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A DAY AT ABBOTT ELEMENTARY

Name: A DAY AT ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
Author: Halcyon Person
ISBN: 9781546148104

by Halcyon Person ; illustrated by Joelle Murray ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2025

A fun novelty book for adult fans of the show but unlikely to appeal to newcomers.

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TV’s Abbott Elementary provides the setting for this original story.

After discovering an acorn avalanche in her classroom, Miss Teagues realizes there’s a squirrel somewhere in the school. Now she and the other teachers have two tasks: tracking down the rodent and fixing the huge crack in the wall that’s spreading due to the acorn stash. The characters behave exactly as fans of the show would expect them to; Mr. Eddie shrieks in fear, Melissa tries to lure the squirrel out with a hoagie, and Ava plays ’90s hip-hop in the hopes that it’ll entice the creature. Readers unfamiliar with the series may enjoy the antics, but they’ll have very little context for the characters’ behaviors. The book also alternates between using characters’ first names and their honorifics and last names (for instance, the protagonist is referred to both as Miss Teagues and Janine), which may be confusing. The illustrations are vibrant, and care was clearly taken to depict the show in this new format. The school itself is identical to how it appears on TV; it even includes an effective rendering of the front of the building’s iconic mural. The character designs are accurate, incorporating instantly recognizable outfits from the series. As in the show, the cast is predominantly Black.

A fun novelty book for adult fans of the show but unlikely to appeal to newcomers. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 4, 2025

ISBN: 9781546148104

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
DADDY AND ME AND THE RHYME TO BE
by Halcyon Person & Chris Bridges ; illustrated by Parker-Nia Gordon

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.

Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)