Election Day

November 1, 2004
K-Gr 2-It's Election Day at Robin Hill School and the students will vote for a class president. Three children who want the position make promises they can't possibly keep-offering no homework or a longer summer vacation. Only Becky, a new girl, is realistic: "I can only promise to do my best." Although she hasn't made any friends yet, she impresses her fellow students and is elected. Simple sentences, repetition, and watercolor picture clues aid emergent readers as they enjoy an interesting plot. While sticking to basic vocabulary, McNamara offers a book that can spark a thoughtful discussion. An excellent addition to beginning-reader collections.-Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2004
PreS-Gr. 1. This "Level 1" book from the Ready-to-Read series puts a bit of a spin on a classroom election. Becky walks into her new class just as the students are about to vote on class president. One child promises a candy machine, another no homework, a third that summer vacation will last six months. When the teacher asks if anyone else wants to speak, she looks right at Becky. Brand-new Becky hesitates. Finally, she does make a speech, which acknowledges that she can't guarantee candy machines or long vacations, but she promises to do her best. New readers will probably instinctively get the gently made point that politicians should pledge honestly rather than promise the moon. Along with the message, there's a suitably repetitive vocabulary and jaunty ink-and-watercolor artwork to help motivate kids.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)