You're All Animals Nicholas Allen Hutchinson
ages: 3-7
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January is a second time in the scholastic year when children start new schools. Despite the pains a parent takes to ensure that the child has been sent to the right school, it is not until they assess their classmates that children can tell if they approve of the establishment.
Going to a school populated by people, one thing is for sure, all your classmates will be from your species. If you went to a mixed animal school, the sea of faces would look very different from each other. That is how Billy Trunk's class looked to him. Giraffe, snake, owl, rabbit, rhino, no one seemed to look like him, an elephant. Somehow, he felt that he would have more in common with someone who was elephant-like.
The good news is that he eventually finds someone with big ears, a long nose and grey skin, but he is mighty surprised by how different his soulmate is to him.
The most significant aspect of this story is that Billy uses the internet to find his friend. He corresponds with someone who happens to go to his school. It is like old-fashioned stories of pen pals (pen friends) meeting later in life and becoming best friends. But in this case the creature lives in his neighbourhood not on the other side of the country or world.
Nicholas Allen, author and illustrator of many books, is as deft with his water colour brush as he is with his pen. Billy is an endearing hero in picture as in personality. Although he is using the internet to communicate, the computer and its use are not glitzy. The focus is not the medium but the communication it enables him.
It is a funny book. Allen conveys the bewildering feelings Billy has about his bat and dog classmates and their behaviour. It might not be so different as the feelings of a new immigrant child to a classroom in a foreign country.
The Gotcha Smile Rita Phillips Mitchell illust Alex Ayliff Orchard Books
ages: 2-5
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There is a new child in my son's class this year. He is a sweet boy but for a five year old he is rather fat. He is meek and evenly tempered but he must go home from school each day with a new wound. My son has confirmed that people do tease him. It is just the first week and it should pass soon.
But even for the child who does not have a particular attribute to scrutinize or pick on, starting at a new school is difficult.
Our little heroine Clarine starts school and finds someone to befriend. Before she gets a chance, she accidentally ruined the girl's picture. Every day Clarine returns from school with another tragedy. Each day a grown-up gives her advice. After her parents help is exhausted, she turns to her grandfather. Instead of giving up, he urges her to give school another try armed with a large, focused smile, the gotcha smile. The smile works and all is resolved.
Ayliff has drawn Clarine and her family members with round faces and line smiles, just like classic yellow smiley faces, only in brown. Although a little goofy looking, one can't help but smile. We often compete to see who has the largest smile, mimicing those big cheesy grins in the book.
Although the advice may not work for everyone, a child will see that making friends is unlikely to happen on the first day of school. There might be many different solutions. Just because one does not work, another might.
This time can be more painful for parents than children, as they see their son or daughter suffer. Reading about Clarine's experience might alleviate some of the stress. We recommend this version of the starting school tale.
also recommended: Billy and the Big New School by Catherine and Lawrence Anholt: A bird loving boy is about to start nursery school. He is worried because he can't tie his shoes and that he may not find the toilet in time. Before school starts he nurses a lost bird and eventually sets it free. He tells the story on his first day at school. Everyone is gripped by his tale. He settles, makes friends and all is happy. ages: 2-5
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A Cultivated Wolf by Becky Bloom illust Pascal Biet Siphano Picture Books
ages: 3-7
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Sending a child to school can be very exciting for a parent. The parent envisages all the knowledge and understanding of the world that their tiny sponge is about to soak up. Actually fairly soon, words such as "Power Rangers" and "stupid" start to enter their vocabulary. They misbehave and blame their actions on their classmates. What a surprise it would be if they came home from school talking of Billy's great Mozart tape or Jane's book about Van Gogh.
A Cultivated Wolf is about a wolf who enters a farmyard intending to scare and devour the animals. He is greatly disappointed to discover that the inhabitants are unimpressed. Through the animals' condescension, the wolf is inspired to learn to read. He pays three visits to the farm hoping to impress the cultivated crew but they remain unmoved until he masters the art.
Does this sort of peer pressure exist in schools these days? Probably. Along side Disney and Coca Cola there is space for positive peer influences. All is not bleak. In fact, there are some wonderful school environments out there. Nevertheless, this story remains in the realm of the fairytale.
The premise is good. How does it work as a story book? Quite well. Although, it is the sort of story that seems to start in the middle and end at the beginning. The book appears to be translated from Italian and at times it reads like a translation. But on the whole the book is a lot of fun.
Pascal Biet's water colours and ink sketches are wonderfully expressive. They enhance the contrast between the cultivated animals and the wolf. They show the peoples' shock as he appears in classrooms and libraries. The final scenes of acceptance, show the wolf and his new friends lying on their tummies in a field reading and being read to.
The end papers are a significant addition to the story and should not be overlooked.
Although an editor's skilled hand should have tidied up this book, it is a worthwhile read. It gives new and aspiring readers a lot to think about.
Chrysanthemum Kevin Henkes Mulberry Books
ages: 3-7
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These days pupil lists in schools, read like Pacific rim restaurant menus. Every name from Saffron to Sapphire appear. Each name seems more unusual than the last due to its origin or even for its old-fashioned sound. Nonetheless, for little Indigo, Calliope or Aurora, the name can be a challenge. Ultimately, they are unlikely to change it for Jane, Elizabeth or Sally. They will survive the teasing until adulthood where they will learn to appreciate their names and embrace them.
Chrysanthemum loves her name. She is an adorable little mouse whose doting parents adore her name, as well. They think it is perfect. It is only when Chrysanthemum goes to school does she discover that her name isn't perfect. Victoria is named after her grandmother whereas Chrysanthemum is only named after a flower. The girls try and pluck her and smell her and in fact she does wilt.
It is only when their pregnant music teacher reveals that her name is Delphinium, does Chrysanthemum gain respect from her classmates.
Henkes drawings have fabulous detail about nursery fashion, bossy girls and classroom decoration. Chrysanthemum's name is written in many different ways throughout the book; on a birthday cake, on the ground with a stick, on an envelope.
Her parents are busy trying to comfort her while reading child psychology texts for advice.
The book is poignant, realistic, funny and one that will be read many times not only by Eudora, Stella and Maude but by Cindy, Sarah and Sue as well.
Weslandia by Paul Fleischman illust Kevin Hawkes Walker Books
ages: 5-8
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weslandia cover
Outcasts. Every parent's nightmare is for their child to be on the fringe. You may be reading this and saying, if only my child were more individualistic. But the fact is that entering the teen-age years, as a "weirdo" can be taxing, lonely and miserable.
So when Wesley's mother moans about his condition, she is only concerned that he is not happy. Wesley's father reaction is mildly hostile but is what spawns Wesley's plan to create a new civilisation.
After telling his parents what he has learned in school, Wesley's father sarcastically mumbles, "I'm sure you'll use that knowledge often."
Beginning with a magical planting of a red fruit bearing plant, Wesley goes on to create a juice squeezing device, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent, a unique clothing design and an eighty-letter alphabet. He makes a loom, a sundial and gear for a complex sports game.
He challenges suburban gardening practices and style and he wins. His parents visit his land and his mother notices that he now seems happy. He returns to school looking like the Pied Piper. His classmates follow him, wearing similar garb and holding some of his creations.
This is a brilliant story for the older end of the picture book audience. Hawkes illustrations are detailed and imaginative. They are reminiscent of Mark Teague in their portrayal of suburbia. The narrative flows and the ideas included are exciting and innovative. The language is challenging but not too rigorous. Most importantly, the good guy is victorious in the end.
Here Comes the Train also deals with oddity: click <../family/family.htm#train>here to read more.
The Ant Bully John Nickle Scholastic Press
ages: 2-5
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ant bully cover Although films such as Antz and A Bug's Life have given ants an increase in status among small children, killing them will remain a summer pastime. Whether the child's method is drowning, stomping or crushing ant hills, the result is a fun time had by a small brained human at the expense of an intelligent insect.
The Ant Bully turns the tables on an ant drowner, Lucas. He is a bullied child who turns his frustration on these six legged black creatures. They catch him, shrink him and put him on trial. He is sentenced to hard labour.
Lucas learns the ways of the ants and is respected by the queen. She releases him after one final act of bravery involving a Swell Jell.
John Nickle tells the story with skill. There is tension, suspense and a wonderfully happy ending. His drawings are vivid and memorable. He plays with dimension and perspective with superb results. Probably the best example of this is when ant-sized Lucas lunges at his father's picture window-sized glasses.
Whether you are a bully, bullied or fall somewhere in the middle, The Ant Bully comes highly recommended.
The Adventures of a Nose by Vivian Schwartz illustrated by Joel Stewart Walker
ages: 5-9
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The Adventures of a Nose is worth a sniff. This is story about a nose on legs that wants to find "a place where I can fit in and stick out". It is a tricky read. What does it mean to fit in and stick out? What does it mean to fit in?
I have a son who recently started at nursery. We have a game that we play where I ask him who he has played with and he says, "no one". I always ask him who no one is and we turn his reply into a joke. His teacher says that he has fit in nicely. He plays with everyone. And yet he feels he plays with no one.
Fantastically illustrated from the "all rights reserved" page to the back cover, Nose takes himself on an existential journey from souk to sea, from the Arctic to the Andes. He experiences all sorts of sights and smells. But he still yearns to fit in. What does that mean?
He ends up on a shrinks sofa and is told what he should have figured out on his journey. Then he is contented.
This book may be appropriate for children who are grappling with the issue of popularity in school. Younger children will like it just for the illustrations.
Although a grown-up must be on hand to explain, this book is not just for adults. Children of a range of ages will view this story from different angles. But they will all share in the amusement of the "spot the face" hunt on every page.
more books about school
classics
<../classics/classics.htm#duckfeet>I Wish that I Had Duck Feet by Dr Seuss includes many scenes in school
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