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Book List
CHILDREN'S
BAILEYby Harry Bliss & illustrated by Harry Bliss
Yes, Bailey is a dog who, Snoopy-like, acts more like a person than a pup and is the most popular “kid” in town. Thought... Full review >
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PEANUT BUTTER AND HOMEWORK SANDWICHESby Lisa Broadie Cook ; illustrated by Jack E. Davis
On Monday, his dog eats the peanut butter and jelly off his homework…and his homework, too. He has to redo it and miss... Full review >
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A FUNERAL IN THE BATHROOMby Kalli Dakos & illustrated by Mark Beech
Every educator knows the bathroom pass is an escape route for students. While neither condemning nor condoning that... Full review >
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THE BIG TESTby Julie Danneberg & illustrated by Judy Love
Once they stop laughing at the spot-on depiction of standardized testing, teachers should take a page from Mrs. Hartwell’s... Full review >
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PIRATES GO TO SCHOOLby Corinne Demas & illustrated by John Manders
Don’t be hornswoggled—give this the heave-ho and seek pirate (and school) booty elsewhere. Full review >
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL RULESby Laurie Friedman & illustrated by Teresa Murfin
Unfortunately, his negatively-phrased list of rules are full of don’ts. Among them: Don't be late or impolite, don’t forget... Full review >
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SUBSTITUTE CREACHERby Chris Gall & illustrated by Chris Gall
Great for both Halloween and the start of a new school year, this is certain to provide more than a few laughs to kids who... Full review >
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BACK TO SCHOOL TORTOISEby Lucy M. George & illustrated by Merel Eyckerman
A great pep-talk for nervous newcomers to school, and some reassurance that even teachers can worry about the first day. Full review >
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TEN RULES YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT BREAK IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE THE SCHOOL BUSby John Grandits & illustrated by Michael Allen Austin
Worthy of being shelved next to Jon Scieszka’s funniest. Full review >
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HORNBOOKS AND INKWELLSby Verla Kay & illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Whether studying colonial life or comparison/contrast, teachers will surely reach for this. Full review >
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PETE THE CAT: ROCKING IN MY SCHOOL SHOESby Eric Litwin & illustrated by James Dean
“Pete is going to school, / and he sings this song: / ‘I’m rocking in my school shoes, / I’m rocking in my school shoes, /... Full review >
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FOLLOW THE LINE TO SCHOOLby Laura Ljungkvist & illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist
While the small details preclude group sharing, this is just right for sharing with one or two soon-to-be-schoolers or for... Full review >
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MARSHALL ARMSTRONG IS NEW TO OUR SCHOOLby David Mackintosh & illustrated by David Mackintosh
He brings dehydrated space food for lunch, wears a tie and straw hat, uses a slide rule and quill pen, can’t play at recess... Full review >
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SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAYby Kate Messner & illustrated by Andy Rash
Presents kids with some great advice and solid solutions to the most common first-day what-ifs. Full review >
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EDDIE GETS READY FOR SCHOOLby David Milgrim & illustrated by David Milgrim
Written entirely in the form of a checklist, this is the morning routine of one overly enthusiastic and fiercely independent... Full review >
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THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE IN THE SCHOOLby Laura Murray & illustrated by Mike Lowery
Teachers looking for a new way to start off the school year will eat this one up. Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
DESK STORIESby Kevin O'Malley & illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
In these six stories, O’Malley capitalizes on most of the stereotypes associated with school—practical jokers, daydreamers... Full review >
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AMELIA BEDELIA'S FIRST FIELD TRIPby Herman Parish & illustrated by Lynne Avril
Parish has turned the clock back, making Amelia Bedelia young again and giving a new generation of readers the opportunity... Full review >
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DINO PETS GO TO SCHOOLby Lynn Plourde & illustrated by Gideon Kendall
Readers will delight in this latest dino pets installment and wonder where the dinosaurs might go for their next calamitous... Full review >
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LOUISE THE BIG CHEESE AND THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SMARTY-PANTSby Elise Primavera & illustrated by Diane Goode
Louise’s latest woe is the fact that her goal of getting straight A’s is incompatible with her teacher’s principles—Mrs.... Full review >
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MR. PUTTER & TABBY RING THE BELLby Cynthia Rylant & illustrated by Arthur Howard
These four neighbors are great company, and their portrayal of aging is sweetly refreshing. (Early reader. 6-9) Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
SKIPPYJON JONES CLASS ACTIONby Judy Schachner & illustrated by Judy Schachner
Children will find much to laugh at in Skippyjon’s latest adventure, and although much of the wordplay will go over kids’... Full review >
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SCHOOL FOR BANDITSby Hannah Shaw & illustrated by Hannah Shaw
Shaw has created a hero in Ralph for all those kids who don’t fit in and aren’t afraid to be who they are. Full review >
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WE LOVE OUR SCHOOL!by Judy Sierra & illustrated by Linda Davick
The draw of Sierra’s latest is the rhyming verse that is interspersed with rebus pictures, allowing children to chime in and... Full review >
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MISS FOX'S CLASS SHAPES UPby Eileen Spinelli & illustrated by Anne Kennedy
When the nurse offers some healthy recipes and the students brainstorm a few fun exercises for recess, everyone gets in on... Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
POLKA-DOT FIXES KINDERGARTENby Catherine Urdahl & illustrated by Mai S. Kemble
Even armed with only some runny soap, duct tape and spotted bandages, Polka-dot’s Grandpa can fix anything. And with a kit... Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
READY! SET! 100TH DAY!by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace & illustrated by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Minna tries out lots of ideas for celebrating the 100th day of school, but none seems just right. With her little brother,... Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
HANDS OFF, HARRY!by Rosemary Wells & illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Harry is just having fun, being goofy, being the class clown. But none of his classmates see it that way. Not when they are... Full review >
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SEVEN LITTLE MICE GO TO SCHOOLby Haruo Yamashita & illustrated by Kazuo Iwamura
Some students may jump on the train to act this out on the first day of school, but it lacks the humor that would give it... Full review >
FULL REVIEW >CHILDREN'S
A FEW BLOCKSby Cybèle Young & illustrated by Cybèle Young
Amazing. Full review >
FULL REVIEW >Recent News & Features
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