After the Bell Rings

January 12, 2015
Opening with two poems titled “2:48”—one highlights students’ eager-to-leave-school perspective, the other their teacher’s not-so-different attitude—Shields hopscotches over after-school terrain that readers will know well, from tackling homework and chores to trying to pick a snack from the fridge (“Something creamy and sweet?/ Or something covered with cheese?/ I hope my stomach decides/ Before I totally freeze”). Clever entries include a poem about a boy’s love of manga, which reads right-to-left, and one that unfolds in text messages (“mathz ez. spLN? No clu”). Meisel’s mixed-media cartoons are equally plugged into kids’ digital lives, with smartphones and tablets as omnipresent as schoolbooks, backpacks, and musical instruments being practiced with varying degrees of success. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

November 15, 2014
Twenty-two light poems and accompanying illustrations explore what happens after school.Veteran author-illustrator duo Shields and Meisel team up again (Someone Used My Toothbrush and Other Bathroom Poems, 2010, etc.) to depict the full spectrum of fun to be had after school lets out. Looking at what typically happens at the end of the school day-homework, snacking, being reunited with pets, car pools, texting friends, a little instrument practice-Shields and Meisel paint a realistic portrait of how kids feel about these activities. From the opening pair of "2:48" poems, Shields quickly establishes the collection's light, edgy tone, showing how student and teacher alike often find the last two minutes of the day "the slowest of all." By week's end, Shields cleverly uses end rhyme to highlight the irony to be found in a "Friday Night" sleepover: "We call it sleeping over- / That's not exactly true. / We bring along our sleeping bags, / But sleep? Not what we do." Throughout the volume, Meisel's dynamic, childlike mixed-media illustrations effectively underscore the child's perspective these poems so often provide. But occasionally Shields also shares some important advice as a former child, enlightening young readers as to the dangers of saying, "I'm bored!" to one's parents or trying to mask unauthorized video game usage behind a beatific smile. Smart and sassy poems and accessible illustrations combine for an engaging, humorous package. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)

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November 1, 2014

Gr 2-5-In 22 colorfully illustrated poems, Shields captures multiple perspectives on the favorite part of many kids' school day-the end. The book opens with the anticipation of the dismissal bell from the perspective of the students and the teacher. Readers will connect with the familiar scenario of feeling "like the clock on the wall has stopped." From there, the poet explores some of kids' extracurricular activities. "Level 5" shows the realistic struggle between a desire to play video games and the obligation to do one's homework. Shields's lines will resonate with readers ("She put her hand on the warm TV. 'Guess what, kid? You're busted.'"). "Manga" is a cleverly written poem that will leave some children scratching their heads because of its right-to-left text flow. "Txt msgs" is a conversation poem written in text-speak. Shields even includes a verse about the dangers of saying "I'm bored," which leads to a never-ending chore list. The eye-catching artwork done in acrylic, gouache, and colored pencil is sure to appeal to many readers along with the humor, rhyme, and universal topics.-Andy Plemmons, David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens, GA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades 1-4 In singsong rhyme, Shields presents 22 poems about how kids spend their time after school. Beginning with the countdown to school's final bell, she writes about playing video games and the violin, homework assignments, sleepovers, and feeling bored. This collection misses some chances at variety, offering four homework poems and only paying lip service to extracurriculars such as sports, dance, drama, or art; however, Shields does have a good grasp of school-age frustrations and silliness. A backward-reading homage to manga and a poem written as a text exchange demonstrate a playfulness in form, though the meter of many poems is inconsistent, making their cadence hiccup rather than flow. Meisel's colored-pencil illustrations are unrefined but carry a childlike quality fitting for this collection. Simple scenes that fill the page and busy collages of detail convey both the peace and hectic nature of the after-school hours. Readers may not find many new ideas here, but the precious and overbooked time after the bell will ring true with most.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)