The Back to School Jitters, 2006
Back to School
Christianne C. Jones
Illustrated by Ryan Haugen
Dad is taking Jamal and Anisa back-to-school shopping. Jamal is in the fifth grade and Anisa is in the first so their supply needs are different. Anisa is disappointed when Jamal gets ink pens and she gets pencils. So it goes with all of the shopping until they both get new backpacks and are ready for school to start. "Dad is ready for a nap!" The illustrations convey the depth of Anisa's feelings as the text is kept simple for the emergent reader. This is a red level book in the "Read It! Readers" series (presents familiar topics using common words and repeating sentence patterns). It is rewarding to see the family interacting in such a positive way and each of the children enjoying the time with their dad doing errands. This book achieves its goal of appealing to early readers' abilities and sensibilities. I can remember wanting the "older kids" school supplies at an early age. 2006, Picture Window Books, $18.60. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4048-1166-4
Best Best Friends
Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Clare and Mary are best friends. At preschool they give each other hugs; they sit together; they hold hands. They are best, best friends--until the day Mary celebrates her birthday. At school Mary gets hugs from everyone. She gets to sit next to the teacher and she gets to be first in line. At snack time there is a party for Mary with cupcakes with pink frosting and pink sprinkles, and Mary gets to wear a golden birthday crown. Could Clare be feeling jealous? Are the two best friends going to be mad at one another forever? Or will they kiss and make up and be best, best, best friends again. A delightful story to read aloud to young children at home or at school, and a good lead in to a discussion about jealousy. Charming full-page illustrations made using a variety of print making techniques. Includes a postcard to mail to your best, best friend. 2006, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars , May 1, 2006; United States
ISBN: 0152056947
The Best Teacher in Second Grade
Katherine Kenah
Pictures by Abby Carter
Luna has transferred into a new school in the middle of the year. She was concerned but happily, her teacher Mr. Hopper was wonderful and they shared a common interest-the sky. Luna (great name choice) writes poems, decorates her room and is just fascinated with anything that has to do with the stars and planets. When the class learns that they are supposed to put on a program for parent's night, Luna suggests a show about the night sky, but the idea gets twisted and it ends up that the kids will put on a circus. All of the ideas that Luna has relate to the sun, stars and constellations. She is beginning to feel that her classmates think she is a little strange so she decides to get rid of all her stars, and constellation pictures. Later in the week the students in her class learn that another class is also putting on a circus and they will not be the standouts that they had hope. Kids will learn how Luna comes to the rescue and enjoy her chance to bask in the praise of The Best Teacher in Second Grade. A Level 2 book in the "I Can Read!" series.
2006, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99 and $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-053564-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-053564-3
ISBN: 0-06-053566-0
ISBN: 0-06-053565-2
ISBN: 978-0-06-053565-0
Biscuits's 100th Day of School
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Pictures by Mary O'Keefe Young
As we follow Biscuit and his owner through a school day, we see various depictions of the concept of 100: numbers on the board, popsicle sticks, handprints (and paw prints), crayons, blocks, beans, peas, marbles, crunchy o's, paper chain links, pennies, paper clips, gold fish, and dog bones (of course). Biscuit causes a bit of mischief and one wonders if there might be only 99 "dog biscuits" when the puppy runs off with one. Colorful pictures including lots of different faces enhance the story line. The lift-the-flap format will appeal to young students "predicting" just what Biscuit will do next.
PS. Students could even count the words in this review - not counting this sentence!
2006, HarperCollins, $6.99, Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-06079467-5
ISBN: 0-06-079467-4
Book Fair Day
Lynn Plourde
Illustrated by Thor Wickstrom
Books, books, books, Dewey Booker loves books. He has been saving his money to spend at Book Fair Day at school, but he is worried that he will not get the chance to buy the things he really wants. Because his class is scheduled to be the last to visit the book fair, he spends the day trying to sneak into the library early. His antics include trying to sneak in with the youngsters from Book Buddies (older students read aloud to younger ones), while searching for the missing class hamster he finds his way to the library, and when the playground ball goes astray he is sure that it has gone into the library's open window. Each time he is retrieved by his teacher who gently tells him that he will have a turn later in the day. One begins to get the idea that a master plot is being hatched to play a little trick on Dewey. The librarian has been calling the teacher on his cell phone and reporting on Dewey's efforts to get "first dibbs" on particular books. Once the class finally goes to the library, his fellow students bombard him with requests for help in choosing books, advice on selections already made, and other ways of keeping him busy. He is totally dismayed to discover that all of the books have been purchased - except for the entire box that the librarian has held back. Through out the day he has been observing the books that interested Dewey and had set them aside. Dewey is thrilled and he even has enough money in his special book bank to purchase them all. He had also walked to school that morning pulling his special book wagon in order to be able to get his treasures home in the afternoon. The colorful cartoon drawings are filled with little humorous notes, like the man walking his dog in the morning is also in the last picture observing Dewey dragging his wagon home after school. Librarians and teachers will adore sharing this one with students - it will require more than one reading to be able to pick up on all of the things included in the clever illustrations. The book titles on the end papers, on the shelves, and book cases will be amusing to all. Be sure to watch the facial expressions of both the adults and the students - Wickstrom captures them wonderfully well. All sorts of faces are represented here and look very natural working together. 2006, Dutton, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47696-2
The Boy Who Loved Words
Roni Schotter
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
The glossary in this book is the star character, rather than a page tucked into the back. Unusual words like aflutter, jibber-jabber, rhapsody, voracious, and tintinnabulating are defined on the endpapers. They show up in the story of Selig, a boy who collects words, making him feel like a lonely oddball until he finds a purpose for his collections of words: he passes them out, leaving words on tree branches so a poet could write about the moon melting like a "lemon lozenge in the licorice sky." There are words to help sell a baker's scrumptious bread and ultimately words that set Selig's heart aflutter over a singer named Melody. There is an old-fashioned sweetness to the flat, softly colored illustrations. The story offers a good message about children who appear different but have much to offer. Collecting words with interesting sounds and meanings is an appealing idea. 2006, Random House, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, March 1, 2006; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-375-83601-2
Brand-new Pencils, Brand-new Books
Diane de Groat
The night before he begins first grade, Gilbert reassures his little sister, Lola, that preschool is fun and Mrs. Duck is nice, but he is not so certain about his own situation. The next morning he walks to school with his friend, Patti, and they wonder if their new teacher and the principal will be nice. Gilbert notices many differences between his kindergarten and the first-grade classroom: one of the boys can already read, Patti seems to have found a new friend already, and Gilbert finds himself sitting alone in the cafeteria. De Groat's text quietly reassures children that all will be well. She manages to assuage the normal fears of this new situation and at the same time creates interest and excitement over making new friends and new discoveries in the classroom. Her animal characters display individual personalities and perfectly convey a multicultural classroom. This is considered a prequel to the other books featuring Gilbert and is a good addition to the back-to-school books. 2005, HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Childrens' Choices, 2006; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-06-072613-X
ISBN: 0-06-072615-6
Bully-Be-Gone
Brian Tacang
Millicent Madding, a twelve-year-old wiz kid and aspiring scientist, is trying to create an invention, Bully-Be-Gone, that will protect her friends from bullies. Madame Curie, Millicent's cat, sits by and watches the wiz kid in action, while Millicent's friends wait patiently to be "cured" of bullies. When Millicent turns her attention to something more important, her missing Aunt Felicity (the human cannonball who blasted off the planet years ago, never to be seen again) the action takes off. In learning to use her inventing abilities to help humanity, Millicent matures into a talented young woman in this wacky, detail-filled world that includes a Calorie Thermometer, Diffollicle Speed Gel, and other wonderful details. In this debut novel, Tacang creates a futuristic world that vividly comes alive on the page 2006, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-073911-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-073911-9
ISBN: 0-06-073912-6
ISBN: 978-0-06-073912-6
Can I Bring My Pterodactyl to School, Ms. Johnson?
Lois G. Grambling
Illustrated by Judy Love
Who could resist a pterodactyl with a friendly grin? Possibly Ms. Johnson, the classroom teacher who may need convincing that a pterodactyl could be a great asset for the school setting. Why, he could prove a great deterrent for the actions of the playground bully (imagine him carried off to be plopped into the sandbox - check out the glee with which the flying dinosaur performs this task), as well as using his large wings to shelter the marching band from rain and students from chilly breezes. Each time a school scenario is presented the reader has the opportunity to predict the actions the pterodactyl might take to remedy the situation as the page must be turned to discover the next trick he has under his wings. The illustrations are the perfect compliment to the text. In the double spread showing how efficiently the pterodactyl could serve as a flying carpet for a field trip to Washington, DC, we see the capitol awaiting the multi-ethnic class as they swoop over the landscape. Tiny details include the National Botanical Gardens and the bridges crossing the Potomac. Each page begs Ms. Johnson to allow the pterodactyl to live at school. The boy needs a place for the prehistoric animal he has won in a "Fantastic" contest to stay since it cannot live in his room at home (Mom would never agree). Then the last page has the final zinger - he read the letter wrong - he did not win a pterodactyl, instead he won a wooly mammoth. Great fun is to be had reading this one aloud, but some teachers will wish that the boy had said "May I." 2006, Charlesbridge, Ages 4 to 9, $16.95 and $6.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58889-0-X
ISBN: 1-58089-141-1
ISBN: 978-1-58089-044-1
ISBN: 978-1-58089-141-7
Dear Mr. Rosenwald
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
I for one did not realize what Julius Rosewald, the President of Sears, Roebuck and company had done for education. He donated money to found schools for rural African-American communities. There were some string or requirements associated with the bequests-Rosewald provided the seed money and the community had to obtain the land, raise more funds and build the schools and there had to be participation by the white populace and the state had to agree to continue to support the schools. Carole Weatherford tells the story of one particular school and the sharecropper who had so little worked so hard to raise the necessary funds, obtain land, lumber from black and white farmers and the sweat of hard labor to build a school. The parents knew that education was the only way to escape the grinding poverty that held them bondage. The new teacher summed it up "Children, you are diamonds in the rough / I will polish you bright as stars." Also the letter written to thank Mr. Rosenwalds is reprinted on the back jacket. The author's note is quite informative and it is amazing to learn that more than 5,000 Rosewald schools were built. The art by Coretta Scott King honor artist Christie has a primitive look. At first glance it was a bit off putting, but as the story unfolds, it felt more and more appropriate. By a second reading, I was seeing more and more in the faces of the people and Christie's ability to reflect in his images the lyrical text. 2006, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 10, $16.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-49522-9
ISBN: 978-0-439-49522-6
Do-Over
Christine Hurley Deriso
Everyone has made a fool of themselves, said something they have regretted, wished they could go back and undo what they have said or done or do something better if they only had a second chance. Elsa has been given that second chance. She is coping with her mother's death and a move to a new town and a new school. It is hard--until Elsa discovers that she has been given a magical do-over power. Now Elsa can do-over in all her classes, come up with the right answers, and be a star student. Now she can hear the latest gossip and jump back ten seconds and be the first to pass it on. In fact she can do anything over and over again until she gets it right. But somehow her life does not seem quite right. Maybe Elsa is feeling like a fake; maybe she does not want to fake it anymore. A funny and sympathetic story about a teenage girl coping with a new school, new friends, and figuring out the best way to be cool, popular and brilliant. 2006, Delacorte Press/Random House, Ages 11 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-385-73333-X
ISBN: 0-385-90350-2
First Grade, Here I Come!
Nancy Carlson
When Henry's mother and baby brother, Pete, meet him after his initial day of first grade, he has lots of things to report about his new experiences. He was surprised to discover that his teacher was a man, his kindergarten teacher had been a woman. This was only the first of many comparisons between last year and this new one. We see the trio walking home and then sharing milk and cookies with many of the recollections of the school day shown in cartoon blurbs over Henry's head or set off with the cloud borders that demark "thinking." This treatise on a typical day in first grade is populated with a variety of animals: Henry is a mouse, his teacher is a large dog, his friends are pigs, pooches, rabbits, cats, and frogs. Henry learns a lot of things in just one day: opening the door of the guinea pig's cage results in a wild chase, going to art is fun, tuna melt actually tastes good, the teacher is willing to play kick ball at recess, he must look for the sign that says B-O-Y-S, etc. Henry even makes a new friend, Oswaldo, who also likes soccer and spiders. My science teacher said to "just look at" spiders but Henry is shown holding one in his hand. Carlson's colorful cartoon style illustrations are extremely apt for the reassuring storyline. Henry concludes that all of the new things about first grade are not too much for him because he is a "real first grader now!" Children will enjoy the classroom specifics (bulletin boards, cubbies, the science corner, etc.) and the details of Henry's home, such as the wall paper decorated with cheese wedges. 2006, Viking/Penguin, Ages 5 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-670-06127-1
The Great Math Tattle Battle
Anne Bowen
Illustrated by Jaime Zollars
Kids will like this book so much they will actually enjoy learning a little math as they read. Harley Harrison, a bristle-haired tattletale and excellent math student, is the scourge of the second grade. He keeps notes documenting the other students' transgressions and then presents them to those in charge. He reports Erwin for chewing erasers after adding up just how many erasers Erwin chews in a week. He reports Cindy and Mindy for forgetting to clean under their desks for three days, after he counts the items they have neglected. He also reports Luis for drinking two chocolate milks a day at lunch. Of course, he totals Luis' intake for the week. Enter Emma Jean, a new student in the class who is also good at math and who reports Harley for spending too much time at the water fountain. Emma Jean adds up the total time before handing the teacher a note. There are a few more rounds before Harley and Emma Jean learn to work together and find they are too busy to tattletale any longer. The illustrations, especially those of pencil-chewing Erwin, capture the flavor of second grade. In addition to the math included in the story, there are "Math Tattle Battle Teasers" for youngsters to solve in the back of the book. 2006, Albert Whitman, $15.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8075-3163-1
ISBN: 0-8075-3163-4
The Heinie Prize
R.L. Stine
Life at Rotten School seems terrific for Bernie Bridges. He drinks foamy root beer, boasts of many friends, and has the perfect slave, Belzer. Belzer feeds Bernie's parrot, washes his laundry, and even does his homework. What more could one want? Well, Bernie wants the Heinie Award. This prize is for the most outstanding student in the fourth grade. Too bad Mrs. Heinie does not like him, but he can change that. He knows how to be charming and caring. The other complication in Bernie's life arrives in the mail. Belzer's parents want him to leave school. Now how can Bernie convince Belzer's parents that he is not a loser and must stay at Rotten School? The plan forms in his mind, but this may mean that the Heinie award will have to go to someone else. Will Bernie's selfish plot cost him what he wants most? Does Belzer take advantage of Bernie's agenda and turn it around for his own personal gain? Will the reader end up laughing or crying? Only R.L Stine's brand of humor can make Rotten School into a place where reluctant readers will want to go. Bravo! The awesome illustrations and story line create a gross but hilarious plot where a conniving student must learn the true meaning of friendship. One can only imagine where R.L. Stine finds his inspirations and tales. If only he could find a way to make school lunch more enjoyable. Book #6 in the "Rotten School" series. 2006, Parachute Publishing/HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 10, $6.99 and $14.89. Reviewer: Julia Beiker (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-078814-3
ISBN: 0-06-078815-1
ISBN: 978-0-06-078814-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-078815-5
Herbie Jones Sails Into Second Grade
Suzy Kline
Illustrated by Sami Sweeten
Herbie is a truly likeable second-grader who is getting ready for his first day of school. Mom is busy with his older sister so Herbie gets to fix his own breakfast and what a breakfast it is-an ice cream cone. On the way to school he meets a new kid Raymond and as the story progresses we learn that they are the same age and in the same grade. Another pleasant surprise is their teacher-Mr. Schnellenber--aka Mr. S. It is a delightful story about a bunch of nice kids, happy families which includes Herbie's long distance grandfather and it is all peppered with plenty of black and white illustrations to break up the text and provide content for new readers. The clever teacher has made sailor hats for his students with their names on them. They get to wear them each day as they prepare to "sail through second grade." 2006, Putnam/Penguin, Ages 5 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-22665-6
ISBN: 978-0-399-22665-6
Herbie Jones and the Second Grade Slippers
Suzy Kline
Illustrated by Sami Sweeten
Herbie is a truly likeable second-grader who is also a good friend as this story proves. Mr. Schnellenberger has announced that kids may wear slippers while in his class-they all love it except Ray, Herbie's friend. Herbie eventually learns that Ray does not have a pair of slippers, but leave it to our second-grader to come up with a creative and thoughtful solution. He tells his grandfather who he often talks to long distance about school and the slipper episode. Grandpa offers the ultimate compliment when he hears what Herbie die and tells his grandson that he wishes he was in second grade again so he could have Herbie as his buddy. A really positive story about friendship which should appeal to new readers, and there are plenty of black and white illustrations to break up the text to provide content clues. 2006, Putnam/Penguin, Ages 5 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-23132-3
ISBN: 978-0-399-23132-2
I Love School
Philemon Sturges
Illustrated by Shari Halpern
A simple, rhyming text presents the activities that young children enjoy about school. They can laugh, talk and sing with friends. They can build with blocks, draw and paint, and play outside at recess. They can trade parts of their lunches, enjoy hearing a story, write their 1, 2, 3s and X, Y, Zs. Bold, flat colors are used to illustrate this story of a multicultural classroom. Friendly faces and the variety of activities will help "first-timers," whether for preschool or kindergarten, feel more comfortable with what happens at school. The rhyming text has a jaunty, happy rhythm that works most of the time. Rhyming "walls" and "dolls" is a bit of a stretch, but the others seem fine. On the front and back covers, as if written on a blackboard, are some interesting little tidbits of information: "a pencil will write in zero gravity, upside down, and underwater;" "A piece of paper can be recycled five to seven times;" and "Before rulers, the inch was described as the width of a man's thumb." This is an additional title for back-to-school. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
The rhyming text depicts why nameless children love school. It is written in the first person, but I have never encountered a child who speaks in verse. All of the reasons, such as "I can hardly wait for lunch!" and " I love to build great big block walls," are certainly valid. However, the text is bland. A storyline is never developed. The rhyme merely describes a typical school day. For a much better example of a book about loving school is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. Halpern's simple, vivid illustrations should appeal to young children. Some interesting facts, along with chalk drawings, make up the end papers. They are the most engaging part of the book. 2006 (orig. 2004), HarperTrophy/HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6, $5.99. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-009284-X
ISBN: 0-06-009285-8
I'm Telling You, Dex, Kindergarten Rocks!
Katie Davis
For five-year-olds about to start kindergarten, that first day can seem pretty scary, at least to some. Dexter is a classic worry-wart; he has a long list of fears in spite of the calming presence of Jessica, a very understanding older sister. It helps Dexter to imagine that it is really his stuffed dog Rufus who's afraid, but on the first day, Jessica has to drag him out of the bus. After a sight of his teacher, pretty Mrs. Sugarman, and a reunion with his friend Joey from pre-school, Dexter begins to change his mind--he can even survive a crisis after lunch. Kids who read this story before starting kindergarten are likely to be reassured by the roomful of activities, the kindness of the custodian, and fun with balls and slides on the playground. Davis's kindergarten-style pictures look as if they were drawn with black crayon filled in with brightly-colored chalk. That adds to their appeal, but they are not naive. Dexter's big, round eyes with huge whites distinguish him from his classmates and highlight his sense of personal drama. Davis is quite adept at using those simple lines to contrast the newness and perpetual motion of the kindergartners with the ease and bodily assurance of third-grader Jessica. This attractive picture book would work well with Toby Forward's What Did You Do Today? (Clarion, 2005) about a different, but equally satisfying, first day, letting new listeners compare teachers, classrooms, and above all, one special family member. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
Dexter projects his worries about kindergarten onto his stuffed dog, Rufus, in Kindergarten Rocks! by author/illustrator Katie Davis. Though his big sister, Jessie, acquaints him with the fun in store, Dexter lists all Rufus's fears: getting lost, getting in trouble, having to deal with mean people (the usual five-year-old jitters). "If Rufus gets scared, just give him a hug," says Jessie. Dexter and Rufus have a great first day at school. They build a tower, make art and look at books. But when Rufus goes missing, Dexter discovers his own abilities to lead the search and problem solve. The final pages reveal the boy eager to return and even questioning Jessie about first grade. The humor and expressive round-faced characters will reassure rising kindergartners. 2005, Harcourt, $15.00. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-204932-0
It's My School
Sally Grindley
Illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain
Alice is getting ready for her first day at school and she is a little frightened. Dad reassures her that big brother Tom will look out for her. Well that is not quite how Tom sees thing, for whatever reason, he feels that Alcie attending his school will ruin everything. Tom is not nice and Dad escorts Alice to her new classroom. When friends ask which of the new kids is his sister Tom doesn't respond and he is mortified when Alice comes over at lunchtime to tell him how much she and Teddy like school. Then a boy takes Alice's Teddy and Tom comes to the rescue and even gives his sister a kiss. When Dad comes to pick them up, Alice relates what her big brother did. The message of looking out for ones younger siblings comes through, but the mystery is why Tom is so upset to begin with. The really nice feature of this story is that Dad is taking care of everything with no Mom evident anywhere. A good choice for single fathers and siblings who may be facing a similar situation. 2006 (orig. 2005), Walker, Ages 4 to 7, $15.95.
Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8027-8086-5
ISBN: 0-8027-8087-3
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8086-7
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8087-4
Josias, Hold the Book
Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren
Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
Young Josias wonders why the vegetables in his garden are not growing well this year. The whole family in Haiti must work hard to survive, so he has no time to go to school with his friend Chrislove and "hold the book." He tries one thing after another to help the garden grow, but every effort is in vain. He finally asks his friend if books might help. The teacher sends him a book explaining why the vegetables are not flourishing so, after promising to do his work at night, Josias persuades his father to let him go to school where he can learn to be a better farmer. Tadgell's double-page naturalistic watercolor scenes describe the sparse landscape and barren fields in the heat. They also include sensitive portraits of Josias and his family at work. The story conveys the importance of schooling, with the hint of a brighter tomorrow. A note adds information about conditions in Haiti today and about the school experience for children. 2006, Boyds Mills Press, $15.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-59078-318-2
Miss Malarkey Leaves Mo Reader Behind
Judy Finchlery and Kevin O'Malley
Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
Miss Malarkey announces to the class that the school is participating in the Everybody Reads in America program and to make it even more interesting, if the school reads 1,000 books before the end of the school year the principal will dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof of the school. Our young protagonist is not happy because he does not like to read. He wants to spend his time playing video games, drawing and anything else except reading. When the kids read a book then a blue ribbon gets put on the wall with the student's name. The challenge for Miss Malarkey is to find a book that those kids who say they don't like to read will find irresistible. Our guy holds out until the very end, but the teacher succeeds and he really does read a book that is "the greatest book ever." The school of course achieves its goal and the principal makes good on his promise. At the end of the book there is a bibliography by the author with titles that were published a few years ago. In addition, there are a couple of parent/teacher resources listed. O'Malley's drawings are full of humor (you need to read some of the text on book jackets, signs, etc. to get some of the humor) and he also has balloons with side comments from the characters. 2006, Walker, Ages 5 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8027-8084-9
ISBN: 0-8027-8085-7
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8084-3
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8085-0
Miss Smith Reads Again!
Michael Garland
Once again Zack is eager for school to resume because he knows that Miss Smith will be reading from her "special" book. Second grade has never been as enjoyable as when the teacher with the bright red hair and eclectic clothes begins to read aloud. Readers will be drawn in to predicting just what will happen next - as Miss Smith reads from the guilt encrusted tome the classroom is populated with the characters from the storyline. Only when she finishes a story do the characters return to the book. The illustrations make it appear that the book acts like a gigantic vacuum "sucking" the images back to the confines of the book's covers. The story for this particular day involves the Lost World of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (this may prompt students to seek out the original book, which is really more suitable for older readers) and all of the attendant dinosaurs and exotic flora and fauna. The ubiquitous warning "do not interfere or you may change the story" is wasted on Nate who shouts out to warn Professors Challenger and Summerlee of the approach of a T. Rex. The alteration of the storyline involves Miss Smith being taken off by a pterodactyl and summarily rescued by her students. Miss Smith finishes the story and everything disappears EXCEPT for the pterodactyl egg Nate purloined from the nest in which Miss Smith had been deposited until her rescue. Readers will enjoy predicting what the next day's storyline will include. Garland's bright art style is unusual enough to reinforce the fantastic nature of the storyline. The apparently computer generated art seems to be a mixture of paper cutting and collage techniques combined with some dreamy backgrounds done in water color. 2006, Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Group, Ages 6 to 9, $15.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47722-5
Mr. Ouchy's First Day
B. G. Hennessy
Illustrated by Paul Meisel
In a variation on the first day of school jitters, this book presents the first day from a teacher's point of view. To make it even more interesting, the teacher is male and this is truly his first day of teaching. He gets a haircut, makes sure that his wardrobe is up to snuff and gets to bed early, but he can't seem to fall asleep, because he is worried. The series of poems take readers through this very first day which includes an interesting discussion about the length of a minute. Some kids claim it is short and others that it is long and they provide good examples. It is Mr. O's job to explain that a minute is a constandt and made up of sixty seconds and that when some parents say "in a minute" it is just an expression and not to meant that they will really be taking whatever action has been claimed in 60 seconds. It is a clever idea because that phrase probably gets used a bit too often in some households. Our teacher closes the first day by asking the class what they would like to learn during the year and it certainly is a wild list. The ending is amusing because we see Mr. O having a phone conversation with his Mom who asks him how the day went and he in turn asking her for a recipe for doughnuts. 2006, Putnam/Penguin, Ages 5 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-24248-1
ISBN: 978-0-399-24248-9
My First Day of Preschool
Justine Fontes
Illustrated by Matt Novak
Nate had a bad dream about his first day of preschool. In the dream he did not have a blanket for naptime or a snack or his favorite toy for show-and-tell. Readers are invited to help fix Nate's worries by using the enclosed stickers. The reuseable stickers are coded for particular pages but an inventive youngster may enjoy giving Nate lots of options on his first day at preschool. The cartoon pictures give evidence of the typical preschool classroom and should reassure children that they will have friends and things that they will enjoy. Of course, the last page shows the parents and care-givers collecting the smiling children. This board book will be useful for giving little ones a sense of what occurs during a typical day at preschool. The stickers will reinforce following directions as well as providing props for re-creating the story in "unusual" ways - I can envision Nate being "served" a can of "fun dough" at snack time. 2006, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 5, $6.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-86477-9
ISBN: 978-0-689-86477-3
New Boy
Julian Houston
Rob Garrett is the first "colored" boy to attend school at the prestigious Dillard School in Connecticut in 1956 on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement. Rob moves from his segregated hometown of Richmond, Virginia, where he must sit at the back of the bus and drink from separate water fountains, to the alien world of a prestigious private school, a world of privilege, money, and isolation. Rob's parents warn him that life at the Dillard School will be challenging because Rob will be viewed as a representative of his entire race. But what Rob discovers is that race alone is not the only reason people discriminate against each other and that power, influence, and the ability to make changes in the world can come from unlikely places. Houston's book, a fictionalized memoir of his own experiences at the Hotchkiss School in the late 1950s, is a remarkable account of coming-of-age during the Civil Rights movement and the power of young people with a mission, and will prove both informative and inspiring to teens and adults alike. 2005, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Lauri Berkenkamp (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-61-843253-1
No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!
Diane deGroat
Following the other books about "Gilbert and Friends," this brings the school year of the engaging anthropomorphic kids to an end. Their teacher, Mrs. Byrd, will be giving out awards, and Gilbert wonders whether he will get any. In the morning, the class cleans up and practices for the afternoon performance for their parents. Gilbert is nervous, but recites his poem without mistakes. When it is his friend Philip's turn, however, Philip can't seem to speak at all. Gilbert reads his poem for him until Philip can finish. Then it is award time. Gilbert does not get any of the usual ones, but he is pleased to get the "good friend" award. The day winds down with memories, gifts, smiles, and tears, and a happy end for all, including Mrs. Byrd. It is probably the characters which convert a rather ordinary experience, beginning on the title page, into something particularly appealing. The painted double-page scenes are so on target that we forget that the kids are a collection of different sorts of animals. Gilbert's striped shirt and eyeglasses, Philip's bow tie and suspenders, all contribute to the appeal, as our memories are stirred along with our emotions. 2006, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99 and $16.89. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-079114-4
ISBN: 0-06-079115-2
ISBN: 978-0-06-079114-8
A Place Called Kindergarten
Jessica Harper
Pictures by G. Brian Karas
Tommy usually visits his barn animal friends every morning. One this particular day the Horse, Cow, Sheep and Hen are a bit concerned because Tommy is late. They ponder where he might be as they recall the treats he usually brings and the little songs he sings to soothe them. Dog comes along (not a particular favorite as he is known to steal food and barks excessively) and reports that Tommy went off in a yellow bus to a "place called Kindergarten." Now, the animals discuss whether or not he will "ever return" and just what he might be doing in the mysterious place. In an aside to the reader it is noted that "if you had been there, listening in, it would probably have sounded like this: Nay Cluck Moo Baa Nay," etc. Tommy is joyous upon his return in the afternoon and shares with his animal friends all of the things he has learned "in just one day." He recites "A is for Apple" as he gives Horse his treat; and, "B is for Biscuit!" when he feeds and scratches Sheep. Each animal receives special attention and another letter of the alphabet up to D (dandelions for Cow). Tomorrow will cover E, F, G and H - which is for Horse, of course. After singing a new song, Tommy trots off to his own dinner. As the animals settle down for the night, they wonder what comes after H; Horse assures all that "He'll tell us tomorrow...after her goes to Kindergarten." The illustrations are gently humorous drawings with soft colors on uncluttered areas which include plenty of space for the imagination to roam. The animals' expressions are wonderful (in fact, they are just perfect) and Tommy is an exuberant little fellow whose countenance is filled with the joy of learning and the love of his friends. 2006, Putnam/Penguin Group, Ages 3 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-24226-0
El Primer Día
Christianne C. Jones
Illustrated by James Demski Jr.
It is Joey's first day of school and he is feeling frightened and anxious. This is the Spanish text version of the book Joey's First Day. Children can relate to Joey's first day jitters as they follow him through the day: from getting his backpack ready in the morning and getting on the school bus, to the activities at school and going back home again. This book will help the reluctant child as she prepares for her first day of school. This book is part of the "Read- It! Readers" series. The readers are divided into levels: purple, red, blue, yellow, green, and orange; this book is at the first level, purple. There is a note to parents at the beginning of the book that explains the levels and how parents can use the stories with their children. At this level the reader encounters basic topics and objects, high frequency words, and simple language patterns. Other "Read-It! Readers" are listed. 2006, Picture Window Books/Capstone Press, Ages 4 to 9, $19.95. Reviewer: Liz Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4048-1627-5
On the Way to Kindergarten
Virginia Kroll
Illustrations by Elisabeth Schlossberg
Before children go to kindergarten they accomplish many things. All the accomplishments of every age from newborn to five is outlined. From drinking juice from a red sippy cup to getting a big bed, from pedaling a tricycle to blowing bubbles-children learn so many things as they grow up. By age five, they are ready for kindergarten and can do all sorts of things. This book falls into the category of a "children's book written more for grown-ups than children." Despite the title, kindergarten only comes into the story on the very last page. Also, the last line implies that ALL children go to kindergarten at age five, which is not the case. The poetry does not always follow the same cadence or rhyme structure. The plot is very thin and a bit too syrupy for children to ever really enjoy. 2006, G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin, Ages 4 up, $15.99. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-24168-X
The Rattlesnake Who Went to School
Craig Kee Strete
Illustrated by Lynne Cravath
On Crowboy's first day at school, he deals with his fears and shyness by "becoming" a rattlesnake--refusing his cornflakes at breakfast, crawling under the seats on the school bus, hissing along with the teacher's songs, and baring his fangs at the one girl who smiles at him. But when it turns out that she wants to be rattlesnake, too, a new friendship is formed. Both text and art do a fine job at blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality. In Crowboy's thoughts, he insists matter-of-factly that he is indeed a rattlesnake, and Cravath's loose, impressionistic paintings portray a human-sized snake interacting with family members and fellow classmates who seem not to notice his evident reptilian qualities. While it is a relief when Crowboy finally resumes human form and smiles at his new friend "the way no rattlesnake could smile," it's also satisfying when not one, but two beaming rattlesnakes slither off together to the cafeteria. A celebration of the protective role that imagination can play in the lives of sensitive children. 2004, Putnam, $15.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, June 1, 2004; United States
ISBN: 0-399-23572-8
Room One
Andrew Clements
Illustrated by Chris Blair
Andrew Clements has done it again. Readers of Frindle and The Landry News have come to expect Clements' cast of believable, loveable characters and a plot line that takes some unusual twists and turns. Clements always gives the reader ideas to mull over long after the last page is read. The Room One referred to in this book, is the one room school in a small town in western Nebraska where Ted Hammond is the only sixth grader in a classroom of nine students. He loves to read mysteries and has the public librarian ordering new ones each week for him. His favorite game is to read only half the mystery and then write down how he thinks the story will end. When he has written down his guess, he reads the second half to see if he has correctly solved the mystery. When a mysterious girl appears at the window of an abandoned house on his paper route, Ted is determined to solve this real life mystery. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to figure out as his library mysteries. Things get complicated when he meets the new occupants of the dilapidated house. The book is punctuated with small black-and-white illustrations. Some of the drawings are carefully planned and have lots of nice details, but others look quickly executed without much skill. 2006, Simon & Schuster Books for young Readers, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-86686-0
Sixth-Grade: Glommers, Norks, and Me
Lisa Papademetriou
For Allie, sixth-grade brings many changes, but at least she still has her best friend...or does she? Tamara is the cute, cool-dressing one while Allie is the tomboy soccer star. Slowly the two drift apart. Tam becomes closer and closer to Renee who teases other kids ruthlessly and even makes mean remarks about Allie. Allie becomes more confused when Tam copies Allie's lab report and then blames Allie for getting caught. Allie learns to stick up for her new friends even though Tam and Renee call her soccer teammates Sweaty Bettys and her lab partner, Orren, a nerd. Middle school is a scary place--girls are catty and mean, boys show off. If you do not fit in, your life can be miserable. Most middle school readers can identify with Allie and her classmates. Will they be a part of the group? Wear the right clothes? Be the class nerd? Allie is likeable as she struggles with right versus wrong, loyalty to an old friend versus meeting new ones, pursuing her values versus listening to others. Readers can follow her struggles and breathe a sign of relief when the course she chooses does not hurt feelings or compromise her integrity. 2005, Hyperion Books for Children, $17.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-5169-4
Super Fly Guy
Tedd Arnold
Illustrations by Tedd Arnold
Fly Guy is Buzz's pet fly with a personality and charm that only a fly could have. He goes to school with Buzz and participates in classroom activities. Fly Guy's favorite place is the lunchroom with its soiled dishes, smelly mop, and best all, the luscious contents of the trash cans. He quickly becomes the favorite of Roz the lunchroom lady, who feeds him all the scraps that a fly could love. Unfortunately, Roz's boss fires her. because there should be no flies in the lunchroom, and he hires Miss Muzzle, a talentless cook whose burnt cuisine has everyone deeply missing Roz, even the boss. Buzz concocts a plan with Fly Guy. The next day at school, Fly Guy activates the plan by running into Miss Muzzle's nose which sends her in an outrage. Wildly, she swings her fly swatter to eliminate Fly Guy. Instead, she creates a mess of the lunchroom and is promptly fired. Roz is hired back and she richly thanks her friend with a meal that only he could love, garbage soup! The comical expressions of the large, round-eyed characters let the reader pick up the moods in this fast paced, brightly colorful story with a sparkly cover. 2006, Scholastic Inc, Ages 6 to 8, $5.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-63904-2
Tank Talbott's Guide to Girls
Dori Hillestad Butler
Tank Talbott wants to spend the summer marketing his best friend Jason's screenplay to big Hollywood producers. Unfortunately, his teacher has other ideas. Threatened with the possibility of flunking fifth grade, Tank must spend two hours each and every day with a math tutor. Plus he has to completely fill the pages of his journal by summer's end. If he fails at either one of these tasks, then he will not be going on to middle school with his classmates in the fall. To top it all off, Tank's three stepsisters are coming to stay for the whole summer. With hours of math, a grueling writing assignment, and gross girls monopolizing his time, how will Tank ever survive the summer? When Jason's older brother breaks up with his girlfriend, saying that if someone wrote an instruction manual on girls it was sure to be a best seller, Tank rises to the occasion. He begins filling the pages of his journal with the answers to burning questions, such as why do girls always go to the bathroom in pairs, or why can't girls ever shut up? Tank decides to share his writing at the library's summer writing club. His stepsister, Mollie, retaliates by writing up her guide to boys, and the battle of the sexes begins. Touching on the universal themes of friendship, sibling relationships, and adolescent angst with creativity and humor, this story is sure to be a hit with readers. 2006, Albert Whitman and Company, Ages 10 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8075-7761-8
ISBN: 978-0-8075-7761-5
The Teachers from the Black Lagoon
Mike Thaler
Pictures by Jared Lee
Four previously published books (The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Principal from the Black Lagoon and The Librarian from the Black Lagoon) are compiled into this chapter book. They all follow the same pattern. A young boy fears the worst on his first day of school. He dreams that his teacher, Mrs. Green, is a monster of the worst sort. The kind of teacher who gives homework on the first day of school. The kind of teacher/monster that bites children in half to demonstrate fractions. And the kind of teacher who can singe a student with her fiery breath for asking a question. When the young boy wakes up and sees the real Mrs. Green, he is so delighted that he rushes to the front of the classroom to hug her. Children may laugh at the absurdity of our young protagonist's nightmare, as his imaginings get more and more frightful. And they may all breathe a collective sigh of relief when he meets the attractive teacher who has supplanted the monstrous Mrs. Green of his nightmare. The same happens with the gym teacher who turns out to be a regular guy wearing a Penn State T-shirt. The principal is a woman who really wants the best for her students and offers only a mild admonishment. The librarian turns out to be so helpful that our protagonist who is always looking on the dark side of life ends up stating "I'm going to love the library!" Worry warts, doomsayers, pessimists and those who have a sense of the absurd will also love this collection. 2006, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 8, $6.99.
Reviewers: Marilyn Courtot and Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-84803-2
ISBN: 978-0-439-84803-9
Vera's New School
Vera Rosenberry
When Vera must go to a new school, we see the difficulties students face as the "new kid in the class." Being introduced, told where to sit, and welcomed to the class is the responsibility of the teacher, but in Vera's case her teacher fails to make it easy for her to become a part of the class. Embarrassment is a difficult way to start any new endeavor, and then the art teacher pokes fun at Vera's drawing - another case of an adult who takes advantage of a child's discomfort to get a laugh. Even lunchtime is stressful for Vera, when the other students point at her egg salad sandwich and make yucky faces, whisper and giggle. Rosenberry's drawings convey the students' expressions quite well...we can feel Vera's dismay and the other students' glee at having "scored" on the "newbie." Later in the day, while watching a visiting "Jungle" man demonstration, Vera sits alone a little way off from the rest of the class until Lydia joins her. She is the first person to attempt to make Vera feel part of the class. Unfortunately the girls have chosen to sit on top of a red ant nest, they suddenly have ants all over, "even in their underpants," and then the ants start to bite. The girls rush back into the school to strip off their clothes and have the nurse dab soothing cream on all of the bites. This provides a bonding experience for the girls and they return to class as friends. I really wanted the teacher to be more helpful and for more of the children to have been kind to Vera; but, I suspect that this book may describe the real experiences of many "new kids." This could serve as a good prompt for discussion in any class, especially one where some students are made to different or excluded in any way. 2006, Henry Holt, Ages 5 to 9, $16.95.
Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8050-7613-1
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7613-4
What a Day It Was at School!
Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by Doug Cushman
The illustrator sets the tone of expected humor right from the first image: young cat with morosely dragging backpack, passes adult cat ... where is he off to? ... some terrible fate? ... where has he come from? ... some place of a trying nature? All of these provocative thoughts come even before the title page, which reveals that young cat has just returned from school. His parent presents the requisite milk and cookies and simply says, "Tell me about it." To which young cat replies, "It's all in my journal." Cleverly combining a journal approach with the playful poet's humorous depiction of a day at school, exposes students to another positive example of just how meaningful journaling can be. The journal's table of contents shows that the first poem is "My Backpack Weighs a Thousand Pounds" - a truth that anyone who has watched students approaching school recently can attest to - the snake student in the picture is particularly burdened with his backpack. Throughout the entire book the pictures are perfect reflections and enhancements of the rip-roarious poems. "I Know How to Add" is the poem about the difficulties of learning math but it also contains the encouraging line " ... so I'll keep working hard, And maybe I'll figure them out." This poem's illustration shows a teacher at the front of the class who is a lion who looks just like Albert Einstein (his tee shirt says E=MC2). In "I'm Off to the Infirmary," we learn that not doing one's homework can cause the serious and sudden onset of many symptoms of "Martian flu." What a subtle way to introduce the repercussions (or efforts to avoid) of not just doing the homework in the first place. All 17 poems are apt reflections of students' experiences in school: including physical prowess (or lack there of) in gym, the cafeteria food fight (a "food chain" reaction?), an author's visit (Prelutsky himself?), the joys of reading in the library, the affirmation of a master teacher (she praised his yellow unicorn painting), and the ever fateful "write a poem" homework assignment. The last page has speech bubbles in which young cat says, "I can't wait until tomorrow!" I cannot wait to get to share this new offering from Prelutsky/Cushman with students. They will laugh out loud at both the deft watercolors and the emotions that the poet/songwriter has captured in such an appealing way. Perhaps they will be inspired to capture their own experiences in rhyme. 2006, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89, Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-082335-1
ISBN: 0-06-082335-6
ISBN: 0-06-082336-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-082336-8
What a Family! A Fresh Look at Family Trees
Rachel Isadora
Genealogy comes to kindergarten in this bright, happy book celebrating differences, as well as similarities in one extended family. It all begins with Ollie, the shortest kid in his kindergarten class. Ollie is connected through five generations, which are neatly displayed on the endpapers of the book. Though the formula for deciphering the cousins relationship-how they are "removed" and for how many generations-is presented and explained, it is still difficult to discern what the relation between Maggie and Talisha is. Isadora smartly includes racial diversity in this work, allowing for (hopefully) a larger, more diverse audience. Love and acceptance of everyone is crucial in a family. The presentation is delightful, inviting, and realistic. Large portraits are perfectly appropriate, and the details are incredible. Use this in your own family to think about who is alike and who is different-invite the far-flung relatives over, or bring this to your next reunion. Take this to school to see who in your class is similar, it is a great ice breaker to begin a school year, semester, summer session, etc. Everyone has family somewhere, and will relate to this colorful work. 2006, G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-24254-6
When an Elephant Comes to School
Jan Ormerod
It is elephant's first day of school. As one would expect, he is a wee bit nervous. Who will he play with? What types of things do they do at school? Will he like it? Will he miss his mom too much? Well, from the minute he walks into his classroom, elephant knows all of his worries were unfounded. The children quickly make him feel at home and are more than happy to show him the ropes. Elephant loves everything about school, from the science experiments to movement to arts and crafts. He joins right in and makes friends at every turn. But watch out at lunchtime because elephants have a pretty big appetite and if you are not careful, you might find your sandwich missing. But even with all this fun, elephant still loves to see his mom at the end of the day. This book is great for children just starting school for the first time or for those starting at a new school. The text is funny and silly and the illustrations are beautifully done. This is a great book for preschool-age kids and is a nice read all around. 2005, Orchard Books, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Emily Cook (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-439-73967-5
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Updated 8/31/05
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