When schools unexpectedly closed in March of 2020, my daughter launched a YouTube channel to offer the gift of reading to kids who may otherwise no longer have access. She created a virtual storytime titled “Addy’s Reading Adventure” in which she filmed, edited, and uploaded videos entirely on her own. One of our brand partners, Sun-Maid®, graciously reached out to support her venture and offered their Sun-Maid® Bites as the perfect storytime snack, along with the “Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker” series by Shelley Johannes to share with her audience. With that said, I invite you in for a sneak peek into her process along with a thorough “Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker” review.
Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker Review
When faced with adversity, my 9-year-old daughter leans into optimism. She is wildly creative, incredibly thoughtful, and tough as nails, much like the main character, Beatrice. And more than anything, she has an unbreakable spirit. “Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker” was made for her. It all feels very kismet.
There are three books in the series, and I’ll run through them briefly, but I highly encourage you to check them out in-store or online at Walmart if you have kids between 7-10 years old or grades 2-5.
Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker (Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker (1))
Beatrice does her best thinking upside down.
Hanging from trees by her knees, doing handstands . . . for Beatrice Zinker, upside down works every time. She was definitely upside down when she and her best friend, Lenny, agreed to wear matching ninja suits on the first day of third grade. But when Beatrice shows up at school dressed in black, Lenny arrives with a cool new outfit and a cool new friend. Even worse, she seems to have forgotten all about the top-secret operation they planned! Can Beatrice use her topsy-turvy way of thinking to save the mission, mend their friendship, and flip things sunny-side up?
Icognito (Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker (2))
Beatrice Zinker’s top-secret plan, Operation Upside, is finally in full swing! And she’s REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT! But when Beatrice impulsively awards her teacher, Mrs. Tamarack, an UPSIDE of her own-with the words Most Strict lettered in gold-the team has to put the entire mission on hold to avoid suspicion.
Lying low isn’t exactly Beatrice’s strong suit . . . and her classmate Wes desperately needs to be recognized. When Wes’s certificate falls into the wrong hands, Beatrice and her best friend, Lenny, must find a way once again, to save Operation Upside-and themselves-from big trouble. Beatrice Zinker’s top-secret plan, Operation Upside, is finally in full swing! And she’s REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT! But when Beatrice impulsively awards her teacher, Mrs. Tamarack, an UPSIDE of her own-with the words Most Strict lettered in gold, the team has to put the entire mission on hold to avoid suspicion.
Sabotage (Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker (3))
The third caper is the zaniest yet for Beatrice Zinker, the irrepressible third grader who marches to the beat of her own drum–and does her best thinking upside down! With several successful Operation Upside missions under their belts, Beatrice, her best friend Lenny, and Sam have made quite a name for themselves–they’re the people who remind you there are infinite upsides to being yourself. But suddenly the unthinkable occurs–an imposter delivers an imitation Upside Award that could only be given by Beatrice, Lenny, or Sam!
As Beatrice hunts for clues to the culprit, Lenny suspects one of their own. Will they solve the mystery before Operation Upside becomes a fraud and is ruined once and for all? Or is the situation much bigger than any of them imagines?
Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker Review
The story highlights the power of compassion and the value of being a true individual. It’s a definite gem for young readers, inspiring them to be passionate, creative, and proud of their unique attributes.
Sun-Maid Bites
As I mentioned Sun-Maid® graciously sponsored this post and encouraged us to try their new Sun-Maid Bites and provide honest feedback. The truth is…they’re delicious. Sun-Maid® Bites are made with whole fruit, have no artificial ingredients, and come in childhood-inspired flavors like S’mores, PBJ and Birthday Cake – all with 5g of added sugar or less!
You can find Sun-Maid® Bites online here: bit.ly/33d1KhF or in store next time your are at Walmart. They also have an Ibotta offer running currently- check it out here: bit.ly/31mZDFx.
XoXo Portia
Photos by Jasmine Klein Photography
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