by Janet Sumner Johnson (Author) Stacy Ebert (Illustrator)
Introducing the playground problem solver who uses quick thinking, practicality, tenacity, love of reading, and a little creative perspective to help her schoolmates out of their stickiest jams; From the author of Help Wanted: Must Love Books and the illustrator of Hello World!
Regina Grey's never had much of a knack for anything, apart from disappearing into her books. She muddles her math, splutters her spelling, and gets jumbled up in gym.
Until the day she off-handedly solves a classmate's brother troubles. Soon, rumor spreads across the playground of the pint-sized crisis manager who makes her office at the top of the jungle gym. She can solve any problem. Itchy cast? Here's a stick to get to the spot. Gum stuck in your hair? Snip, snip solved. It's like she's a genius--a recess genius.
But all that problem solving for other kids doesn't leave much time for escaping in her books. Can the Recess Genius use her magical power to solve her own dilemma?
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Regina Grey is a "whisper of a girl" who "no one seemed to notice." Far from being a standout student ("she muddled her math, spluttered her spelling, and got jumbled up in gym"), the child, who presents as white, is nevertheless practiced at "disappearing into books." But when by chance her reading helps a few of her classmates solve their problems, she quickly becomes the "Recess Genius," offering solutions for everything from little brothers to bees to recovering a beloved stuffy. But while being noticed is nice, Regina misses her books; she tries to curb the diverse classroom's demand for her services by handing out deliberately bad advice, only to find even her snarkiest solutions work wonders. Sumner Johnson (Braver Than Brave) employs a spry, wry voice, following the protagonist's problem-solving prowess as she finds a way to seek solitude some of the time, and hang out her shingle when she wants to feel needed. Minimalist in background detail but highly expressive in character, scribbly full-color vignettes by Ebert (Hello World!) channel the quirky, mischievous energy of Hilary Knight's work. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Lauren Galit, LKG Agency. Illustrator's agent: Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary. (Feb.)
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