Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble (Nikki & Deja) Paperback – Illustrated, July 8, 2014

dd is a strong reader, rising 5th grader. loves them and reads them without me pushing.

Currently reading now with daughter We can not wait til the teacher returns lol Great book and Author

Best one yet

This is such a great book! It's about what happens when you have an awesome teacher, and then for a while you no longer have an awesome teacher. I think this is something that every person in the world can relate to. I certainly did.Specifically, Nikki and Deja are elementary school kids. They have an awesome teacher, Ms. Shelby-Ortiz, who just broke her leg and has to be gone from school for a few weeks. During those weeks, they have two bad substitute teachers. The first one doesn't know how to control the class, and so the class is too disruptive for everyone. The second one is just like a drill sergeant, and so everyone behaves but it's no fun. Ms. Shelby-Ortiz was like the third bear's porridge, friendly but firm, and so she is just right.Best friends Nikki and Deja are really stressed out about the disorder in the classroom, especially Deja, who really likes for her environment to be orderly. Most of this book is about Nikki and Deja trying to figure out how they can survive a disorderly class, and what they can do to help without being labeled as "goody-goods."The illustrations are great. They complemented the book well and made me curious about what was happening next. There are about ten full-page illustrations throughout the book, and a few 1/3rd page illustrations. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a little tiny chapter picture above the chapter number that gives a hint about what the chapter is about. I really liked that part for some reason.I'd recommend this book to everyone, adults and kids alike. Also, this book has a lot more application than just substitute teachers. I don't think there are any books written about how to deal with your life if you have a horrible elementary school teacher for a year. In my childhood, I had four great elementary teachers, and two crummy ones, and this book would have helped me a lot with that, even though it's specifically about a substitute teacher and not about a bad full-year teacher. If you're a parent, I'd recommend that you get this book for your child and also that you read it yourself. This would be a great book to use as a catalyst for discussing difficult topics with your child, especially if your child is having a hard time with a new teacher or a substitute or any other kind of change. It'll only take an adult about an hour to read, so it's definitely worth your time investment.I think this book also has more application than just school. There have been a lot of times in my life where I have gotten comfortable with a good friend, or something that I do every day that seems perfect, and then my life changes, and I have to deal with it. This book discusses in a basic way without becoming oversimplified how to deal with those difficult emotions and difficult changes.This is the fifth book in the series of Nikki and Deja, but it's an excellent starting point.Pros:+Excellent writing+Excellent illustrations+Nikki and Deja are very interesting protagonists. This book centers on Deja.+Very fun read+Excellent character development of all of the teachers, Deja's aunt, and all of the kids in school+Talks about difficult concepts and difficult feelings, and doesn't oversimplify them+Gives a great model for being a great teacher, and points out common mistakes to implementing that model. This is especially impressive, since Ms. Shelby-Ortiz is the model teacher and is out of the classroom for almost the entire book.Cons:-There are only five books so far in this series. I wish there were more.

I like this series of books; you rarely get to see African American kids as the lead. This book is in the series with  Nikki and Deja . There are several more books and it's basically following the lives of 2 African American girls who are 10 yrs old or so. The books cover doing each other hair, talking, gossiping, really just things little girls do. Deja tried to help the substitute by slipping him a note so he knows the kids aren't following the rules but in the process gets in trouble for putting a kick me sign on the teachers' back. Well she didn't but appearances are everthing. Then the next day a new substitute comes in and he's super mean, Mr. Blaggart rules and whips the class back into shape. It's a good book and an overall nice series.

Nikki and Deja's teacher Mrs. Shelby Ortiz has had an accident and her class has a substitute teacher. This story is about all of the mischief that Nikki and Deja's class has going while their teacher is out. Kids are sharpening pencils over and over again. They are sitting in the wrong seats and doing anything they can to cause mischief. Nikki and Deja cannot believe the other kids are acting this way and know for sure Mrs. Shelby-Ortiz would not stand for all of that.This is a well written, cute story that would be fun for a 3rd or 4th grader to read. This book is for fun and I did not take it serious that the kids were acting this way with their substitute teacher.

There are several Nikki and Deja books in this series but each one can stand alone. These books are intended for beginning readers, ages 6-9. Even though the two main characters are girls, my nine year old son enjoyed this book.This book illustrates why it's important to behave for a substitute teacher and follow the rules at school in general in a fun way. Nikki and Deja are good girls who follow the rules without being tattletales or goody-goodies. I appreciated how the girls figured out how things would be different if the first sub was more sure of himself.I really like how this series features children of color without race being the central issue to the story. They add a nice bit of diversity to our home library.

She loved it. Her mother not so much - lol.This is a terrific book to open dialogue with your child about proper behavior and not needing to go with the herd mentality.Nikki and Deja BFFs in elementary school.Mr. Willow (a softie) and Mr. Blaggart (toughie) are their substitute teachers. We all can remember teachers just like this - I do 45 later.Things are out of control with soft Mr. Willow, the girls write a letter to give him helpful tips, of course it ends up looking like they are playing a prank on him.The next day "drill sergeant" Mr. Braggert is the sub and military rule gets everyone behaving.This is how I remember school and I was a bit surprised to see nothing has changed.other titles in the series (fyi the author is a retired elementary school teacher)* Nikki and Deja (2007)* Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues (2009)* Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter(2010)* Nikki and Deja: Election Madness (2011)* Nikki and Deja: Wedding Drama (2012)