Stars and Sparks on Stage (Clubhouse Mysteries)



Last updated Friday, March 13, 2026

Author: Sharon M. Draper
Illustrator: Jesse Joshua Watson
Date of Publication: 2012
ISBN: 1442454598
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2026

Synopsis: Ziggy, Jerome, Rashawn, and Rico are sure they're going to win the upcoming school talent show. And the best part? First prize is $200! With great singing and showmanship, the boys are already envisioning all the new upgrades they'll give their clubhouse when they win the prize money. But they didn't count on a little girl with a big, big voice, who just might have what it takes to overcome the Clubhouse kids - and who also needs the money much more than the boys do. Can everyone come out a winner in this contest?

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What do you think it is like to be on stage?
•  What would you perform in a talent show?

Vocabulary:
•  Excavate - To make a hole or hollow place in by digging.
•  Stifle - To hold back, inhibit.
•  Refrain - A phrase or melody that is repeated regularly during a song or poem.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What would you do if you won $200?
•  What songs do you like to sing?
•  How do you think Ziggy, Jerome, Raswhan, and Rico will do in the talent show?

Craft ideas:
•  The children can make hats out of coffee filters.
•  The children can draw pictures of the performers.

Special activities:
•  The children can sing the songs sung in chapter one of the book.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!