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Alvin Ho, Book 1: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Unavailable
Alvin Ho, Book 1: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Unavailable
Alvin Ho, Book 1: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Audiobook2 hours

Alvin Ho, Book 1: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Written by Lenore Look

Narrated by Everette Plen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Here's the first book in the beloved and hilarious Alvin Ho chapter book series, which has been compared to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and is perfect for both beginning and reluctant readers.

Alvin, an Asian American second grader, is afraid of everything-elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He's so afraid of school that, while he' s there, he never, ever, says a word. But at home he's a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, a brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a gentleman-in-training, so he can be just like his dad.

From Lenore Look comes a drop-dead-funny and touching series with a truly unforgettable character.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 23, 2009
ISBN9780739379943
Unavailable
Alvin Ho, Book 1: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Author

Lenore Look

Lenore Look is the author of Ruby Lu, Brave and True, an ALA Notable Book, as well as its sequels, Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything and Ruby Lu, Star of the Show. Her picture books include Love as Strong as Ginger, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Stephen T. Johnson; Henry’s First-Moon Birthday; and Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, both illustrated by Yumi Heo. She lives in Hong Kong.

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Rating: 3.83149176519337 out of 5 stars
4/5

181 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5

    If I were a lot younger I would have enjoyed this more. As it was, it was lightly entertaining & amusing.... If I were younger it would be funny.

    Alvin Ho doesn't speak when out of his home.... he only has one friend, Flea, a one eyed girl w/ a gimpy leg. Alvin gets into so much trouble that his family sends him to a therapist, whom he ends up cussing out in Shakespearean language.....
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a delightful and thought provoking book on life's challenges when you are in the second grade. Don't think Alvin's problems are just for the young, though - he seems to think hardest about those challenges we carry until we are old and gray. Alvin's point of view is honest and, at times, very funny. The illustrations throughout the book only add to the humor.

    600L
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Third graders loved this book! Poor Alvin Ho is afraid of many things: girls, school, heights, the dark, scary movies and so much more. He has a big problem...he can't talk at school, no one knows why. He brings his PDK (personal disaster kit) everywhere with him. In his effort to fit in, he trades his brother's best baseball cards to the school bully. He learns about what being a real friend and yes--a gentleman mean when he needs to choose between the bully and Flea, a peg-legged and eye-patched girl down the street. All students, including reluctant readers, enjoyed this book and will enjoy more in this six book series. The chapters are short and quick reads. I highly recommend it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Alvin Ho is a Chinese-American second grader who is endearingly matter of fact about all the things he's afraid of... er, allergic to. This chapter book introduces readers to his family (older brother, younger sister, grandparents who do not fit the stereotypical roles, parents), to the kids with whom he would like to be friends, and to Flea, with whom he can CERTAINLY not be friends because she's a girl (Sophie, actually). A highly-readable addition to the Judy Moody/ Stink/ Oggie Cooder genre, and one that will make a great read-aloud.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alvin Ho is afraid. Of everything. Girls, substitute teachers, talking in school, you name it. But he's learned how to deal with his fears: he's built a Personal Disaster Kit, with emergency supplies (like band-aids and a magnifying glass) and disaster plans (How to Survive Show-and-Tell and How to Meet Your New Teacher). But there's one disaster he's not prepared for: making friends. His brother's advice to trade baseball cards looks like it might work... but will it help Alvin make the kind of friends he wants?

    This is a cute story about the anxiety a young boy faces, trying to face his fears and make friends. The events surrounding Alvin, like accidentally breaking his father's treasured childhood toy, being afraid of a new piano teacher, or getting bullied, are mostly realistic. Younger readers might not have a lot of context for Alvin's visit to a psychotherapist, making that scene hard to relate to, but it's a brief scene with a lot of comedic potential. Alvin is only in the second grade, but his trials will appeal to mid-elementary aged readers, 2nd-4th grade.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another great school story, about a 2nd grader, but written for a little higher reading level.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Alvin Ho is a Chinese American boy living in Concord, Massachusetts. He is a typical second grade boy, except that his shyness and fear of "girls, school and other scary things" cause him to suffer from mutism when he is at school. His parents don't seem to be too concerned about his mutism but they do send him to a therapist. He has a typical relationship with his overachieving older brother and rambunctious little sister. In other words, this his is a typical family/ school story. Besides Alvin's mutism, there is nothing original about this story. He gets into trouble for bringing his father's treasured toy in to school for show-and-tell. He faces a bully in school and the girl he can't seem to get away from becomes his friend in the end. All of these situations have been written about before. Yet, this book will probably appeal to children in grades 2-4, especially reluctant boy readers. The one thing I liked about this book was that while it was about a Chinese American boy there was little emphasis on this. It was a nice change to read about a "minority" child and not have it be all about being a minority and the challenges children face when they are not part of the majority. The names of the other children in this story suggest that the other students were of other nationalities as well but again this was not emphasized nor clarified. For children who are looking for a simple family/school story in which race is not made into a big deal, this is a good choice for them. While there are some funny parts and the illustrations throughout the story add to the humor the problems are too easily resolved and the characters are not well developed.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Possibly one of the cutest kids books ever! He is a hoot and the whole thing was a pleasure to read - loved Flea, Calvin, and Annibelly too!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Alvin Ho is afraid of many things and is completely incapable of speaking while at school, which makes it difficult for him to make the friends he desperately wants. While learning how to make friends, and being instructed by his father how to be a gentleman, Alvin has a number of exciting misadventures, including catching the chicken pox, a show-and-tell disaster, and accidentally shouting Shakespearean insults at his therapist. The story is narrated by Alvin, from his entertaining second-grade perspective (he mentions the cemetery, where people's names and phone numbers are put on the headstones) and reflects his fondness for lists, admiration for his parents, and strong aversion to school. The book has a lot of fun playing with language, for instance, the leaves on trees applaud when the wind goes through them, and Alvin is terrified of his psychotherapist because of a misinterpretation of 'psycho' (he thinks she's a crazy person). There is additionally a strong sense of place, the setting of Concord Massachusetts is very influential-- the students learn about Thoreau in class and play games based on the Revolutionary War. The illustrations are cute and expressive, some are full page, while others decorate the margins. Alvin may take fears and anxieties to the extreme but his attempts to find friendship will be an experience recognized by many elementary school children.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Alvin Ho is starting second grade, but Alvin does not speak in school. The only person who understands is a girl who wears an eye-patch (which is really neat if she weren't a girl). Alvin tries to be a gentleman like his dad, while trying to fit in a world full of scary things with his PDK firmly in hand. This was a cute, funny, story geared towards first and second graders. I really want to read the sequel and have it for my classroom.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Smart, charming, fun book about finding out who you are. The writing is very clever and entertaining and it breezes by. A much-welcome summer story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a great book that will get kids excited to make that leap from easy readers to a longer, more challenging early chapter book. The layout and design is very appealing and the story and characters are easy to relate to. I don't think I will use it as a read aloud with my class becasue there are so many pictures and graphics that you add to the reading experience... but I will add it to my class library! I am excited to read the other one!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Suggested age/grade level: 2nd-4th gradersGenre: Realistic FictionThemes: Fears, Humor, and The importance of mannersThis book is about Alvin who is afraid of everything and cannot speak at school. He speaks while outside playing and even on the bus but as soon as he enters school, he cannot speak. He has many adventures with his phobias. He has to decide if a girl can be a friend. He sees a psychiatrist with whom he begins speaking with. This book was humorous and I would use this book with students just entering the transitional phase of reading. I believe that the students will like the humor and keep reading. The character names were also great, loved the name Anibelly.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Alvin Ho is starting second grade and what he knows about himself is that he can't talk when he's really scared, which is how it is at school. Seems like this would be a popular read among the just-starting-chapter-book set. I like Alvin's sort-of-friend Flea (short for Sophie) who wears an eye patch and has one leg shorter than the other. Not common traits found in kids books. Alvin has a brother a sister and a mom and dad. The parents, especially the dad are great characters. We'll see how it goes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    At home, Alvin Ho is a super hero. He's constantly chattering, playing baseball with his brother and sister... but at school he gets scared and freezes up. As a consequence, he doesn't have many friends. Or, well, any friends. Big brother Calvin tries to give him some advice. His parents even send him to therapy. But eventually Alvin will have to come to his own conclusions about what makes a friend and how he can go about making one. This book had me chuckling out loud and I love the illustrations. It also has a smart and involved dad whom Alvin loves and respects. I'd hand this one to fans of Clementine or Donuthead.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A lighthearted, humorous story in the vein of Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones, et al. Looking forward to more about Alvin...

    Audio edition narrated by Everette Plen. Young Everette voices Alvin's story with the exuberance we expect of Alvin, although at times the delivery is rushed and there's no difference between Alvin's voice and his brother's. But given that Everette is obviously a kid, I give him kudos for the effort.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alvin Ho is afraid of...everything. And I love that there is no one ah-ha moment or panacea, he makes small inroads with therapy etc. which feels honest and natural, all wrapped up in good humor and a moment where he stands up for himself in a relationship. Rather, when he tells Pinky, the boy he tried to impress, that Pinky wasn't a good choice to be Alvin's friend. Deft and humorous.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I can see this book appealing to my students. There were funny elements that my boys particularly would find hilarious. My favorite character was Flea, an girl with her own sense of self. She didn't care what anybody thought of her. That doesn't mean that she wasn't hurt by Alvin when he didn't want to be her friend, but she never let it destroy her. She saved the story for me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is one in a series around Alvin Ho. This precious book tells the story of how Alvin Ho is so scared of school that he has what is usually referred to as selective mutism. As the story progresses, it shows that Alvin can overcome his fear of girls, and can make friends, in spite of his disability.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alvin Ho is a kid I would like to know. Alvin is full of insecurities, but he finds a true friend in the end. I love the Shakespeare cursing. It makes me want to read more Shakespeare so I can do it too. If I feel this way maybe kids will as well.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Went on for too long. Alvin is a second grader.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In this first book in the series, Alvin is a Chinese American second grader who has a lot of fears, especially related to school. He finds himself unable to speak in school, though he is quite talkative and inquisitive at home. He splits his time between navigating the perils of school and recess and getting himself into sticky situations. Over the course of the book, Alvin learns that while he might not fit in with everyone, he has many people in his life that look out for him.There are a lot of good things going for this book. It is nice to see a chapter book about an average kid who just happens to be Asian American to supplement books where multiculturalism is a central theme. The inclusion of Alvin’s therapy without it being a focus could be a good way to reduce the stigma that people may have toward mental healthcare. The book is also very funny, especially the glossary in the back that provides both real definitions and ones personalized by Alvin. Occasionally the voice seems to be too mature for the second grade protagonist, but it is still an enjoyable book for elementary schoolers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Alvin Ho is in second grade and is afraid of everything, I mean everything. In fact he’s so afraid of school, he doesn’t speak a word while he’s there. His fears often find him in curious situations, like the time he brought his Dad’s coolest game to show and tell without asking or when he yelled shakespearean curses at the girl next door. In this early chapter book, the narrative is told from Alvin’s perspective. Alvin’s authentic reactions and captivating narrative voice makes the reader understand what it feels like to be afraid of everything. Drawn illustrations are included on many of the pages that depict the world as Alvin sees it. Despite Alvin’s collection of fears, he is a normal second grade boy who just happens to be Chinese American. A glossary is included in the back of the book that define Chinese words used in the text such as gungung and yehyeh, meaning paternal and maternal grandfather. English words and names are also included such as Beethoven and bratwurst. This book is strongly recommended for purchase in a school or public library. (Ages 7-11)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ages 7-10.Second grader Alvin Ho loves putting on a cape and imagining he is the superhero Firecracker man. Alvin has one problem: he’s afraid of just about everything. At school, Alvin just can’t seem to speak, no matter how hard he tries. With the help of his Dad and big brother, Alvin decides to overcome his fears and find friends.Look’s story balances a compassion for Alvin’s social anxiety with humor. Readers feel sympathy for Alvin’s problem, but also see that Alvin’s unique perspective gives him a marvelous imagination. He doodles escape routes and flies with Johnny Astro. He even hurls mild Shakespearean insults at his psychotherapist, which Dad explains is not appropriate.Readers with some transitional chapter book experience will feel successful with Alvin Ho. Chapter titles hint at what is coming next. A maximum of 22 lines per page, and lines with 1.5 spacing between them, allow readers to take in the text with ease. A glossary in Alvin’s voice includes the names famous authors from Alvin’s hometown Concord, MA, the Chinese names of his grandparents, and tricky vocabulary.The book’s ending is hopeful for Alvin, yet realistic and believable. Fortunately for readers, Alvin Ho has sequels in store. Recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Though he’s happy at home, Alvin Ho is so afraid at school that he can’t even talk. Unfortunately, his troubles don’t end there, since he has a girl as his desk partner, a bully to try to impress, and the consequences of breaking his father’s toy to face.Instantly likeable, Alvin is relatable, endearing, and, above-all, funny. LeUyen Pham’s black-and-white illustrations only serve to highlight the already full descriptions found in the text—their cartoonish style fit perfectly with the casual tone of Alvin’s narration. Most young readers will understand Alvin’s shyness and his desire to fit in, and will find themselves rooting for him throughout the book. An excellent choice for transitional readers, as its short chapters with a few illustrations make it easy to take breaks and find stopping points—however, it’s unlikely that kids will want to put the book down.Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    At home Alvin Ho is a typical seven-year-old boy, quarrelling with his siblings and donning a cape to play superheroes, but at school his anxiety over “girls, school and other scary things” keeps him from speaking or making friends with his classmates. Even children who do not suffer from an anxiety disorder or selective mutism will be able to relate to Alvin’s wish for a friend, and while some readers (particularly parents) may be put off by how this chapter book handles these subjects with a light, humorous tone, other readers will find this tone makes for a more sympathetic portrayal of Alvin’s condition. Alvin’s Chinese-American heritage is another unique feature of the book, and it is refreshing to see multicultural literature where race is not the focus. Indeed, the book seems to push against stereotypes with a grandfather who sews and a Chinese-American father who delights in Shakespearean insults. The illustrations, black-and-white line drawings, add to the light, humorous tone with expressive faces and poses that perfectly capture Alvin’s emotions. Recommended for readers age 6 to 8, particularly for boy readers for whom there are few realistic chapter books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alvin Ho, a Chinese-American second-grader with a little performance anxiety disorder, is afraid of just about everything: elevators, tunnels, kimchi, wasabi. But one thing is especially frightening: 'I have never spoken a word in school,' Alvin says, and he's mystified, 'since I come from a long line of farmer-warriors who haven't had a scaredy bone in their bodies since 714 AD.' By the end of the story, his fears are pretty much intact — but he's found a friend, made progress on his 'How to Be a Gentleman' list and learned that joining a 'gang' is for the birds. It's great that Alvin's friend turns out to be his once-despised desk buddy, Flea, a one-eyed girl with one leg longer than the other, 'like a peg leg'; she prides herself on her understanding of him, and he enthusiastically thinks her eyepatch and legs make her look like a pirate. It's a unique little book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The first thing you should know is about this book is that it is really funny.This book is good for:Independent readersBoysGirlsGrown-upsKidsBig BrothersLittle SistersBest FriendsSquishing bugs*Shakespeare FansThe second thing you should know about this book is that although it is really funny, it isn’t only about funny things (like wasabi, the green stuff you eat with sushi that explodes inside your nose and makes you cry). In fact, it really is about the not so funny things, like family and what having a real friend means. This book is really about how Alvin Ho found out he had a really awesome friend who was a girl, even though girls are pretty scary.The third thing you should know about this book is there are a few words you might not know, check the back. There is a pretty good glossary so you don’t have to bring a dictionary everywhere.The fourth thing you need to know about this book is there are some cool drawings in it. The illustrations work along with the story, and sometimes replace the actual text, so you need to pay attention.The fifth thing you need to know about this book is that when you are done with it, you will want to go get the second one, so plan ahead.The sixth thing you will need to know about this book is if you only read it one time, you missed something. There is a lot packed into this book. While younger kids can read it and find it fun while older kids will also appreciate the nuances in the story.*Refers to the hardcover version. Trust me. It was an icky bug.