The best thing about this book? Its reassuring look back at all the things the happy and successful students have enjoyed...
On graduation day, a patient teacher leads her class through a guessing game about what has been the best thing about kindergarten.
Mrs. Appleby is proud of her class. They’ve made hats and decorations and learned a special song to sing for their parents. But kindergarten is not over quite yet—there is time for one last, and most important, lesson. “Who can guess what is the best thing about kindergarten?” The students come up with lots of good answers—calendar time, the playhouse center, the block corner, arts and crafts time, math time, the writing center, storytime, recess—but none is correct, although Mrs. Appleby kindly reinforces the accomplishments and enjoyment her students have gained from each of these activities. The guessing game is interrupted by the graduation ceremony, which goes without a hitch, the proud students each doing their parts and receiving their diplomas. And at the end, she finally shares the answer: “You, my students, are the best thing about kindergarten.” The hurried, scribbly feel of Leng’s illustrations lend them the busy, hectic reality of a kindergarten classroom, especially on the exciting last day of school. She neatly captures the messiness and creativity that characterize young children, and her kindergarteners are a nice mix of races and genders.
The best thing about this book? Its reassuring look back at all the things the happy and successful students have enjoyed about kindergarten—equally valuable at the beginning and the end of the school year. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 18, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-897476-82-6
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A warm if not very ecumenical dose of holiday cheer, with some unobtrusive guidance for young makers and helpers.
Flaps, pull-tabs, and wheels add interactive elements to this celebration of Christmastime.
The (entirely secular) activities themselves are standard-issue—ranging from cutting and decorating a tree to “building snowmen,” decorating cookies, wrapping gifts, singing carols, and standing in line to sit on Santa’s lap. What sets this apart from the crowd of pre-Christmas panegyrics is an unusual focus on process: the art on the front of a handmade card, for instance, shows the steps in drawing the simple reindeer within; turning a wheel displays through a shaped cutout a cookie going from plain to decorated, and on the verso a tree going through the same stages. The cozy cartoon illustrations feature a family of brown bears in human dress headed by a mother and father, but more-diverse groups of wildlife and livestock put in appearances for caroling and standing in line. “With all the things to see and do,” Cocca-Leffler concludes in a pop-up Christmas morning scene, “what I love BEST about Christmas… / …is time with YOU!”
A warm if not very ecumenical dose of holiday cheer, with some unobtrusive guidance for young makers and helpers. (Novelty/board book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1820-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
Bear’s confident, lovable approach to life will serve little ones well.
Reaching an age of some independence and self-sufficiency is the highlight of this little bear’s birthday milestone.
Now that Bear is old enough, he can prepare for his party, with some minimal help from Mama and Papa, by getting dressed, picking apples, and making peanut-butter–and-honey sandwiches. But when a sudden gust of wind blows the autumn leaves everywhere right in the midst of his celebration, Bear tries to apply his can-do attitude to putting the leaves back on the trees before realizing the impossibility. Instead, Bear and friends rake all the leaves into a giant pile that’s perfect for play and jumping. Watercolor-and-graphite illustrations depict Bear, all eager adorableness, so very pleased with his newly acquired abilities. “This bear did it…all by himself!” exclaims a smiling Bear. Capucilli’s growing-up theme, familiar with preschoolers, shines through in this latest outing. Kids will easily identify with familiar scenes such as height measurement, the special way to lay out a coat on the floor for easy dressing, and the birthday cake finale.
Bear’s confident, lovable approach to life will serve little ones well. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62779-701-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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