88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten. Martha Freeman. Illustrated by Eda Kaban. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, pets, school]

First sentence: Kitty was a good, nice kitty who lived with a good, nice family.

Premise/plot: Kitty does not particularly want to go to school with her human child to kindergarten. Kitty is quite content to stay at home and 'be regular' doing all the regular kitty things. However, Kitty is catnapped and taken for show and tell. Will Kitty survive her day at kindergarten? Will Kitty learn anything at school?

My thoughts: It was okay. I wanted to like it more than I did...because KITTY. The story is fine enough. Kitty gets out of his comfort zone. Kitty ends up teaching the kindergarten class a few things. It is enjoyable enough to share with little ones starting school who also happen to love KITTIES.



© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

147. The Year of Miss Agnes

The Year of Miss Agnes. Kirkpatrick Hill. 2000/2020. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "What will happen now?" I asked Mamma as we watched the plane take the teacher away. 

Premise/plot: Fred (Frederika) is skeptical that the new teacher will last long. Life in their small Alaskan village is too rough and tough on most teachers. But their small village has enough students--the minimum is six--for a school to be established if only they can get a teacher to come...to come and stay. Their last teacher didn't last long at all. But this teacher, Agnes Sutterfield, is all kinds of wonderful. Different in every way that matters, that counts. For the first time, the students feel their teacher has invested in them. But will she stay? That one question drives the narrative forward. 

Historical fiction set in Alaska in 1948/1949. This is a one-room school house in a small village.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! I enjoy historical fiction novels. (That is probably obvious by now). I love teaching stories. (I do.) This one was solidly good. If I had one complaint--and I suppose I do--it was just a little too short. It's like we get in-depth coverage of her first week or two of school and then super-super-super fast forward to the last day of school. When we only had two or three pages left of the novel and the story still hadn't come to any satisfying conclusion, I was VERY WORRIED. But it got there just in time. Barely. Another fifty to seventy-five pages and this one would have been A++++++. 

I really loved the inclusion of Bokko, Fred's sister, who is deaf. I loved how Miss Agnes taught her as well and got the whole town excited about including her.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

107. Hattie Harmony

Hattie Harmony: Worry-Detective. Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett. Illustrated by Marissa Valdez. 2022. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The first day of school had finally arrived! Some kids were excited and a little worried. Luckily, Wildwood Elementary had Hattie Harmony, Worry Detective. Hattie had many tools up her sleeve, and she was ready to get to WORK! 

Premise/plot: Hattie Harmony is a cat who LOVES to help. It is the first day of school, and Hattie finds plenty of classmates who want/need her help with their worries. Hattie's got a solution for every worry. And she'll always willing to share her techniques. 

My thoughts: I liked this one. I was a bit skeptical. It is a celebrity author. It can tend to be didactic. But. I went into it with an open mind (aka low expectations). I liked Hattie. I did. She's a CAT which definitely helps me trust her. She's caring and compassionate. (Also helps me like her as a character). The worries seemed legitimate and age-appropriate. VERY age-appropriate actually. The advice you could take as either a) completely didactic or b) actually instructive. Your pick. Advice, like always, is not one size fits all. Far from it. These are general ways (from a humanistic perspective) to calm your body when you are stressed or anxious. (Think taking deep breaths. Or giving yourself a pep talk.) It does not tackle worry or stress from a spiritual perspective. (Just so you don't expect that.)

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

82. Pizza and Taco: Too Cool for School

Pizza and Taco: Too Cool for School. (Pizza and Taco #4) Stephen Shashkan. 2022. [June] 72 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! Wait up!

Premise/plot: Pizza and Taco are back for their fourth adventure. In this new graphic novel for young readers, Pizza and Taco are heading off to school. But both are struggling with this notion of "coolness." Pizza has a new backpack with his favorite, favorite TV character on it. But once he's at school among his classmates, IS THAT CHARACTER actually actually cool???? Or is that television show for babies? The theme of coolness continues throughout. It seems to be contagious among the class. But does being caught up in "being cool" keep you from having fun, living life, and being true to yourself?

My thoughts: I loved the second and third book of this series. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED them. I didn't love this fourth book as much. But I still think the series is a fun and appealing.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

138. Say It Out Loud

Say It Out Loud. Allison Varnes. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Truth or dare?" Maddie asks from the other couch, her eyes pleading with me to play along.

Premise/plot: Maddie and Charlotte are best, best, best friends. Have been for almost forever. But now that they're in sixth grade, well, can one bad decision undo years of friendship? So what was that one bad decision? Not speaking up--like her friend Maddie--when a classmate is bullied on the bus. Also choosing to sit somewhere else on the bus because now the bullies are targeting Maddie. Charlotte--the day of--felt justified for separating herself from her friend. After all, Charlotte has a stutter and would make a super-easy target for two bullies like Tristan and Josh. Surely, self-preservation is something her friend can understand, right?! But it doesn't take long--not even twenty-four hours--before Charlotte realizes that she's made a mistake. But how can she make up for it?

My thoughts: Though it seems like it takes FOREVER AND A DAY for Maddie and Charlotte's friendship to get back on track, the book highlights Charlotte's transformation into someone who goes out of her way to speak kindness into other people's lives. Anonymous kindnesses to be sure--encouraging notes filled with positive messages and feel-good vibes.

The other story--perhaps the "main" story???--is of Charlotte and her drama classmates trying to save the drama program at their school from being cut. The author really only shows us TWO classes--Charlotte's homeroom and Charlotte's drama class. [She also has sessions with a speech therapist]. They will be performing The Wizard of Oz.

This is a coming of age novel featuring sixth graders who are learning how to survive middle school as best they can. Lots of messages about friendship.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

3. Judy Moody Was In A Mood

Judy Moody Was In A Mood. (Judy Moody #1) Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. 2000/2020. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Judy Moody did not want to give up summer. She did not feel like brushing her hair every day. She did not feel like memorizing spelling words. And she did not want to sit next to Frank Pearl, who ate paste, in class. Judy Moody was in a mood.

Premise/plot: Judy Moody adjusts to starting a new grade--third--and making new friends in Megan McDonald's Judy Moody Was In A Mood. It is the first in a LONG series. Judy is predictably unique and quirky. And she predictably has a little BOTHER of a brother nicknamed STINK. Her adventures or misadventures at home and school are illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. 

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one! I don't know that I loved it so much that I want to read the entire series start to finish. But I definitely liked the writing style and layout. Her humor wasn't always in line with me--at least me as an adult. But it's a strong like for me. 

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Peanut Butter's First Day of School

Peanut Butter's First Day of School. Terry Border. 2018. Penguin. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Peanut Butter was scared. Tomorrow was the first day of school! Peanut Butter was new in town, but he had already made some friends.

Premise/plot: This LEVEL 2 early reader is narrated by an open face peanut butter sandwich. Peanut Butter is more than a little worried about starting school and making friends. On the day before school starts, Peanut Butter practices his walk to school, on the way he meets a few people who are also starting school: a cupcake, an egg, a bowl of soup, and Jelly (an open face jelly sandwich). He even ends up joining a soccer game. (Readers don't properly meet ALL the people on the field.) The book then shows his first day of school.

My thoughts: What a strange book. I say strange, and I mean it, yet even though I was never sure at any given time if I was "liking" it...I remained mesmerized by the illustrations. Each page proved interesting or fascinating. Even when the story was less so. The story, as you can imagine, isn't all that unique. The illustrations are.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Itsy Bitsy School Bus

The Itsy Bitsy School Bus. Jeffrey Burton. Illustrated by Sanja Rescek. 2018. Little Simon. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The itsy bitsy school bus was ready for the day. Backpack was full with lunch and books, hooray! Dropped off at school, it was time to learn and play.

Premise/plot: This board book is meant to be sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. It stars an 'itsy bitsy' school bus who is starting school. Will the bus like school or perhaps even love it?

My thoughts: I liked it okay. I did. It worked better as a song than I thought it would at first glance. When I get a book like this in the mail, my first response, if I'm honest, is to groan. It looks dinky. But not all books that look dinky are dinky.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten

Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten. Candice Ransom. Illustrated by Christine Grove. 2017. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Amanda Panda's favorite color is brown. She wants to be a school bus driver when she grows up. She can run really fast, but only downhill. And she cannot wait to start kindergarten.

Premise/plot: Amanda has a plan for how to have a GREAT first day of school. But things don't go according to her plan. And when they don't she feels like QUITTING. Can this first day be saved--be redeemed?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I enjoyed the school setting and the friendship theme. Amanda is Amanda and Bitsy is Bitsy. The two girls are SO different from one another. Can they find a way to get along? Would having to be friends with Bitsy really be THE END OF THE WORLD?!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Max at School

Max at School (Max and Ruby). Rosemary Wells. Illustrated by Andrew Grey. 2017. [Oct. 24] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Max gives Mama a kiss. Ruby gives Papa a kiss. "Bye-bye," say Mama and Papa. "Bye-bye," say Ruby and Max. Mama and Papa wave. Ruby and Max wave. They hop on the bus. The big bus is yellow.

Premise/plot: It is Max's first day of school. I'm not sure if this is preschool or kindergarten. But a first day is a first day, right?! The book--in typical fashion--shows Max going through the routine of a school day.

My thoughts: I love Max and Ruby. (Ruby and Max). It's not unusual for me to be going around singing the Max and Ruby theme song. Recently, the show introduced Max and Ruby's parents. Before they had lived by themselves and only had a grandmother to check in on them now and then. The new episode(s) also featured Max saying more than one word per episode. Max had grown up a bit. This new reader--level two--reflects that. The text is simple, and there is something methodical about it.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

School Bus

School Bus. Donald Crews. 1984. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Yellow school buses large and small. Empty yellow buses cross the town. STOP. GO. Going this way. Going that way. Here it comes. See you later. Full buses head for school.

Premise/plot: Donald Crews gives us a day in the life of a school bus. The book comes full circle, beginning and ending with empty buses gone 'home again' in a parking lot.

My thoughts: This book is very yellow. It doesn't have the same rhythm and rhyme thing going for it as Freight Train does. Nor is it really a concept book like Freight Train was. (Freight Train is about COLORS.) The language is simple. I think little ones could definitely learn to read this one.

The art is simple, perhaps a little too simple. It does give us a diverse group of people waiting for buses, riding the buses, getting off the buses, etc.  While there could be some pros perhaps to having all the humans lack facial features, I prefer faces.

I'm not sure I'd call this book "dandy entertainment" like Publishers Weekly did back in the day. In fact, I doubt I've used the word DANDY even once in one of my reviews.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10


© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers