Amanda Commander: The Blues-day Tuesday 

By Coral Vass

Illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Hotchkis

Amanda Commander and the Dolphin Squad are back in The Blues Day Tuesday, the fourth book in Coral Vass’ colourful junior fiction series. The multi-award winning author has written more than 25 books for children, including the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year – Eve Pownell Award winning Sorry Day. Teamed with Brisbane illustrator Heidi Cooper Smith, the book comes to life with plenty of lovely illustrations.

When third-grade student Amanda notices a classmate is left out after being away sick for a few days, the Dolphin Squad comes up with a plan to make sure everyone is included when they come back to school. But Amanda’s return to school after being sick still makes her feel left on the sidelines, and she realizes fitting back in with her friends is even harder than she thought.  When Eve is away sick, can Amanda and her friends use the new plan to make sure she feels welcome back at school?

This story uses simple language, short chapters, and clever illustrations as part of the narrative to ease young readers into independently reading chapter books. Rooted in the reality of friendships and school, the concept of treating others the way you would like them to treat you is a solid moral running through the book. Although it feels at times that Amanda is sacrificing her own comfort and happiness to accommodate the other kids in her class, she is rewarded in the end with a sincere thank you from someone unexpected.

A great read for all children in lower primary grade aged, readers 7-10 will relate to the situations the girls find themselves in. As all the characters are girls, young boys may be deterred from reading, but it’s a story suited to everyone.

Rhiza Press

Coral Vass

Heidi Cooper Smith