Back-to-School Rules

May 23, 2011
Percy, the self-assured host from Thanksgiving Rules, returns with some guidelines for starting school on the right foot. Unlike the previous book, though, these rules are all about "what not to do." Thus, Percy explains rules like don't be late, don't be impolite, no running, and no contradicting the teacher, culminating in a laundry list of "don'ts" listed on a chalkboard. Murfin creates a playfully skewed school environment with her wobbly collages and rosy-cheeked students, but after this litany of don'ts and nos, readers may have trouble taking the final ruleâ"Don't forget to have lots of fun!"âto heart. Ages 5â9.

August 1, 2011

K-Gr 2-Percy Isaac Gifford is headed back to school and wishes to offer fellow students advice on how to earn an A+. What follows is a seemingly endless string of "don'ts" written in labored verse: "An important rule to follow: /Don't forget to use your brain./That means leave your plans at home/That qualify as insane!" While some of the advice is practical, such as not being late and not teasing, some is just silly: "No hanging from the ceiling./No flying through the air./No swimming in the fish tank./No glitter in your hair." This intense barrage of negativity (one page uses the word "don't" a dozen times) is unlikely to allay or mitigate any concerns children dealing with back-to-school anxiety may have; it's more likely to leave them feeling there are so many pitfalls that they can't possibly avoid them all. The teacher has an expression of annoyance more often than not and seems to do nothing but give orders. The final piece of advice, "Don't forget to have lots of fun," strikes an odd note as no fun is ever described. Better books on this topic abound, including Dr. Seuss's Hooray for Diffendoofer Day (Knopf, 1998) and Kathryn Lasky's Lunch Bunnies (Little, Brown, 1996).-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

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