Description: "Perhaps stepmothers aren't as cruel as folklore has led us to believe. When a child learns that their family is getting a new stepmother, they are skeptical. After all, Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel all had stepmothers who were "TOTALLY wicked" and "B-A-D." Surely the new stepmother, Holly, will be assigning arduous chores. But instead, she helps renovate the protagonist's bedroom, painting the ceiling blue to resemble the sky. And while fairy-tale stepmothers abandon their kids in the woods, Holly saves the day when the family is lost on a hiking trip. Though the child isn't entirely convinced of Holly's benevolence, the new stepmother continues to score points through gestures of affection, like putting notes in lunches, saving school artwork, and offering support after the protagonist sustains an injury. As the protagonist's trust in their stepmother grows, they try out new names for her, such as Stepster and Steppypants, before settling on Holly."--
Brief description:
Samantha Berger grew up reading lots of books that had evil, wicked, and B-A-D bad Stepmothers in them. But her *own* Stepmother is one of the coolest people on the planet! She thought it was high time that Steps had a book celebrating THEM. Sam is the author of 90 books for young readers, a three-time Emmy nominated TV writer, and lives in Santa Monica with her dog Polly Pocket.
Visit her at www.samanthaberger.com.
Review Quotes:
Perhaps stepmothers aren't as cruel as folklore has led us to believe. This is a simple lesson, shared humorously and earnestly, about how fears and pre-judgments can shift with experience. Totally genuine and fills a gap by showcasing positive outcomes in blended families. - Kirkus Reviews