arise over the course of her life and how she will resolve to be independent and ambitious amidst obstacles and new and unforeseen situations!
In closing, the Ambitious Abbey series is a worthy read, both for myself and with my children! The lines are short, witty, and rhyme, which is of course a major plus for younger children's attention span and understanding. I now look forward to each new book in the series as these books will be on repeat read for my children to learn from! These days, when my two older girls are not making fish pout faces to mimic The Pout-Pout Fish, they're chanting “ambitious abbey” hahaha: they love the sound of that name! And of course, these books are now on my gift guide for anyone and everyone who has children in their care! Thank you, Abbey Duplaga for writing such phenomenal children's books that teach worthy values using delightful characters and stories!
