Hello School!

With child-friendly simplicity, Burris (Five Green and Speckled Frogs) offers a gentle overview of the first day of school for a class of young, ethnically diverse children. Enthusiastic phrases printed on small banners on each spread mark the transitions from one activity to another, from start-of-day introductions and circle time through snack time, counting, nature studies, recess, and more until finally, the kids "say our goodbyes." On each spread, text bubbles show the students' reactions ("It's cookie time!" "My daddy's a cookie monster." "Hmmm, which one should I pick?"); these scraps of enthusiastic dialogue help keep the story firmly rooted in the students' immediate experience, as do the creative details in the uncluttered illustrations. Even the view from the school window resembles a child's drawing, with its stylized, pointy sun and tree covered in oversize red circle apples. Lively and reassuring, this is a strong choice for helping new students set first-day expectations. Ages 3-5. (July)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1--Burris spotlights the newness of the first day of school in this fun-loving book. A group of children enters their classroom and takes note of the important details about where they will spend their days, such as the cubbies for their backpacks and name cards on their desks. The author enumerates special classroom activities, covering circle time, snack time, and quiet time. The humor is spot-on. One child comments during snack time that his daddy is a "cookie monster" and another child, during quiet time, remarks, "Kevin is hibernating TOO LOUD!" Burris's signature artwork is rendered using ink pens, pencils, and digital brushes featuring minimal backgrounds and cheerful expressions on the characters' faces. VERDICT Sure to be appreciated by Burris's young fans, this is a perfect read-aloud for the start of school.--Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Burris highlights the sights, routines, and activities of elementary school. . . . Clever design and a consistent pattern, with each spread's topic highlighted in yellow, a few short sentences underneath, and a scattering of dialogue balloons, make it easy for children to follow along and stay engaged. . . . And their grown-ups will be amused at how well Burris has captured the exuberance, ways of thinking, and quirks of young children. . . . The racially diverse students are round-headed, gap-toothed, expressive, and thoroughly adorable. . . . A solid addition to the back-to-school shelf."—Kirkus Reviews

"With child-friendly simplicity, Burris offers a gentle overview of the first day of school for a class of young, ethnically diverse children. . . . Text bubbles show the students' reactions; these scraps of enthusiastic dialogue help keep the story firmly rooted in the students' immediate experience, as do the creative details in the uncluttered illustrations. . . . Lively and reassuring, this is a strong choice for helping new students set first-day expectations."—Publishers Weekly

"Burris spotlights the newness of the first day of school in this fun-loving book. . . . The author enumerates special classroom activities, covering circle time, snack time, and quiet time. The humor is spot-on. . . . Sure to be appreciated by Burris's young fans, this is a perfect read-aloud for the start of school."—School Library Journal